Summary:
"Monument" by R. W. Major is a science fiction short story published in the early 1960s. The narrative revolves around Dr. Charles King, a scientist known for his accidental discoveries, who aims to unveil his groundbreaking invention—perpetual motion. Through a mix of humor and science, the story explores the unintended consequences of scientific experimentation, as Dr. King deals with both his fame and infamy. The plot follows Dr. King's journey as he prepares for a press conference to showcase his invention, a pendulum designed to demonstrate perpetual motion. However, when he pulls the switch to activate his creation, nothing happens, leading to a series of comedic and tragic events, culminating in his unexpected heart attack amidst mockery from reporters. Unbeknownst to him, the machine does function, causing the entire Solar System to swing like a pendulum, revealing the irony in Dr. King's career and the tumultuous relationship between scientific ambition and its unforeseen ramifications. (This is an automatically generated summary.)