I once had an idea for a science fiction story: what if the world had become so Mass Produced that the most valuable object d'art would be an unpublished manuscript, the kind in the bottom of the dresser?
“An Unpublished Manuscript”
"It's the only one of its kind," the dealer cooed.
"Signed?" asked the buyer.
"Better than that," the dealer said. "See, here's the stack of rejections from all the major publishers and agents of the Twentieth Century!"
"Have you read it?"
"What! Of course not. That would ruin its virginal status." The dealer leaned closer and whispered to the buyer, "It hasn't been read in over a hundred years. That's what makes it so priceless."
"You guarantee it's the only one in existence?"
"Not even a Xerox!" the dealer boasted.
The buyer said, "Good!" He pulled out his gun and shot the startled book dealer between the eyes. He caught the manuscript as the dealer slumped to the floor. "Now it's mine."
(Does the story still work? Or has Kindle made this piece ... obsolete?)
Fred Zackel
author of ...
COCAINE & BLUE EYES
CINDERELLA AFTER MIDNIGHT
CREEPIER THAN A WHOREHOUSE KISS
A DEATH IN KEY LARGO
TOUGH TOWN COLD CITY
&
MURDER IN WAIKIKI
All (and more) are available on Kindle and smashwords