Story Review | The President’s Brain is Missing by John Scalzi
Illustrated by Carl Wiens, via Tor.com
To date, John Scalzi is best known for his novel Redshirts that won him the 2013 Hugo Award for Best Novel. This man breathes and sweats Science Fiction. He was a former president of the Science Fiction and Fantasy Writers of America. Most readers call him irreverent for his wit and smack on humor.
This story is about unraveling the mystery behind the missing brain of the President of the U.S. of A., by Deputy White House Chief of Staff Alexander Lipsyte. This unpleasant task was designated to him by the Chief of Staff in confidence to avoid other complications and media panic. Apparently, that morning when the president took a swim, he found it difficult to submerge his head, like it was a balloon on water. The president is not exactly the smartest guy to occupy the Oval Office, but he is the president after all. And so, finding his brain is still a must.
“All I know—all any of us know at the moment—are two things. One, the President is by all outward and most inward appearances entirely healthy for a 63-year-old man. Two, his brain is absolutely gone.”
John wrote The President’s Brain is Missing for Tor.com, in July 2010. His avid readers may have found this unusually short to satisfy their Scalzi craving, but this is a cleverly-executed satire. He made it seems so effortless and light, while he weaves a brilliant ending.
A wickedly-funny story with a huge bite you might enjoy, too.
Read the story here.
Rating: 5/5 stars
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