Noel M. Loomis
Parking, unlimited
"Parking, Unlimited" by Noel M. Loomis is a science fiction story written in the early 1950s. The narrative centers around a unique and ambitious plan to solve the urban parking crisis by utilizing a revolutionary technology that can shrink cars down to just a few inches in size. The protagonists, Slim and the narrator, aim to create a profitable parking enterprise in a busy city area, but their innovative venture spirals out of control when their secret is threatened. The story follows the duo as they start by renting an old garage and implementing Slim's extraordinary invention to reduce car sizes significantly, allowing them to park thousands of vehicles in an otherwise limited space. As business booms and their financial prospects grow, they attract unwanted attention, culminating in a chaotic and humorous confrontation with the building inspector and a mob of angry customers. Ultimately, the plan takes a perilous turn when their secret is jeopardized, forcing them to flee just as they are on the verge of achieving great success. Through its comedic premise and imaginative technology, "Parking, Unlimited" explores themes of ambition, ingenuity, and the unpredictable nature of entrepreneurial endeavors.