Please help me find this depressing sci-fi short story.
October 3, 2011 8:46 AM Subscribe
Please help me find this depressing sci-fi short story.
I don't remember where I saw this story, it may have even been through Mefi. I cannot remember the title or author, and google has been of no help.
It involves the following details:
- takes place in a lab testing environment where people are the test subjects
- the people are fitted up to a pack that administers drugs that make them feel certain emotions
- the story revolves around the testing of a drug that simulates true love
- the story involves the use of a drug that makes people feel so depressed and hopeless that they will suicide by any means possible
- the story ends with the main character getting a massive dose of the depressive drug and, I think, killing himself by repeatedly slamming his head against the corner of a desk
I'm going to use this story as a discussion piece for the biochemical basis for emotions. Can anyone help me find it?
I don't remember where I saw this story, it may have even been through Mefi. I cannot remember the title or author, and google has been of no help.
It involves the following details:
- takes place in a lab testing environment where people are the test subjects
- the people are fitted up to a pack that administers drugs that make them feel certain emotions
- the story revolves around the testing of a drug that simulates true love
- the story involves the use of a drug that makes people feel so depressed and hopeless that they will suicide by any means possible
- the story ends with the main character getting a massive dose of the depressive drug and, I think, killing himself by repeatedly slamming his head against the corner of a desk
I'm going to use this story as a discussion piece for the biochemical basis for emotions. Can anyone help me find it?
I know the story you're talking about. It's definitely by George Saunders, and might have been in a recent issue of the New Yorker.
posted by neroli at 9:04 AM on October 3, 2011
posted by neroli at 9:04 AM on October 3, 2011
Best answer: Escape from Spiderhead, the New Yorker, December 2010
posted by nonane at 9:09 AM on October 3, 2011 [6 favorites]
posted by nonane at 9:09 AM on October 3, 2011 [6 favorites]
I also remember the story, the test subjects were convicted felons (though the crimes were dubious) and the researchers deliberately terminated some of the subjects instead of others to test the "love" drug and the authenticity of the feelings it produced. And now it's killing me that I don't remember the title.
posted by lydhre at 9:09 AM on October 3, 2011
posted by lydhre at 9:09 AM on October 3, 2011
Best answer: Here it is: "Escape from Spiderhead"
posted by neroli at 9:09 AM on October 3, 2011 [3 favorites]
posted by neroli at 9:09 AM on October 3, 2011 [3 favorites]
Response by poster: That's it! Thanks everyone, you're my favourite!
posted by robot-hugs at 9:42 AM on October 3, 2011
posted by robot-hugs at 9:42 AM on October 3, 2011
yeeeeg that was creeptastic. brr.
posted by bitterkitten at 4:22 PM on October 3, 2011
posted by bitterkitten at 4:22 PM on October 3, 2011
This thread is closed to new comments.
posted by restless_nomad at 8:53 AM on October 3, 2011