Author
Arthur Porges
1915-2006
Arthur Porges (1915-2006) is a public-domain author available on Rivro. Read free books, explore subjects, and discover related classics.
WikipediaSubjects
Books by Arthur Porges
The Unwilling Professor
"The Unwilling Professor" by Arthur Porges is a science fiction novella written during the early 1950s. The narrative focuses on the amusing and bizarre encounter between two struggling college students and a Venusian rabbit professor, who is unexpectedly thrust into the role of their math tutor. The book blends elements of humor and absurdity as it explores themes of academic struggle and unexpected mentorship. In the story, college students Fatty Schultz and Irv Lece, both infamous for their poor academic performance, stumble upon a crashed spacecraft and its pilot, Professor Iglowt P. Slakmak, a rabbit-like creature from Venus. After capturing the professor and forcing him to tutor them in calculus, the duo unexpectedly improves their grades and popularity among their fraternity brothers. However, the professor's displeasure grows as he struggles with being held captive and forced to teach. Eventually, a friendly Martian dog named Hotspur rescues the professor, leading to a humorous yet satisfying ending where the professor finally escapes and wishes ill upon his captors, hoping they face academic consequences for their misdeeds.
Revenge
"Revenge" by Arthur Porges is a science fiction novella written in the early 1960s. The narrative centers around a biochemist who devises a plan to eradicate the opium poppy, aiming to end the drug trade and combat addiction. The author explores themes of frustration with bureaucracy and society's shortcomings in tackling drug-related issues. The story follows a disillusioned biochemist who creates a virus specifically designed to kill the opium poppy, effectively obliterating the source of heroin and other narcotics. After presenting his revolutionary idea to government officials, he is met with ignorance and rejection. Feeling betrayed and scorned, the protagonist decides to release the virus himself, leading to the global extinction of the opium plant. However, he finds himself unrecognized and uncompensated for his work, prompting him to plot further revenge by creating viruses that will destroy yeast and tobacco, aiming to teach society a lesson about their indifference towards him and the drug crisis.