Preferred Risk

"Preferred Risk" by Edson McCann is a science fiction novel written in the mid-20th century. The story is set in a future where a powerful insurance company exerts control over society, ensuring a risk-free existence at the cost of personal freedoms. The main character, Claims Adjuster Thomas Wills, navigates the complexities of this world while grappling with his own past and the enigmatic figure of a notorious fraudster, Luigi Zorchi, who seems to defy conventional limits of human endurance and injury. At the start of the novel, Wills arrives in Naples, filled with both anticipation and trepidation as he acclimates to his new role with the Company. He quickly finds himself embroiled in a chaotic situation at the train station where a desperate man dives in front of a train, provoking applause rather than horror from the crowd. Wills discovers that this man, Zorchi, has a history of self-inflicted injuries for insurance claims, raising questions about ethics, loyalty to the Company, and the human experience in a world that prizes safety above all else. The opening sets the tone for a narrative that promises suspense, ethical dilemmas, and an examination of societal norms shaped by corporate power.