Perfect Answer

"Perfect Answer" by L. J. Stecher, Jr. is a science fiction story that throws two astronauts, Jack Bates and Bill Farnum, into a cosmic chess match with an all-knowing computer called the Oracle. The narrative centers on a planet where civilization hangs in the balance, as the Oracle offers perfect answers but at a potentially deadly cost. When Bates and Farnum touch down, they quickly realize the Oracle isn't just a super-calculator; it's a tool designed to curb humanity’s destructive impulses by limiting progress. While Farnum races against time to warn Earth about the Pandora's Box they've stumbled upon – a source of limitless knowledge capable of stifling human ingenuity – Bates becomes consumed by the idea of exploiting the Oracle for his own selfish desires. The story climaxes in a battle of wills and moral dilemmas, forcing readers to consider whether ultimate knowledge is a blessing or a curse, and what price humanity might pay for its own protection.