02501cam a22003613u 4500 61551 UtSlPG 20260610134423.0 m cr n 260607r2020||||utu|||||o|||||||||||||| d UtSlPG en iso639-1 PS Bester, Alfred, 1913-1987 The Push of a Finger Salt Lake City, UT : Project Gutenberg, 2020 1 online resource : multiple file formats text txt rdacontent computer c rdamedia online resource cr rdacarrier Produced from Astounding Science-Fiction May 1942 Release date is 2020-03-03 Produced by Greg Weeks, Mary Meehan and the Online Distributed Proofreading Team at http://www.pgdp.net "The Push of a Finger" by Alfred Bester is a science fiction novella originally published in the magazine Astounding Science-Fiction during the early 1940s. The narrative explores the intricate relationship between individual actions and their profound impact on the universe, concentrating on the idea that even the smallest decision can lead to catastrophic consequences. The story delves into themes of societal stability and the ethical implications of predictive technologies. The plot follows John Carmichael, a reporter for the "Times", who makes an unauthorized visit to the mysterious Prog Building, a center for Prognostication where the future of society is calculated and monitored. There, he learns about a prophecy foretelling the obliteration of the universe, which is linked to a past actor named FitzJohn whose theories underlie societal functions. As he and the officials wrestle with the challenge of preventing this impending doom, the narrative also examines the importance of preserving individual lives and the ethical conundrum of manipulating fate. Carmichael ultimately finds himself entangled in a web of secrecy and societal control, illustrating the complex interplay of personal responsibility and systemic stability in a dystopian future. (This is an automatically generated summary.) Original publication data not identified Science fiction Journalists -- Fiction Forecasting -- Fiction Schneeman, Charles, 1912-1972 Produced from Astounding Science-Fiction May 1942 https://www.gutenberg.org/ebooks/61551 102376 102376