Review: Science Fiction Short Story: "Navy Day" by Harry Harrison

Tweet

In addressing Congress, General Wingrove requests they abolish “the archaic branch of the armed forces known as the U.S. Navy.” The aging Senator from Georgia checks his hearing aid. The press box empties as reporters run to the telephone room (how… quaint). Admiral Fitzjames gets to his feet and demands an explanation. The general calmly invites everyone to meet him by the Potomac the next morning. The next sound is a THUD as the admiral, blood pressure soring, hits the marble floor. The general’s demonstration the next morning shows the Army is capable of anything the Navy can do—and more efficiently, too. But maybe it’s a little early to count the Navy out… This is a silly farce, a story one-upmanship. The most enjoyable parts are descriptions of the far-fetched devices and the opening paragraphs. The narrative itself is so-so with few surprises. Not horrible reading, but not a second-read material. Author Harry Harrison is best known for his Stainless Steel Rat character. He got his start as an illustrator. While bored in the military, he learned Esperanto and later became an advocate for use of this language, which appears in some of his works. This story is available at Project Gutenberg: _____ Title: “Navy Day” Author: Harry Harrison (1925-2012) First published: If January 1954 Source: ISFDB