The Reckoning is about a young ruler who encounters an ancient being capable of granting one wish every century. But others are present, each with worthy wishes of their own. How does the being choose what is best, and why?
I’ve long enjoyed stories that dive into the nature of choice and ethics. Most have heard the phrase, “If I was King/Queen for a day, I would…” and it’s usually something generous but short-sighted at best, or terribly self-serving at worst. Yet, the idea begs the question: if you could make a wish, ANY wish, come true…no restrictions…what would that wish look like for the rest of the world?
Would it matter? So many choices, cultures, and beliefs are mutually exclusive. They aren’t necessarily violently exclusive, but in a world rich in resources, we sure do argue and fight over plenty. It has been observed, many times, that perhaps the only thing that makes humans human is their desire to argue rather than act.
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