Something "Special"

"The Special Exhibit."

By Robert Sheckley (1928-2005; Wikipedia HERE; ISFDb HERE; SFE HERE; IMDb HERE).

Artist uncredited.

First appearance: Esquire, October 1953.

Reprints page (ISFDb HERE).

Short short short story (1 page).

Online at SFFAudio (HERE).

   "The Special Exhibit was, of course, a far more effective problem solver than marriage counseling, psychiatry, psychoanalysis or even simple forbearance."

IT sounds to us like The Special Exhibit might be a threat to the status quo . . .

Principal characters:

~ Mr. Grant ("Failure would be ridiculous"), Mrs. Grant ("Educational"), Simmons ("I think Dr. Carver and his wife were the last to view it"), several savages, including an ancient, wrinkled woman ("lounged on the vine-tangled ground"), and Mrs. Carver (in absentia).

References and resources:

- "to join the French Foreign Legion":

  The subject of many a romantic narrative; nostalgic Hollywood made films about it:

  "The French Foreign Legion (French: Légion étrangère) is an elite corps of the French Army that consists of several specialties: infantry, cavalry, engineers, and airborne troops. It was created in 1831 to allow foreign nationals into the French Army. It formed part of the Armée d’Afrique, the French Army's units associated with France's colonial project in North Africa, until the end of the Algerian War in 1962.

  "Legionnaires are highly trained soldiers and the French Foreign Legion is unique in that it is open to foreign recruits willing to serve in the French Armed Forces." (Wikipedia HERE; also see HERE and WARNING! SPOILERS! HERE.)

- "his work in ornithology":

  "Ornithology is a branch of zoology that concerns the study of birds. Several aspects of ornithology differ from related disciplines, due partly to the high visibility and the aesthetic appeal of birds." (Wikipedia HERE.)

- "anthropology wasn't his line":

  "Anthropology is the scientific study of humanity, concerned with human behavior, human biology, cultures, societies, and linguistics, in both the present and past, including archaic humans. Social anthropology studies patterns of behavior, while cultural anthropology studies cultural meaning, including norms and values. The term sociocultural anthropology is commonly used today. Linguistic anthropology studies how language influences social life. Biological or physical anthropology studies the biological development of humans." (Wikipedia HERE.)

- "a family of Axis deer":

  "The chital or cheetal (Axis axis), also known as the spotted deer, chital deer and axis deer, is a deer species native to the Indian subcontinent." (Wikipedia HERE.)

- When it comes to pulp fiction, there's no way to miss Robert Sheckley (as if you'd want to). Previous ONTOS encounters with him include:

  ~ "Watchbird" (HERE)

  ~ "Seventh Victim" (HERE)

  ~ "Killer's Masquerade" (HERE)

  ~ "A Thief in Time" (HERE)

  ~ and "Double Indemnity" (HERE).

The bottom line:

Unless otherwise noted, all bibliographical data are derived from The FictionMags Index created by William G. Contento & edited by Phil Stephensen-Payne.

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