The Amateurs

"The Amateurs" by Alan Cogan is a science fiction story about a man named Mr. Sims in a future society who is sent to a place called Sunnylands Palace where people can pick how they want to die with dignity. Mr. Sims thinks he's there because of a heart problem that makes him a burden, and he finds out from the director, Mr. Hoode, that he can choose from different exciting ways to end his life, like fighting or facing wild animals. But Mr. Sims picks a simple, respectful death, like the philosopher Socrates. As the story unfolds, Mr. Sims realizes his greedy family wants him dead, resulting in shocking violence. Through Mr. Sims' experience, the story looks at ideas about choice, what it means to die with dignity, and the sometimes dark parts of human behavior, making the reader think about the ethics of the so call "better" death.