Welcome to The Week's "What Next?" contest, an invitation to test your powers of imagination with challenges inspired by current events.
Click here for the results of the previous contest: Misinterpreted tweets
Last week's question: Author Jonathan Franzen is sounding the alarm that digital books may open the door to Orwellian censorship, since without ink on paper, they are much easier for some central authority to edit or rewrite. We asked you to supply a line or title from a famous book that smacks of government alteration.
Subscribe to The Week
Escape your echo chamber. Get the facts behind the news, plus analysis from multiple perspectives.
SUBSCRIBE & SAVE
Sign up for The Week's Free Newsletters
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
RESULTS:
THE WINNER: When Gregor Samsa woke up one morning from some unsettling dreams, he found himself changed into a severely conservative Republican.
Ed Markarian, Santa Monica, CA
SECOND PLACE: Quote the raven: "Spend some more."
Wendy Kriendler, Tucson, AZ
THIRD PLACE: The Origin of the Species by Means of Intelligent Design
John Besnard, Irvine, CA
HONORABLE MENTIONS
The Joy of Procreation
Anne Scott, Denver, CO
Frankly, my dear, I don't give a damn about the very poor.
Newell Walls, Tallahassee, FL
The 99% doth protest too much.
Aaron Carlson, Rochester, MN
I need to depend less on the kindness of strangers.
Dick LaVine, New York, NY
We the corporations of the United States...
Sally Morgan, Edmond, OK
We're gonna need a bigger committee.
Jim Topper, Turtle Creek, PA
It is a truth universally acknowledged that a single man in possession of a good fortune should be taxed at the highest bracket.
Susie Becker, San Rafael, CA
It is a truth universally acknowledged that a single man in possession of a good fortune must be in want of a tax break.
Caroline Kirk, Winona, MN
Let me tell you about the very rich. They are better than you and me.
Stephen Mattson, Los Osos, CA
A person's a person no matter how small. We've tapped your phone and hear every call.
Barbara James, Bedford, MA
Lolita, light of my life, fire of my loins — does your health plan cover contraception?
Cali Preston, Perry Hall, MC
As a Higher Power — which may or may not exist — as my witness, I'll never be hungry again!
Thomas Albert, Los Angeles, CA
It was the best of times — Obama was president — it was the worst of times, which was all Bush's fault.
Bob Dalton, Arlington VA
It was the best of times, it was the best-er of times.
Adam Shapiro, River Vale, NJ
A Series of Unfortunate Events Caused by Selfish Rich People
Chris Call, Santa Rosa, CA
To Kill a Muckraker
BJ Fogg, Stanford, CA
The Newt Testament
Helen Drake, Larkspur, CA
How Green Is Your Valley?
Mary Holz, Santa Maria, CA
Congress Shrugged
Kenneth R. Updegrove, Cedaredge, CO
The Old Man and the Death Panel
Lisanne Temeles, State College, PA
2020: The Settlement on the Moon Odyssey
Edmund Conti, Raleigh, NC
Big Brother is definitely not watching you.
Ryan O'Leary, South Bend, KN
