# Appointment in Tomorrow explained — Short Fiction

> Chapter companion for Short Fiction by Fritz Leiber.

## What happens

Jorj Helmuth, a leader of the Thinkers, uses a somno-learner and robots to invite rocket physicists to a conference, including Willard Farquar. The Thinkers' supercomputer Maizie is revered by the President and generals, who see it as a godlike authority. Jan Tregarron manipulates Caddy (Kitty Kaddy) into contacting Farquar, revealing tensions between Thinkers and professional scientists. Tregarron dismisses Helmuth's plans for a neutron-drive rocket and cooperation with scientists, instead plotting to send Helmuth to Mars and replace him with Farquar, using bribery and subversion.

## Themes in this chapter

### Technology and Control

Maizie the supercomputer is used for social control and political power, with leaders treating it as a godlike authority; the Thinkers manipulate technology to maintain dominance.

### Identity and Illusion

The big lie of Maizie and the Mars rocket project is maintained by the Thinkers; Helmuth believes in his own self-improvement techniques while being deceived by Tregarron.

### Conformity and Rebellion

Professional scientists are portrayed as jealous and stuffy, resisting the Thinkers' control; Helmuth's plan to cooperate represents a rebellion against Tregarron's strategy of subversion.

## Character check-ins

### Jorj Helmuth

A Thinker leader who uses somno-learning and robots to arrange a conference with rocket physicists; he is later outmaneuvered by Tregarron and threatened with exile to Mars.

### Jan Tregarron

A Thinker's salesman and manipulator who plots to replace Helmuth with Farquar; he uses Caddy as a contact and wields an ultrasonic pistol to enforce his orders.

### Catherine

Also called Caddy or Kitty Kaddy; she is Tregarron's assistant and former acquaintance of Farquar, reluctantly assigned to be the contact girl for him.

### Willard Farquar

A rocket physicist whom Helmuth invites; Tregarron plans to use him as a replacement for Helmuth, exploiting his past connection with Caddy.

### Mr. Ellenby

The President's secretary who discusses the possibility of a man inside Maizie and the political power of the Thinkers.

### Morton Opperly

Mentioned as possibly having knowledge about an odd question regarding Maizie in Section Five, part of the feud between physicists and Thinkers.

## Key lines

> Huge as a primitive nuclear reactor, the great electronic brain loomed above the knot of hush-voiced men.

The enormous computer Maizie dominated the room where the men spoke in whispers.

_Describes the imposing presence of the supercomputer and the awe it inspires._

> This was the machine that really thought—a million-plus!

Maizie was a thinking machine with over a million times the synapses of a human brain.

_Highlights the advanced intelligence of the machine._

> The big liar must never fall for his own big lie.

A deceiver should never believe the deception he creates.

_Tregarron's philosophy justifying his manipulation of Helmuth._

## Links

- HTML: https://www.betterreads.online/discover/short_fiction_19_se/chapters/appointment-in-tomorrow
- Book: https://www.betterreads.online/discover/short_fiction_19_se
- All chapters: https://www.betterreads.online/discover/short_fiction_19_se/chapters