AboutGeoff Expertise I have read most of the short stories and books produced by the Top 80-100 authors in the SF field, as well as more obscure authors such as Robert Sheckley, and can answer any queries regarding author, title or theme of a short story(or novel). I can also answer questions on the history and influence of Science Fiction past to present, as well as on specific SF genres such as Cyberpunk,Golden Age SF, H G Wells-style scientific romances etc.
Experience Am currently doing a writing course for writing Science Fiction Books, with the Writer's Bureau in the UK.<
Expert: Geoff Date: 4/11/2008 Subject: Trying to find a story I read many years ago
Question Hi... I remember reading a story many years ago about a society where the masses had all sorts of flashy consumer goods and there was an apparent underclass that had very little. The twist in the story was that the underclass were the rulers and organisers and that they provided the masses with all their gadgets and glitter as a means of keeping them compliant. I seem to recall cars with lots of chrome and fins that actually were made just to be flashy and hifi sets with lots of knobs and buttons etc. Does this ring any bells with you? It's been driving me mad for a couple of years now trying to think of the title!
Answer I'm certain that the one you're thinking of is the amusing SF story "The Midas Plague" by Fred Pohl. Here's a synopsis of that story near the top of this page:-
The story isn't easily findable in current printed anthologies. All I could find, right now, is a link showing all (pre-1983-published) anthologies in which the above story appeared(just search on any online bookstores specialising in out-of-print books):-
