"Nitpick" by K. S. O'Neill appeared in Daily Science Fiction on May 23, 2013. "Poets and fine artists are at the top, and academicians are at the bottom, of the social ladder in a world where parasites have been engineered into commensal animals."
"Nitpick" is a wickedly delightful, refreshingly original, memorable, satirical tale that turns some longstanding conventions on their heads. The notion that higher level mathematics is a frivolous waste of time and suitable only as a pastime for little children sings to me on more than just a satirical level. The longer I live, the more I believe that this may actually be true. Throw in some genetically engineered lice ripe for the picking and eating, when one expects that such parasites would have been exterminated in the futuristic world Mr. O'Neill depicts, and what results is a mind-blowing gamut of emotions from horror and disgust to eventual enlightened acceptance. Bravo, Mr. O'Neill, and thank you. 7 out of 7 rocket-dragons.
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