After installing a pile of emacs packages and restarting I get this: {package emacs25-lucid (not installed) [modified: usr/share/emacs/25.2/etc/DOC] failed to install/upgrade: subprocess installed post-installation script returned error exit status 1}

[The Geeko]

I got my emacs system unusable... so I un-installed and re-installed the whole emacs systems with a plethora of add-on packages.

I used synaptic for the installation. Before installing the packages, I had "geeked" emacs... and, finding that it could not start in graphics mode, I performed some "down-n-dirty" removal because synaptic was seeing evidence of it being installed (ignoring that it would only start in text mode)...

I finally got the system in a state of synaptic allowing me to install it. I used the "should not try this at work" technique of going into /var/lib/dpkg/status and removed "emacs-lucid" from the file. Only then, was I able to completely re-install emacs. So, I'm sure there was some residue left. I was unsure of how to resolve my problem without the brute-force approach that I used.

lsb_release -rd reports:
Description: Ubuntu 17.10
Release: 17.10

emacs25-lucid:
  Installed: (none)
  Candidate: 25.2+1-6
  Version table:
    25.2+1-6 500
       500 http://us.archive.ubuntu.com/ubuntu artful/universe amd64 Packages

emacs25:
  Installed: 25.2+1-6
  Candidate: 25.2+1-6
  Version table:
*** 25.2+1-6 500
      500 http://us.archive.ubuntu.com/ubuntu artful/main amd64 Packages

If I can help in any way, I am all too happy to do so.

ProblemType: Package
DistroRelease: Ubuntu 17.10
Package: emacs25-lucid (not installed) [modified: usr/share/emacs/25.2/etc/DOC]
ProcVersionSignature: Ubuntu 4.13.0-31.34-generic 4.13.13
Uname: Linux 4.13.0-31-generic x86_64
ApportVersion: 2.20.7-0ubuntu3.7
AptOrdering:
 emacs-nox:amd64: Remove
 emacs25-nox:amd64: Remove
 emacs25-lucid:amd64: Install
 NULL: ConfigurePending
Architecture: amd64
Date: Mon Jan 22 19:12:49 2018
ErrorMessage: subprocess installed post-installation script returned error exit status 1
InstallationDate: Installed on 2017-07-12 (194 days ago)
InstallationMedia: Ubuntu-GNOME 17.04 "Zesty Zapus" - Release amd64 (20170412)
Python3Details: /usr/bin/python3.6, Python 3.6.3, python3-minimal, 3.6.3-0ubuntu2
PythonDetails: /usr/bin/python2.7, Python 2.7.14, python-minimal, 2.7.14-2ubuntu1
RelatedPackageVersions:
 dpkg 1.18.24ubuntu1
 apt 1.5.1
SourcePackage: emacs25
Title: package emacs25-lucid (not installed) [modified: usr/share/emacs/25.2/etc/DOC] failed to install/upgrade: subprocess installed post-installation script returned error exit status 1
UpgradeStatus: Upgraded to artful on 2017-10-23 (91 days ago)

[Launchpad Janitor (janitor)]

Status changed to 'Confirmed' because the bug affects multiple users.