The Champion of Reason

The Champion of Reason is a philosophical comedy, a scathing satire, and a rock-’n’-roll adventure of one man’s battle for truth, justice, and the rational way. Harold Brown, professor of philosophy at Northern Illinois University, wrote: “It’s a dangerous book: it will make you laugh and make you think.”

A traveling DJ comes rolling into Addleton (taken from the word ‘addlebrained’), which is a microcosm of American foolishness. He isn’t in the singular city long before he hears a superhero-infatuated little girl ask, “Why isn’t there a superhero to fight foolishness?” That’s all it takes for him to get together a costume and set himself up as the foe of folly, the Champion of Reason.

Standing on the side of science, the Champion of Reason barges in here and there and delivers harangues that incite the Addletonians. The corrupt mayor and his inept police force are then out to capture him, causing the plot to thicken and the action to pick up.

The Champ’s message can be summed up in this excerpt from a pro-evolution (anti-Creationism) speech he delivers in the pseudo-science class at Addleton High: “I’m not preaching, I’m teaching. There are a lot of people telling you to believe this or believe that. I’m not telling you to believe anything. All I’m saying is, ‘Be reasonable’.”