Stories that prominently feature politicians

Politicians of the familiar kind, that is - office & power abusers.

In a very real sense, this is the year of democracy. Some 2 billion people worldwide vote this year to choose their national or paranational leaders, if I recall a recent newspaper report correctly. A bit less than 800 million of them in India alone, beginning a few days from now - in multi-stage staggered polls. Indonesia, I think, is already through.

Tomorrow I begin a series of 3 posts about stories that prominently feature politicians. They model politicians as Britons & Americans of my grandfather's generation saw them. But I can see current India's politicians in them. So I guess readers from most democracies should be able to see something familiar of their wise men.

With time, I'll probably expand this list - both by adding posts from archives, & also future posts. But for the moment, let's start with these 3.

Story list (best first).

1. Clifford D Simak's "Eternity Lost" (A); Astounding, July 1949: Sad end of a politician who believes he himself is above the laws he enacts for ordinary people. Emotionally very strong.
2. [novel] Fred Hoyle's "The Black Cloud" (A); 1957: Satirizes British politicians (mostly in first half), as the hero outsmarts the scheming & irresponsible ones in positions of power.
3. William Morrison's "The Sack" (B); 1950: A US(?) Senator's attempts to dominate a government official & look good in public eye backfires. The part involving politician is very amusing fun read.