Solar Lottery
by Philip K. Dick · first published 1955
9mentions
0recommended by
9HN commenters
2013–2026first – last mentioned
100% neutral
The year is 2203, and the ruler of the universe is chosen according to the random laws of a strange game under the control of Quizmaster Verrick. But when Ted Bentley, a research technician recently dismissed from his job, signs on to work for Verrick, he has no idea that Leon Cartwright is about to become the new Quizmaster. Nor does he know that he's about to play an integral part in the plot to assassinate Cartwright so that Verrick can resume leadership of a universe that is not nearly as random as it appears. Winner of both the Hugo and John W. Campbell awards for best novel, widely re
Affiliate links. As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases.
…matters for voting against opposition from opposing landslides, & one doesn't need the majority of votes for their vote to have weight) Aside, the idea of selling your vote is explored in Philip K Dick's Solar Lottery
on “When can liquid democracy unveil the truth? (2021)” ↗Solar Lottery - Philip K. Dick https://g.co/kgs/ThLkLC https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Solar_Lottery
on “What if we replace politicans with randomly selected people?” ↗Hah, Philip K. Dick explored this a bit in "Solar Lottery." In the book it's a bit absurd, but still an interesting take on a "randomized" government.
on “Unusual Stock Trading by Whales in US Congress” ↗If that doesn't work, they'll fingerprint your thoughts. Oh well, Philip K Dick enters the chat again. With Solar Lottery this time.
on “Microsoft PhotoDNA scanning problem” ↗1. Axiomatic Set Theory by Suppes 2. Solar Lottery by Philip K. Dick
on “Ask HN: What book are you reading?” ↗Ever read Solar Lottery? It's not really the same, but I do wonder if over time randomly selected representatives wouldn't just milk their power for what it's worth since it seems like there'd be little to no accountability…
on “Ask HN: If Politicians were selected by Random Lotto?” ↗It's the plot to P.K. Dick's first published novel "Solar Lottery". > The operating principle was random selection: positions of public power were decided by a sophisticated lottery and when the magnetic lottery bottle twitched, anyone could become the absolute ruler…
on “We Should Let a Lottery Decide Our Government” ↗…The Simulacrum Ubik We Can Build You Martian Time-Slip The Transmigration of Timothy Archer The Divine Invasion A Maze of Death Counterclock World Radio Free Albemuth Solar Lottery The Zap Gun [1] The World Jones Made Among his notable works, the only titles PKD came up with were The Man in the High Castle, VALIS, Flow My Tears, Palmer Eldritch, and A Scanner Darkly. So.…
on “Philip K. Dick: Stanisław Lem Is a Communist Committee (2015)” ↗The first time I read "Solar Lottery" by P. K. Dick I thought "there's no way this lottery system could work for selecting authorities." But as I read on, the Minimax system sounded surprisingly similar to some real scientific concepts,…
on “Random selection is necessary to create stable meritocratic institutions” ↗