The amazing snox box - Brian Gage

"To subjugate slaves, convince them they’re free," says Sammy Sopkins, the Intergalactic Salesman, in THE AMAZING SNOX BOX, which tells the story of King Locks who rules over the diamond-rich moon of Zanic. King Locks has enslaved the entire population to mine his diamonds but, as conditions grow ever more intolerable, the slaves plan a revolt. As they prepare to storm the Bastille, enter Sammy with the panacea for the autocrat’s ills: the amazing Snox Box. King Locks, Sammy explains, should free all the slaves and give them Snox Boxes. The Box will show lifestyles so tempting they'll work even harder, without any need for coercion. Sammy send King Locks into what he assures the King will be only a temporary exile and Sammy dispenses free Snox Boxes to the newly emancipated slave, who gaily return to work.
Once all are in thrall to the Box, Sammy shows them a news story announcing that their former tyrant was actually their misunderstood savior. King Locks is welcomed back with open arms. Once the goat, he’s now a hero. Then the bill for the free Snox Boxes falls due, and the King seems disinclined to pay?