Don't Shoot

In Short

This story is a humorous, cautionary piece of mid-century science fiction about the collision of artistic integrity and cutthroat corporate greed. When an idealistic young physicist invents a device capable of projecting perfect 3-D images, he falls under the thumb of a desperate, cynical film producer. The invention soon proves to be a dangerous matter-transmitter, leading to a frantic struggle for control that ends with the antagonist displaced in the wilderness. It has endured as a sharp, satirical look at the ruthless nature of the entertainment industry.

The Story

The narrator, a young physicist, begins his confession in a state of terror, fearing the inevitable arrival of authorities who will place him in a padded cell. He feels compelled to speak after reading reports that an expedition is hunting the "Abominable Snowman" in the Himalayas. He reveals that the creature is not a beast but Mr. Eammer, a powerful and unscrupulous Hollywood mogul.

The conflict begins when television’s rise threatens Eammer’s film empire. Eammer, a man who views his audience as "sheep" and his product as a delivery system for "pretty girlies," is desperate to maintain his industry dominance. Through his secretary—the narrator’s girlfriend, Mary—Eammer learns of the narrator’s invention. Despite the narrator’s misgivings, Mary convinces him to meet the producer to secure a future for their marriage.

The narrator arrives at the studio to find Eammer in a panic, bullying staff while struggling to compete with modern innovations like the "Largoscope." Though the narrator initially finds Eammer repulsive, the producer offers a life-changing sum of money and a chance for Mary to become a star. The narrator accepts, delivering a machine that, during a demonstration involving his cat, Susie, accidentally reveals a flaw: it is a matter-transmitter that changes the size of the subject based on its settings. A catastrophic short circuit shrinks the cat to an inch in length, proving the device is far more powerful—and dangerous—than intended.

Eammer, seeing profit, forces the narrator to work day and night to perfect the machine. Once they succeed in manipulating matter at will, Eammer’s ambition swells, and he reveals his plan to use the technology to seize total control over all entertainment, while settling petty personal vendettas. Realizing he has armed a "ruthless moron," the narrator snaps, punches Eammer, and shoves him into the transmitter, sending him to the cold, rocky wastes of the Himalayas.

The narrator destroys his blueprints and the machine, returning the money to Eammer’s lawyers. He concludes his confession by pleading with the public not to shoot the "Snowman," as the displaced producer is merely trying to find his way back from a life of excessive greed to the world he once exploited.

How It Unfolds

The pressure builds The film industry reels under the pressure of television, forcing the desperate Mr. Eammer to seek a miracle to save his studio. His secretary, Mary, brings in her genius boyfriend to offer a solution that could make current cinema technology obsolete.

The demonstration In a small lab, the inventor shows Eammer a device that projects 3-D images of his cat. During the display, a short circuit causes the cat to shrink, revealing that the machine is actually a dangerous matter-transmitter.

The hollow deal Eammer ignores the risks, offering the inventor a million dollars and fame for Mary to secure the rights to the tech. Both sides agree to the contract, blinded by the potential for wealth and prestige.

The final confrontation As the inventor masters the device, Eammer boasts of his plans to become the master of global entertainment. Recognizing the moral ruin he has enabled, the inventor fights back and uses the transmitter to exile the mogul.

The People

The Narrator is a brilliant but naive young physicist who desperately wants to provide for his beloved. His desire to succeed blinds him to the dangers of working with someone as morally bankrupt as Eammer, leading him to a desperate act of violence to correct his mistake.

Mr. Eammer is a cynical, loudmouthed movie mogul who views art as a commodity and people as tools. He is defined by his greed and his utter contempt for the intelligence of his audience. His evolution is minimal; he remains a grasping, manipulative force until the moment he is launched into the Himalayas.

Mary serves as the bridge between the two men. She is the heart of the story, driven by her genuine love for the narrator and a misplaced, though well-intentioned, desire to see him recognized for his genius. She is ultimately the one who helps the narrator finalize the destruction of the evidence, ensuring the mogul's legacy dies with his disappearance.

In Its Own Voice

"If it is true that an expedition is being organized in London to go to the cold and rocky wastes of the Himalayas for the purpose of investigating that astonishing primeval creature called 'The Abominable Snowman,' then I am forced to tell you immediately ... the Abominable Snowman is none other than Mr. Eammer, the famous movie magnate."

The narrator opens his story with this startling, desperate admission, setting the stakes for his confession.

"When the movie industry began to look for good stories and material that stimulated the mind as well as the emotion, Mr. Eammer had jeered. 'Ha. People are stupid, people are sheep. They don't want to think, they just want to see the pretty girlies.'"

This passage highlights the central conflict between the narrator’s scientific, intellectual world and the hollow, exploitative culture of the studio system.

What It's Really About

The story centers on the tension between pure discovery and the corrupting influence of commercialism. It asks whether a creator bears responsibility for how their work is used by those in power. By transforming the "Abominable Snowman" from a mythical monster into a symbol of Hollywood's vanity, the narrative suggests that the true monsters are often the men who treat culture as a battlefield for dominance. It argues that genius is easily exploited when the inventor lacks the skepticism necessary to navigate a world governed by wealth, ultimately suggesting that some inventions are too dangerous to be entrusted to the hands of the greedy.

Why Read It Today

Readers who enjoy the biting satire of early science fiction will find much to admire here. The story moves with a frantic, cinematic energy that feels like a classic "twilight zone" episode brought to the page. It captures the mid-century anxiety about the shifting landscape of television and film, mirroring the way modern audiences might view the rapid advancement of current technology.

One challenge for the modern reader is the dated, somewhat caricatured language regarding gender roles—Mary is defined almost entirely by her proximity to the men and her excitement about becoming a starlet. Additionally, the narrator’s transition from a humble scientist to an accidental jailer happens at breakneck speed, which may feel jarring to those who prefer more subtle character development. However, the core of the story—a man grappling with the guilt of empowering a tyrant—remains universal. It leaves you thinking about the ethics of innovation and whether, in a world of "colossal" corporate ambition, the best inventions are sometimes those that never leave the laboratory. It is a quick, funny, and deeply cynical read that serves as a reminder that every innovation has a human cost, and that even a "genius" can be remarkably foolish.