Science Fiction Short Story Review: "Disqualified" by Charles L. Fontenay

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Tardo and Peo have come from the Solar Council to inspect a planet that has had no contact with wider civilization since it was colonized years earlier. With aid, the planet could develop quickly. To woo them, an honored official, Saranta serves them carefully prepared steaks and some of the exotic vegetables of their world. Of utmost importance to the Council—and its agent, Tardo—is the safeguarding of human rights. Have the people resorted to slavery? What about the staff serving them this lunch—are they free? Not only free, Saranta says, they are unionized. He tells them how hard it was when they first landed. Nevertheless, the people are glad to work This finely crafted short story has a single punchline, and it is worth it. The writing is crisp. Not a word is wasted. It goes quick. This story is a lot of fun. My only complaint is that there isn’t more of it. This story is available from Project Gutenberg: __ Title: “Disqualified” Author: Charles L. Fontenay (1917-2007) First published: If September 1954 Source: ISFDB