Lighter Than You Think

"Lighter Than You Think" by Nelson S. Bond is a science fiction tale brimming with comedic energy and inventive spirit. It centers on the antics of Pat Pending, an offbeat inventor who creates a so-called "lightening rod" that can control weight. Don Mallory, along with his secretary, Joyce, become entangled in a madcap scheme to use the invention to rig a horse race. Their plan involves Tapwater, a horse they want to use to claim considerable winnings. The story follows their race to pull off the scheme, facing unexpected challenges and comical misunderstandings. The plan succeeds as Tapwater wins, but a twist occurs when a suitcase filled with their prize and the device floats into the sky due to the strange properties of Pat’s contraption, leaving the characters in a mix of success and absurd calamity.