In the Cards

"In the Cards" by Alan Cogan is a science fiction tale that examines the consequences of peering into the future using a machine called the Grundy Projector. The story revolves around Gerald, who looks forward to marrying Marge, but when he uses the projector to see their life two years later, he finds a future filled with arguments and sadness. This vision causes him to doubt their relationship and whether they should even get married. As more people start using time projection, Gerald understands that knowing the future can control people's choices, often causing the grim future they saw to happen. In the end, Gerald and Marge, unable to deal with their predicted future, travel back in time, where they face new difficulties while trying to navigate their seemingly inevitable lives, making readers think about the value of free will in the face of destiny.