Post by Hector on Sept 4, 2017 1:18:02 GMT
This is one of my childhood bedtime stories, which i read again recently when i accidentally
found the volume in the attic. One time, someone mentioned it in the forum as one of his
favourite stories, so it must be a well known one.
It's about a metal object that gets stuck in one of Scrooge's satelites, causing millions of
dollars worth of damage. After his foreseeable initial shock, the feathery tycoon takes an
interest in the object. According to the scientists who studied it, it contains a number of
metal balls that descend through a slide, go upwards again by some mechanism and repeat
the proccess over and over indefinitely. The scientists conclude that it is just a totally
useless object.
Refusing to believe that, Scrooge is determined to make money out of it. His first attempt
is about oranizing an exhibition in a large, impressive building. Yes, an imposing construction
just for the sake of a single little object! People are excited at first, until they realize they
paid just to have a look at a worthless chunk of metal, so they leave the exhibition in fury.
Donald's nephews inform their elderly uncle that he made 10.000 bucks out of this business
(unless the number is a translation error, but whatever), which is (coincidence?) exactly as
much as he spent to organize the exhibition, so he gained absolutely nothing!
For a moment, Scrooge seems to come to his senses, deciding to forget about the object.
But no! Over the following days, that's all he can think about. His businesses profits decline,
yet he does not give a dime (no pun intended).
Meanwhile, Rockerduck, who's been spying on him through binoculars (i'd expect a billionaire
to have more effective spying methods; oh well), starts developping an obsession with the
mysterious object as well. He goes as far as going to Scrooge's place and asking him to sell
it for one million dollars!
Those are delightful news for the main character! Once more, he seems healed, having at
last made money out of the object. Not so fast, mr McDuck! Rockerduck soon regrets his
foolish purchase and sues Scrooge to get his money back. Even though Scrooge wins the
trial, after paying the lawyers' fee, he loses exactly as much money as he got from
Rockerduck. This is when the reader starts realizing that something abnormal goes on here,
or, as Scrooge puts it: ''the uselessness of this object is terrifying''. And, man, he knows
what he's talking about. The people of our planet start getting a feeling that everything in
life is pointless.
Donald's nephews, the only persons not affected by the object's ''charm'' (one more story
where the ducklings are mary sues), alert their uncles about the situation, which is
further confirmed by a professor (surprisingly, not Ludwig). There is only one way for
humanity to be saved: the object has to go.
Long story short, Scrooge and Rockerduck agree to launch it back to outer space and
everybody lives happily ever after (or till next story!). Meanwhile, in outer space, an
alien army who is about to invade Earth finds the object. Just like Scrooge, their leader
gets obsessed with it and gives up his plans of galactical domination. Such a shame
our heroes will never know the item they considered cursed was what finally saved
them.
The story ends with Scrooge wondering who would waste his time on making such a
worthless artifact.
As for my verdict: The first time i read that story (as a kid), i enjoyed it without giving
much further thought. If i had reviewed it back then, i'd have given it an 8 or a 9. But,
nowadays, being a mentally unstable adult, this story freaks me out a little. I wonder
whether it really symbolizes something.
I'd like to hear your opinions. Discuss.
Rating: 7/10
found the volume in the attic. One time, someone mentioned it in the forum as one of his
favourite stories, so it must be a well known one.
It's about a metal object that gets stuck in one of Scrooge's satelites, causing millions of
dollars worth of damage. After his foreseeable initial shock, the feathery tycoon takes an
interest in the object. According to the scientists who studied it, it contains a number of
metal balls that descend through a slide, go upwards again by some mechanism and repeat
the proccess over and over indefinitely. The scientists conclude that it is just a totally
useless object.
Refusing to believe that, Scrooge is determined to make money out of it. His first attempt
is about oranizing an exhibition in a large, impressive building. Yes, an imposing construction
just for the sake of a single little object! People are excited at first, until they realize they
paid just to have a look at a worthless chunk of metal, so they leave the exhibition in fury.
Donald's nephews inform their elderly uncle that he made 10.000 bucks out of this business
(unless the number is a translation error, but whatever), which is (coincidence?) exactly as
much as he spent to organize the exhibition, so he gained absolutely nothing!
For a moment, Scrooge seems to come to his senses, deciding to forget about the object.
But no! Over the following days, that's all he can think about. His businesses profits decline,
yet he does not give a dime (no pun intended).
Meanwhile, Rockerduck, who's been spying on him through binoculars (i'd expect a billionaire
to have more effective spying methods; oh well), starts developping an obsession with the
mysterious object as well. He goes as far as going to Scrooge's place and asking him to sell
it for one million dollars!
Those are delightful news for the main character! Once more, he seems healed, having at
last made money out of the object. Not so fast, mr McDuck! Rockerduck soon regrets his
foolish purchase and sues Scrooge to get his money back. Even though Scrooge wins the
trial, after paying the lawyers' fee, he loses exactly as much money as he got from
Rockerduck. This is when the reader starts realizing that something abnormal goes on here,
or, as Scrooge puts it: ''the uselessness of this object is terrifying''. And, man, he knows
what he's talking about. The people of our planet start getting a feeling that everything in
life is pointless.
Donald's nephews, the only persons not affected by the object's ''charm'' (one more story
where the ducklings are mary sues), alert their uncles about the situation, which is
further confirmed by a professor (surprisingly, not Ludwig). There is only one way for
humanity to be saved: the object has to go.
Long story short, Scrooge and Rockerduck agree to launch it back to outer space and
everybody lives happily ever after (or till next story!). Meanwhile, in outer space, an
alien army who is about to invade Earth finds the object. Just like Scrooge, their leader
gets obsessed with it and gives up his plans of galactical domination. Such a shame
our heroes will never know the item they considered cursed was what finally saved
them.
The story ends with Scrooge wondering who would waste his time on making such a
worthless artifact.
As for my verdict: The first time i read that story (as a kid), i enjoyed it without giving
much further thought. If i had reviewed it back then, i'd have given it an 8 or a 9. But,
nowadays, being a mentally unstable adult, this story freaks me out a little. I wonder
whether it really symbolizes something.
I'd like to hear your opinions. Discuss.
Rating: 7/10
