It’s the plot device from a Stanisław Lem story - one of the Pirx or Tichy stories, I don’t recall - in which a character is told a story by a stranger in a bar about his awful opera-singer ex-wife; about getting a wish (from a djinni or something); and how he wishes for one night of a perfect performance for her. The listener is puzzled about why he’d use a wish on this until the story teller explains that thereafter, not only can she no longer perform as she’s deeply unsatisfied with her subsequent singing, but everyone in the audience - including the jilted husband, who was in the audience - can no longer enjoy opera since it all now sounds horrible to them in comparison.
Great short story. I wish I could remember the name, but credit for the idea should be attributed to Lem.
I can’t take credit for it.
It’s the plot device from a Stanisław Lem story - one of the Pirx or Tichy stories, I don’t recall - in which a character is told a story by a stranger in a bar about his awful opera-singer ex-wife; about getting a wish (from a djinni or something); and how he wishes for one night of a perfect performance for her. The listener is puzzled about why he’d use a wish on this until the story teller explains that thereafter, not only can she no longer perform as she’s deeply unsatisfied with her subsequent singing, but everyone in the audience - including the jilted husband, who was in the audience - can no longer enjoy opera since it all now sounds horrible to them in comparison.
Great short story. I wish I could remember the name, but credit for the idea should be attributed to Lem.