An Obsolete Man
Here is an edited clip from an episode of the TWILIGHT ZONE: “The Obsolete Man” Season 2, Episode 29, originally aired June of 1961.
It is an episode that would not be permitted this day.
Not only is the Bible in the hands of a brave and highly-educated man rather than a hillbilly ax-murderer, there is a cigarette in the hand of Rod Serling.
Please note that when this was aired, science fiction was regarded by all the self-anointed elite intelligentsia in society as rubbish fit only for teen boys.
This attitude, sadly, was reflected, as if in reverse, by the self-anointed elite intelligentsia in science fiction fandom, encouraged by snobbish editors and writers proclaiming science fiction superior to other genres because fans were slans, that is, smarter than the normals.
Rod Serling’s work, by ignoring genre bounds, and by being widely popular, rebuts the presumption and vanity of elitists in both groups.
The librarian here is played by Burgess Meredith, whom those with long memories will recollect played the Penguin on the 1960s BATMAN.
The State will take no steps to rescue the Chancellor from a Librarian, of course, since that would make the State look weak.
The Fate of the Chancellor is as expected. By pleading in the name of God for his life, he has humiliated the state.
About John C Wright
John C. Wright is a practicing philosopher, a retired attorney, newspaperman, and newspaper editor, and a published author of science fiction. Once a Houyhnhnm, he was expelled from the august ranks of purely rational beings when he fell in love; but retains an honorary title.
