Political Application

"Political Application" by John Victor Peterson is a science fiction tale from the 1950s that blends humor and political satire to explore the impact of science on politics. The story centers on Monk, a bodyguard, and Allan Benson, a physicist on the verge of creating a fuel that could power a trip to Mars, who disappears while staging a protest against anti-science views led by Mayor Cadigan. Monk's quest to find Benson is filled with humorous events, such as a Neanderthal copy showing up and a police helicopter appearing out of nowhere. In the end, Benson uses his clever plans to get his ideas across and serves as a lighthearted lesson on why science shouldn't be held back by politics by the government. The book mixes humor and insight on how new science and governmental power connect.