Paying It Forward by Michael A. Burstein

“Paying It Forward” is a 2003 science fiction short story by Michael A. Burstein. It is about an aspiring writer who carries on an email tutelage with a recently deceased science fiction author.

Non-Spoiler Summary In A Nutshell:

Carl Lambclear was a great science fiction author. Not only did he write great stories and novels, but he also wrote excellent books about how to write science fiction. Those were the favorites and most heart felt pieces for the narrator of this story, who upon learning of Mr. Lambclear’s death is spurred to visit his website. While there he clicks on the email link and pens his affectionate appreciation for Lambclear’s works. After the email is sent the narrator returns to his daily routine of writing, but is quite surprised when he receives a reply! Although he is skeptical as to who is really replying to his email, he never-the-less develops a correspondence with the “someone” or “something” who offers to help him with his writing. Over the years their friendship grows until the narrator receives some very grave news.

I moused over the “Send me email” link and watched it blink back and forth between white and red. Finally, I clicked on it, bringing up my email program with the “To:” field already addressed to Lambclear’s America Online account (again, does anyone still remember them?). For a brief moment, I felt silly – but only for a moment. I stared at the screen, looked out my window at the autumn leaves just beginning to turn on the trees, and then I composed this message: …

My Two Cents:

• The good:

• I enjoyed the clever use of technology in this story. Michael Burstein makes good use of email, computers, the multiverse and even the Turing Test.
• “Paying It Forward” contains some very good writing – writing which doesn’t feel rushed nor overly drawn out. There are some excellent descriptions of what the narrator is feeling and experiencing.
• I liked that the main idea of this story (which I don’t want to give away) is used to help another person become better. It is an uplifting story, not like the many stories that use time travel / multiple universes / intelligent computers to depict bleak futures and the end of life as we know it!

• The bad:

• I know… “nice, uplifting story” is not the kind of science fiction that many people want to read. If you enjoy stories that are action oriented, or lean more towards nasty dystopian futures, then this one may not be your cup of tea. I, however, quite enjoyed it.

Fact Sheet:
• Page Count: 15
• Word Count: 7,883
• “Paying It Forward” garnered the following awards:

• It was nominated for the 2004 Hugo Award for Best Short Story.
• It placed 2nd in the voting for the 2004 AnLab award for best novelette.

Where you can find “Paying It Forward”:

• This short story first appeared in the September 2003 issue of Analog.
• “Paying It Forward” is included in Michael Burstein’s collection I Remember the Future: The Award-Nominated Stories of Michael A. Burstein.
• You can read a nice online version of “Paying It Forward” for free at the Apex Book Company web site.

Some Interesting Links:

• Did you know that Michael Burstein is an elected Town Meeting Member? Yep. You can learn more about this science fiction author by reading the Wikipedia article about him.
• Special thanks to QuasarDragon for pointing out this great story.

Craving More Stories?
If you enjoyed this story then you might also like Distant Replay, about an elderly man who meets a woman that looks and acts exactly like his deceased wife, by Mike Resnick.

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