369. War-Injury Lottery Story

February 26, 2012

Q: I have a hazy memory of a short anti-war story that may have appeared in the early-to-mid-’70s. Actual war is outlawed, but in its place there is a lottery, and drafted young men are assigned their war injuries by chance. The protagonist wakes after his “assignment” and gradually discovers that he has been reduced to a brain and spine suspended in a fluid tank. Kinda like a cross between Shirley Jackson and Dalton Trumbo. Does that sound familiar?

A: That would be “War Hero” by David Chambourt from the May 1971 (The Future) issue.

Comments

"War Hero" was included in the Lampoon's Doug Kenney tribute issue, so I think it's safe to presume this piece was written by Doug and published under a pseudonym.

—Mark Leffler

March 1, 2012 3:22 pm

What is the issue with a cartoon of shop safety tips, such as, "don't piss in the foreman's thermos" and "don't get you're dick caught in the lathe"?

—Ted

November 23, 2013 5:42 pm

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