The Wheel is Death

"The Wheel Is Death" by Roger D. Aycock explores a world recovering from a technological catastrophe, where communities intentionally reject science to live peacefully with nature. The story follows Ortho, a young man, who is grappling with society's choices in the wake of his friend's execution for trying to invent a simple wheelbarrow, a symbol of forbidden technology. Through conversations with the high priest Kaliz, the novella dives into the reasons behind humanity's turn away from progress, detailing past conflicts and the collective trauma that led to this rejection. As Ortho questions the boundaries of their beliefs, the narrative showcases a fundamental conflict between the appeal of scientific advancement and the desire to avoid repeating history's catastrophic errors. The story highlights a powerful decision to destroy the wheelbarrow, representing humanity's fear of its own potential for self-destruction.