User:DoctorWho42/The Major Incitement to Riot

"The Major Incitement to Riot" is a short story by American author Barry N. Malzberg as K. M. O'Donnell. It was first published in the February 1969 issue of Fantastic.

Background
Malzberg said the basic image came from a 103°F fever induced by a facial shaving cut.

Publication history
"The Major Incitement to Riot" was first published in the February 1969 issue of Fantastic. In 1969, it appeared in the book Final War and Other Fantasies.

Plot
The death-mask of the Chief Clerk hangs in the town square. Warren Cleaver tells his wife Mary that he'll take their son Roger to see the mask. Roger Cleaver is depressed. When they see the mask, Roger receives it well. However, the mask comes loose and the crowd panics. Warren Cleaver is trampled to death. Roger hid in the podium as the mask fell and survived.

The death of the Chief Clerk was caused by assassination. During a dinner, a fanatic threw a bomb. Nothing of the Chief Clerk remained but a reconstruction of his face. When it was moved to the town square, the Opposition threw a bomb while snipers from rooftops shot at the crowd. Many were killed as the mask burned. The occupation of the town began.

The Chief Clerk gave a speech at the dinner held in Town Banquet Hall. The speech provoked someone to throw a grenade at him. Only a reconstruction of his face remained which inspired the counter-revolution. The speech is available for viewing by permit in the Museum.

Roger Cleaver was having a rough year. News of the Chief Clerk made him feel relieved though since someone more important than him was killed. When his father showed him the death-mask, he is marked by the futility of it all. After, the bombing and the town occupation began.

As Roger returns homeward, he realises he feels better. He might become the Chief himself.

Reception
In its 1969 reprint for Ace Books's Barry N. Malzberg collection Final War and Other Fantasies, the author said "along with Death To The Keeper and Final War seems to be the most achieved literary short story I've ever done."