The Drivers by Edward W. Ludwig
Tom Rogers, a twenty-year-old journalism student at Western U, arrives at the Department of Land-Jet Vehicles Division of Licenses two days before his twenty-first birthday—the deadline after which enlistment becomes mandatory and evaders are automatically arrested. Terrified, he secretly hopes he has failed the required tests. Final Examiner Harry Hayden, a veteran Driver with rows of Driver's Ribbons, reviews Tom's file and grows suspicious that Tom waited so long to enlist. Tom lies, claiming his mother didn't want him to Drive, concealing his real secret: he has been afraid of jetmobiles since witnessing a crash at age three and seeing his grandfather die in one at age seven, a fear five years of psychiatric treatment never cured. Hayden quizzes Tom on Driving history. Tom recites the official account—that Driving was instituted in 1998 to give young people, cursed by wars and delinquency, an outlet for energy and thrills, weeding out the unfit through death—then adds his own insight that people also Drive to escape boredom and prove themselves "mightier than death." Hayden is impressed but puzzled, and passes Tom despite psychological reports noting his lack of confidence and inferiority complex, confident that Driving will "fix him up." Hayden shows Tom the Jetway and the black DeLuxe Super-Jet '41 Hornets from an observation platform; watching two jetmobiles roar past nearly at sonic speed, Tom is overwhelmed and vomits. At home, Tom's parents throw a surprise party. His father, a decorated Driver whose sons Mark and Larry both died Driving, is boisterous with pride; his mother is visibly fearful beneath her pride. Guests, including Uncle Mack, toast Tom with Driving songs. Tom privately reflects on humanity's ancient hunger for combat—from Paleolithic warriors to gladiators to knights to football players—and wonders if the law of Driving is truly unjust. The next morning, ashen with fear, Tom collects his Hornet at the terminal, watching seasoned Drivers gear up like warriors. A young acquaintance, Larry Miles, greets him confidently before driving off. Tom forces himself into the cockpit and drives, terrified, gradually pushing past 500, then 600, then 700 miles per hour despite near-misses and the sight of wrecked cars on the emergency strip that recall his grandfather's death. He fights down his revulsion and memories. Pulled onto the emergency strip after braking from a reckless passing car, Tom is targeted by a "side-swiper"—a veteran killer named Wilson with a record of accidents and fatalities. Tom instinctively fires all his jets, creating a shield of flame; Wilson's Hornet is thrown into a fatal, spectacular crash. A Referee's copter-jet arrives and Tom is hailed as having survived and defeated a notorious killer on his very first day. That night, another celebration follows, with Tom now wearing a crimson fatality ribbon bearing a silver death's-head and a sea-blue Circle of Honor. His father recounts the encounter proudly to the assembled guests—now including Tom's own college friends, Larry Miles, Norm Powers, Geraldine Oliver, and Sally Peters, who accept him for the first time. Tom savors his sudden fame, feeling his fear reduced to something fragile. His mother, still sad and anxious, asks if he'll stay home on his birthday the next day. Tom tells her that Sally Peters has invited him to a party in New Boston, and that instead of taking the monorail, he will be Driving.
By Edward W. Ludwig · First published 1957 · Genre: Science Fiction, Thriller, Adventure · 5,904 words
First lines
_Jetways were excellent substitutes for war, perfect outlets for all forms of neuroses. And the unfit were weeded out by death._
Up the concrete steps. Slowly, one, two, three, four. Down the naked, ice-white corridor. The echo of his footfalls like drumbeats, ominous, threatening.
What this Textopian page supports
The Drivers is listed on Textopian as a novel by Edward W. Ludwig, dated 1957 CE.
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- Work type: Novel
- Author: Edward W. Ludwig
- Date: 1957 CE
- Language: English
- Genres: Science Fiction, Thriller, Adventure, Drama, Mystery
- Length: 5,904 words
- Structure: 1 section, 218 paragraphs
- Reading fit: Fairly Easy (7th Grade)
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- Work identity for The Drivers by Edward W. Ludwig
- Canonical title URL and first readable passage URL
- Genre and topic classification from the Textopian catalog
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Genres
- Science Fiction — The plot revolves around futuristic technology and speculative advancements.
- Thriller — The narrative includes high-stakes situations and intense action sequences.
- Adventure — The story features a journey with numerous challenges and exciting events.
- Drama — The characters experience significant personal and emotional development.
Tags
Automotive · Racing · Sports · Thriller · Action · Adventure · Fast-paced · Suspenseful · Competitive · Speed · Adrenaline · Rivalry