Chain Reaction

"Chain Reaction" by Boyd Ellanby is a science fiction story about a group of university professors visiting their colleague, Dr. Rothman, at a sanitarium after he warns of a possible global disaster from an upcoming nuclear test. The story looks at mental health, ethical science, and what happens when science goes too far. During a tense poker game, the professors debate the test and Rothman's scary prediction. As the clock counts down, their true selves appear, along with their scientific burdens. When the test passes without incident, Rothman's sanity is questioned, making readers wonder where genius ends and madness begins.