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"The Pain Peddlers" is a 4000-word short story by Robert Silverberg, about companies that buy and sell other peoples' pain. The story was first published in the August, 1963 issue of Galaxy Science Fiction.

Spoiler Warning: Plot details and/or information about the ending follow. If you wish to enjoy the work first, stop reading here and return at another time.

Plot

Northrup is a network executive, in a future where he broadcasts the pain and suffering of people. His subordinate, Maurillo, is trying to close a deal for the rights to a gangrene amputation on a 90 year old man. Maurillo has trouble closing the deal, so Northrup goes there in person to negotiate with the family. The family agrees, and the deal is closed. Northrup fires Maurillo, who is very angry at being let go. After the amputation, the old man’s son is very angry; he confronts Northrup on the street, slashing him with a knife. While Northrup lies suffering and dying, Maurillo shows up. Maurillo has secured a job in the same industry, but with an unscrupulous company that doesn’t bother acquiring the legal rights to other peoples’ pain. Maurillo takes his ex-boss to a secure location, and records the man’s dying agonies. Northrup’s last, bitter thought is that he won’t even be the star of his own show.

Additional Notes

This story has been reprinted in, among other places, Isaac Asimov Presents The Great SF Stories 25 (1963).

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