Death Wish

"Death Wish" by Ned Lang is a science fiction short story from the mid-20th century, specifically published in 1956. The tale centers around the space freighter "Queen Dierdre" and the perilous situation faced by its crew as their ship hurtles out of the Solar System. The narrative explores themes of human frailty in the face of mechanical failure and the psychological burdens of isolation in space. The story follows Captain Somers, engineer Mr. Watkins, and navigator Mr. Rajcik as they contend with a critical malfunction on their ship, which leaves them accelerating uncontrollably into the vastness of space. As tensions rise amongst the crew, they attempt to devise a solution using the advanced Fahrensen Computer onboard. However, when the computer offers a longevity serum allowing them to survive for thousands of years while watching the stars, they grapple with the horrifying realization of their entrapment. The plot delves into the human desire for agency, the fight against despair, and the unsettling implications of a machine's "death wish," ultimately forcing the characters to confront the desperation of their situation.