Archaeology and Science Fiction – Like Peanut Butter and Chocolate!

I think I’ve mentioned this before, but I am intensely fascinated by anthropology and archaeology. And when they are combined with a great science fiction story by an excellent author… well, let’s just say that its better than Reece’s Peanut Butter cups!

Non-Spoiler Summary

Ever since Simmilgord was a little boy growing up among the brightly colored savannas of Majipoor he has longed to study the planet’s history and tell its story. After many years of school and hard study he and his friend are given the chance of a lifetime – to excavate the tomb of the first Pontifex of Majipoor! He starts off as a skeptical scholar, but as they make several exciting discoveries his skepticism melts away and the two friends revel in their work – that is until the Superintendent of Antiquities becomes aware of their dig and stops by to (ahem…) help them out. Can their friendship survive the snobbish intrusion? Or will everything literally fall to pieces?

Some Interesting Tidbits

• Word count: 13,708 (34 pages)
• Did you know that Robert Silverberg has written more than 580 short stories? Yep. You can learn more about this prolific writer at majipoor.com.
• "The Tomb of the Pontifex Dvorn" is part of Silverberg’s Majipoor series. If you like it be sure to check out some of the other novels and stories set on this amazing planet – beginning with the award winning Lord Valentine’s Castle.
• Special thanks to the excellent Variety SF for pointing me towards this awesome story!

Where To Find The Tomb of the Pontifex Dvorn

• This story first appeared in the Winter 2011 edition of Subterranean Online – where you can still read it for free.

Craving More SF Stories Like This One?

If you liked "The Tomb of the Pontifex Dvorn" then you may also enjoy “Seven Views of Olduvai Gorge” by Mike Resnick – a story set in the far future when a group of anthropological aliens are studying the long and brutal empire of mankind.

NON SPOILER SUMMARY

Linguists, scholars, observers and travelers have studied the Asonu, trying to discover why the people become more and more silent as they grow older.  They have a language, it has been heard, it is taught to their children.  But the adults speak on such rare occasion that it has caused great debate.  Do they stay silent to prevent contention?  Do they carry such wisdom that they don’t need to speak?  The Silence of the Asonu is an unusual and interesting story that causes you to ponder these questions.

MY THOUGHTS

This story kind of felt like I was reading a documentary.. very informative and educational.. yet with the odd twist that the documentary was mostly guesswork (and fictional). The Silence of the Asonu was comical in parts, to think that others would go to such great lengths to force meaning into something so obvious.   I enjoyed the questions this raised in my mind, about how valuable speech really is.

INTERESTING TIDBITS

• Word Count: 2,347
• Page Count: 6
• Published: 1998
• About the Author: Did you know Ursula K. Le Guin is the winner of five Hugo and six Nebula awards!?  You can read more about this talented author at her website.

WHERE TO FIND THIS STORY

You can read The Silence of the Asonu for free at Lightspeed Magazine.

Be sure to read the Author Spotlight for this story, where Ursula K. Le Guin answers questions about her story.

Better Than The Movies

Do you remember all those “Earth gets destroyed by an asteroid (or comet)” movies in the 1990′s? I do. “Deep Impact” and “Armageddon” come to mind. Some of them were good, some not so much. This story is, to me anyway, more proof that writing is always better than cinema! Yay – go written SF!

Non-Spoiler Summary

Captain Robert Singh is part of the crew that has been sent to the asteroid Kali. Their job is to build the thrusters that will alter Kali’s course enough to avoid collision with Earth. It has taken a long time, lots of money and plenty of politics to get to this point, and now that they are ready to start the burn that will push Kali out of its current orbit, the crew is about to discover that things don’t always go as planned. What’s that saying about the true measure of a man being shown when he is under pressure? Well, Captain Singh and his crew are about to find out what they are really made of – and all the people on Earth are hoping it’s the “right stuff.”

Some Interesting Tidbits

• Word count: 4,458 (8 pages)
• Did you know that Arthur C. Clarke spent some time as chairman of the British Interplanetary Society? Yep. You can learn more about this giant of science fiction literature at Wikipedia.
• This short story was the basis for Arthur C. Clarke’s 1994 novel also titled The Hammer of God.

Where To Find The Hammer of God

• This short story first appeared in October 1992 in Time magazine.
• You can read "The Hammer of God" for free online at the web site of Lightspeed magazine.
• You can find this story in many anthologies, including the prestigious book The Collected Stories of Arthur C. Clarke.

Craving More SF Stories Like This One?

If you liked "The Hammer of God" then you may also enjoy another of Sir Arthur C. Clarke’s stories: “The Star” – about a Jesuit astrophysicist aboard a starship that is investigating the Phoenix Nebula.

The Nature Of Man. Since the days of Pinocchio, inanimate devices seem mesmerized by Man and obsessed with trying to discover the answer to what it is and what it means to be human.

This quirky yet wonderful novelette, written by Roger Zelazny in 1966, illustrates the frustratingly perplex struggle to correlate genius with folly, strength with frailty, and all the promise and pratfalls of what it means to be Man! (*)

Story Synopsis:

Long after the Last Man had perished from existence, the Earth is faithfully maintained by armies of robotized machines and computers dedicated to the rebuilding program initiated by humans before their demise.

Solcom orbits the Earth directing the effort .To aid him in this task, Solcom builds a super computer called Frost to rule the Northern Hemisphere and one called Beta to rule the Southern Hemisphere,

As a backup system, Man had created an Alternate to Solcom : Divcom. Divcom is activated prematurely and they have a constant battle to assert their claim to be the dominant force.

With no Man in existence to make the determination, Solcom and Divcom spend eons destroying each others’ rebuilding attempts.

Frost, having time and unused resources at his disposal, becomes interested in Man after unearthing some artifacts of this now extinct creature. Frost’s curiosity grows into a frantic obsession as his research produces more questions than answers.

In a parallel to God and Satan discussing Job, Solcom and Divcom make a deal between themselves based on the outcome of Frost’s insatiable desire to discern the Nature of Man.

(*) (If it’s any consolation, my dear Frost, we humans have pondered these very questions throughout our existence as well and have come away with pitifully few results.)

The Good:

• Very well written and does not suffer in the least for having no PEOPLE in the story.
• Provides us with a long hard look from the outside in, as it were, of ourselves.
• Suspenseful.

The Bad:

• Little action here and not a very complex topic.(**)
• The ending is a little corny but still a very enjoyable story.

This & That:

• Word count 11,249
• Page Count 28
• Similar Story: If you liked "For a Breath I Tarry" you’ll love “The Bicentennial Man” by Isaac Asimov!

Can be found here:

• The Last Defender of Camelot
• Science Fiction: A Historical Anthology
• You can read it free online here.

(**) This is the toughest part of doing these reviews…finding something negative to say! I agree with Rusty in his purpose for this site – namely ONLY THE GOOD STUFF! (I’m paraphrasing of course).

With very few exceptions, the only SF I read are short story anthologies and the only way I would review one here is if I feel it is one of the Best of The Best in the FIRST PLACE!

3 classic authors of short science fiction

When people think of science fiction, they usually imagine huge tomes with equally intimidating page counts and plot lines. Few people outside the sci-fi fan base consider the countless thought provoking sci-fi short stories produced every year by prominent and newfound writers. Below are three classic sci-fi authors with an impressive short story catalogue worth investigating.

Gene Wolfe

Throughout his prolific writing career, Gene Wolfe has quietly produced some of the best science fiction ever written. Neill Gaiman has famously touted Gene Wolfe as the greatest science fiction writer of our lifetime. He’s best known for his tetralogy The Book of the New Sun written in the eighties and more recently his novels The Knight and The Wizard, all of which showcase the author’s impressive vocabulary and his keen ability for constructing entirely new worlds that seem more real than our own.

But Gene Wolfe also has an impressive catalogue of short stories, including his 1979 collection titled The Fifth Head of Cerberus, a series of three novellas that chronicle the bizarre lives of characters ranging from mad scientists to jaded youths on dystopian landscapes. Though at first the novellas seem unrelated, the careful reader will unearth some chilling truths communicated about each world deftly drawn by Gene Wolfe.

Gene Wolfe also has a famous collection of sci-fi short stories called The Island of Doctor Death and Other Stories and Other Stories, published to universal acclaim in the eighties. The title story concerns the mind of a young man reading a book loosely resembling The Island of Doctor Moreau with more than a few twists. The whole collection is a mesmerizing meditation on the art of storytelling, and definitely worth your time to read.

Isaac Asimov

Unlike Gene Wolfe, Isaac Asimov had long enjoyed material success for his writings, and rightly so. Considered by many to be the seminal sci-fi author for his Foundation series, Asimov made readers question the morals and motives that come into play when humanity creates ambitious new technologies.

But, like Wolfe, Asimov was also known for his impressive output of sci-fi short stories. The entirety of his short stories have been published in the span of two huge volumes, the first of which is simply called Isaac Asimov, the Complete Stories, Vol. 1. His stories focus on a variety of human social issues, often played out in a near future setting whereby superhuman technologies threaten to outmatch their human makers.  Among his best short stories are the classics “Nightfall”—which chronicles a planet, normally in a state of perpetual daylight, succumbing to darkness—and “The Last Question,” a morbidly amusing story about cheating death.

Greg Egan

More contemporary than the previous two authors, Greg Egan is a meticulous writer with a high threshold for detailed and technical prose. He’s somewhat of an enigmatic author, with little known about his personal identity since he rarely makes interviews and never attends sci-fi conventions. The ambition of his works only adds to his mystique, as Egan constructs entirely new planets with painstakingly explained ecosystems and technologies that in turn often work as commentaries on those present on Earth.

One of his more famous short stories, “Oceanic,” concerns a young man named Martin in a futuristic society on an aquatic planet where a satirical religion plays a pivotal role. The human race exists on the oceanic body known as Covenant, and everyone’s on the lookout for the mythical land called Earth. The change in Martin’s religious beliefs from his childhood to his career as a scholar mark the focus of this story, as he discovers the disturbing realities of Covenant and the mythical Earth espoused by the world’s religion.

Byline:

This is a guest post from Jacelyn Thomas. Jacelyn writes about identity theft protection for IdentityTheft.net. She can be reached at: jacelyn.thomas @ gmail.com.

NON SPOILER SUMMARY

Cinnamon is a young princess who cannot talk.  Her parents are desperate to teach her to speak, and offer treasure and riches to anyone who can help her to do so.  Many try, but none succeed.  Until one day a fierce tiger arrives and wants to help Cinnamon.  Her parents are worried that the tiger will trick them, but they agree to let him try.

MY THOUGHTS

I may be a little biased here, after all, this story bears my name!  Yep, Cinnamon is my name, so I was stoked to stumble across this story last week when I was checking out Neil Gaiman’s website!  As with most Neil Gaiman stories, this one falls into the fantasy category of science fiction.  It was a very quick read with some great illustrations that your kids will enjoy too!

INTERESTING TIDBITS

• Word Count: 1,138
• Page Count: 3

WHERE TO FIND THIS STORY

You can read Cinnamon for free at Neil Gaiman’s website.

NON SPOILER SUMMARY

A man who is mourning his lost daughter decides to make journey to a legendary cave.  It is told that the cave is filled with gold, but that it is also cursed.  Most men are too afraid to seek the riches of the cave.  But our main character is no normal man, and he has had some unique experiences in life.  So he enlists the help of a guide, and together they make the long and difficult travel to the cave.  But when they arrive, things are not as they seem…

MY THOUGHTS

I’m ashamed to admit that this is the first story I have ever read by Neil Gaiman!  Tsk tsk…  But I am happy to announce that I now understand the cult following this famous author has acquired.  (1.5 million followers on Twitter.)

The Truth Is A Cave In The Black Mountains was a delightful first read for me.  I enjoyed Gaiman’s writing style, and the vivid images that drifted off the pages.  This story had layers of meaning, and left me thinking about the age old saying, “What goes around, comes around.”

Although this one falls more into the fantasy side of science fiction, I think you’ll enjoy it as much as I did.

INTERESTING TIDBITS

• Word Count: 10,517
• Page Count: 24
• About the Author: Did you know that Neil Gaiman’s first book was a Duran Duran biography?  Learn more fascinating facts about Neil at his website, or at Wikipedia.

WHERE TO FIND THIS STORY

You can read  The Truth Is A Cave In The Black Mountains for free at Fifty Two Stories.

NON SPOILER SUMMARY

Brent is excited to get his hands dirty in the vast green wilderness that, according to all the current start charts, has never been explored. He sets out into the dense, rolling jungle and encounters a wide variety of life. Plants, animals, birds, all foreign to his eye. And just as he is congratulating himself on being the first person to set foot there, he sees something very disturbing… a house.

MY THOUGHTS

Philip K. Dick is very adept at making the reader feel the emotions of the characters in his stories. I love getting into a character’s head, to see what they see, hear what they hear, touch what they touch. While all stories have a setting, I think it takes a talented writer to make you feel like YOU are the character. I enjoyed Strange Eden, being in a wild and beautiful place, feeling the shock of discovering I wasn’t the first one there, and the pure delight at meeting the other inhabitant of this world.

INTERESTING TIDBITS

• Page Count: 11
• About the Author: Did you know Philip K. Dick published 44 novels and 121 short stories? Read more about him at Wikipedia.

WHERE TO FIND THIS STORY

• Strange Eden is included in the collection of short stories The Philip K. Dick Reader.

"The Land Ironclads" is a 1903 science fiction short story by H. G. Wells. It is an eerily prophetic story about a war correspondent and a soldier in a fictitious battle between “townsmen” and “countrymen”. What’s the catch? While one side has the brawn, the other may have the brains to turn the tide of the war forever.

H. G. Wells: Master Oracle of Future Science:

Even though we don’t have time machines and anti-gravity units yet, Wells certainly was a pioneer of these now almost ubiquitous concepts in science fiction. But what actual science did he predict? The military now uses heat emitting microwave rays for riot control. We live in a wirelessly connected world not so different from his utopian novel, Men Like Gods. He even described in great detail automatically sliding doors, escalators and airport people movers before the turn of the 20th century – a true visionary.

Non-spoiler Summary in a Nutshell:

A news reporter is on assignment at the front. He’s thrust into the heart of battle with his only source being a war-weary soldier with a very cynical attitude towards the whole ordeal. Can they survive the onslaught, dug in and entrenched, and ready to once again put up a staunch defense? Or does the opposition have a secret weapon that will finally put an end to the bloody stalemate?

Interesting Tidbits:

• Word Count: 8,690 (16 pages)
• Did you know that military officers frequently read The Strand Magazine and might have picked up a few pointers on trench warfare tactics from reading this story?

Where You Can Find The Land Ironclads:

• Originally published in the December 1903 issue of The Strand Magazine.
• You can read (or download) a free version of "The Land Ironclads" at The Scrapboard.
• It is also included in his many short story collections.

More About the Contributor, Slava Heretz:

• Slava Heretz writes science fiction and is the author of The Outer Pendulum, a serialized space opera: Amazon.com.
• Slava also posts free weekly flash fiction on his website: www.slavaheretz.com

YOU KNOW THE STORY

If you have ever watched cartoons, then you have seen the story of Jekyll and Hyde. You know: A kind, refined gentleman that is pleasant as can be, who suddenly turns into a big ugly brute that goes around making everyone miserable. It’s amazing that a story can become a part of culture. Even people who haven’t read the story know the story. Robert Louis Stevenson’s tale has been adapted into dozens of movies, broadway musicals, comic books, and even has songs written about it and bands named after it! Now THAT is some memorable writing!

So, I’m a little ashamed to admit that I am one of those who have never read the story! I’ve been in the mood for a good Halloween read, and this one hit the spot.

NON SPOILER SUMMARY

Dr. Jekyll is a brilliant doctor who invents a potion that divides his personality. Oops!… I gave away the ending. The ACTUAL story is an account of events that lead up to Dr. Jekyll’s confession. Yeah, the tale we all know so well from Bugs Bunny cartoons… that all comes from the last 3 pages. That surprised me. But I found the story all the more intriguing by following the mysterious events that lead up to the final pages.

MY THOUGHTS

• I’ve always thought Jekyll & Hyde were symbols of good and evil. Not so. Jekyll was a man like all of us. Good and evil both resided in him. Hyde however, was pure evil. There was no personality of only good in this story. And I found that fascinating.
• Mr. Hyde, being the dark and sinister personality, thrived in indulging his every desire. He had no guilt. He had no restraint. He was gleeful in his wrongdoings. Ahhh… how would it be to not have a conscience? (Yes, I do realize the world would spiral out of control. But it must feel good don’t you think? To have no guilt?)
• I also found it fascinating how Mr. Hyde eventually overcame Dr. Jekyll. The evil personality was being exercised so frequently that it titled the scales. He had no good to balance himself… reinforcing the age old saying: “Moderation in all things.”
• I loved the visual and physical traits that were attributed to good and evil. Dr. Jekyll was a handsome, tall, thin man. He was distinguished, respected, and had good taste and many friends. Mr. Hyde was short, squat, hunch-backed, ugly, and people did not like to be in his presence. I find it interesting that we so readily judge what is good and what is evil simply by appearance. (I do it to books all the time.)

INTERESTING TIDBITS

• Page Count: 78
• Published: 1886
• Robert Louis Stevenson is also the author of Treasure Island, which he was inspired to write after making a treasure map for fun with his stepson. Read more about this famous author at Wikipedia.

WHERE TO FIND THE STRANGE CASE OF DR. JEKYLL AND MR. HYDE

• You can read it for free at University of Virginia Library.
• I purchased the book at Amazon.com.