Instant Gold

by Frank O'Rourke

The year is 1964 and gold bullion is illegal to own. Private citizens are required to sell it to the government for a fixed price. Early one foggy November morning a small shop opens for business in the fashionable shopping district of downtown San Francisco. Showcased in their window is the one thing they sell. A small, nondescript can with simple lettering. Etched clearly on the plate glass window was...Instant Gold. Could alchemy be real? Three mysterious inventors open shop after shop and everyone wants something. Big business and the mob want a piece of the action. The government wants to control them, and the public just want their 8 ounces of fine gray powder to turn into solid gold. Instant Gold is a modern day fairy tale that satirizes human greed and lays bare the whole paradox of free enterprise capitalism.

Genres: Fiction, Science Fiction

140 pages, Hardcover

First published January 1, 1964

About the author

Frank O'Rourke was an American writer known for western and mystery novels and sports fiction. O'Rourke wrote more than 60 novels and numerous magazine articles.

Born in Denver, Colorado he attended Kemper Military School. A talented amateur baseball player, he considered trying out for a professional team, but was called up for service in World War II. At the end of the war he decided to become a writer.

Several of O'Rourke's novels were filmed, The Bravados (1958) was the first, and his novel A Mule for the Marquesa was made into a popular movie called The Professionals (1966).

Later in life, O'Rourke turned to writing children's literature. He committed suicide on April 27, 1989.

In addition to his actual name O'Rourke also wrote under the following names: Kevin Connor; Frank O'Malley and Patrick O'Malley

Reviews

[Fredrick Danysh · Rating 3 out of 5]

A novel about a con game where instant gold is sold. The plot is somewhat involved and the ending surprising. A good clean work without profanity, sex, or violence.

[Marsha Valance · Rating 4 out of 5]

A satire on greed. A Science Fiction Book Club selection.

[Tamara Crum · Rating 5 out of 5]

O’Rourke has a wonderful way with words! Instant Gold reads very much like works of Robert Heinlein and Ayn Rand; super intelligent protagonists out to prove a moralistic point; the common man depressed by a perverted ruling system; and a love for logic and intelligence above all else. Although intimately exposed to the main characters, you never really learn who they are, and while the ending is adorable and witty, it left me wishing for a bit more closure. I do love the book and wish he had written more like it. It’s a quick and enjoyable read, and I highly recommend.

[Jeffrey Thomas · Rating 1 out of 5]

I got this book many years ago, and recently re-read it. A fun read, but quite dated view into the magic of the 1960s, with mysterious characters of mysterious provenance introducing mysterious powders. It is an intriguing thought experiment, but never fully fleshed out -- my economics professors might assign this to illustrate how scarcity defines value. We never really find out how or why, nor even really the final results. The title and the plot outline say it all: what would happen if someone produced instant gold? You write the rest...no need to read this book.

[Alana Cash · Rating 5 out of 5]

The set up to the mystery is compelling. The writing and author are intelligent and the book is easy to read. Altho it's science fiction [alchemy] and a commentary on greed, it's also a commentary on the intrusion of government, suppression of information, and governmental control.

[Rachel · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book was rather clever and tongue-in-cheek. What would happen to the economy and society if we could suddenly make our own gold? The book plays it out with a strong satirical tone and a bit of philosophy at the end. Worth reading!

[Chris Thomas · Rating 5 out of 5]

A real gem of a book, pure gold through and through...

The less you know before reading the better, in many ways. It is both serious and entertaining, moralistic and mischievous. Dive in, enjoy, and think on...