Happy Ending

"Happy Ending" by Fredric Brown and Mack Reynolds is a science fiction novella originally published in the late 1950s. The story addresses themes of power, isolation, and the consequences of tyranny. Set in a post-apocalyptic world where a dictator finds himself stranded on Venus after losing a devastating war, it explores both his mental decline and his interactions with the planet’s alien inhabitants. The narrative centers on Mr. Smith, once a powerful dictator, who is now alone and defeated, grappling with memories of his former glory. Isolated on a vibrant yet desolate Venus, he struggles with feelings of bitterness and rage, particularly against a species of tiny creatures known as "kifs" that annoy and infest him. His descent into madness coincides with his attempt to assert dominance over the alien inhabitants, whom he initially believes to be simple and subservient. However, as the story unfolds, Mr. Smith's self-delusions lead to dire consequences, culminating in a horrifying fate at the hands of the "kifs", symbolizing the ultimate downfall of tyranny and the futility of his power in a changing world. (This is an automatically generated summary.)

Fredric Brown was an American science fiction, fantasy, and mystery writer. He is known for his use of humor and for his mastery of the "short short" form—stories of one to three pages, often with ingenious plotting devices and surprise endings. Humor and a postmodern outlook carried over into his novels as well. One of his stories, "Arena", was adapted to a 1967 episode of the American television series Star Trek.