Monument

"Monument" by R. W. Major is a science fiction tale that follows Dr. Charles King, a scientist celebrated for his accidental breakthroughs, as he attempts to reveal his most ambitious creation: a perpetual motion machine. The story blends humor with scientific concepts to look at the unexpected effects of scientific exploration. The plot centers on Dr. King's preparations for a press conference to display his pendulum, meant to prove perpetual motion. In a twist of fate, the machine fails to start, resulting in both funny and sad events. The story reaches its climax when he suffers a heart attack in front of mocking reporters, all while unknowingly initiating a cosmic event, turning the entire Solar System into a giant pendulum, thus, highlighting the complicated link between scientific ambition and unintended outcomes.