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.

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!

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

Jon Hall is a wanted man. He and his 19 brothers were very effective soldiers in the war on the planet Grismet, but now that the war is over they are being hunted down because they are so dangerous. Jon’s space flight to Earth is being followed by Tom Jordan, an agent of the Commission who is certain that Jon’s unique characteristics will give him away – things like his extraordinary mass, radiation signature and the fact that he stutters. Jon is off to a good start on Earth, but the more he interacts with people the more suspicious they become. Will he be able to express his message of innocence to the people of Earth, or will they clamor for his death – regardless of how cruel it is? One little Earth boy holds the answer to that question, and the end results are quite amazing.

Tidbits About This Story

• Word count: 9,991 (20 pages)
• I couldn’t find much information about author R. R. Merliss – do any of you know anything about him?
• Special thanks to Variety SF for recommending this story!

Where To Find The Stutterer

• This story first appeared in the April 1955 edition of Astounding Science Fiction.
• You can read "The Stutterer" online for free at Project Gutenberg.
• It is also included in the 2011 anthology Robot Tales: Eleven Short Science Fiction Stories About Robots

Craving More SF Stories Like This One?

If you liked "The Stutterer" then you might also enjoy “Scanners Live in Vain” by Cordwainer Smith – about a sensory deprived man who tries to stop his Scanner brothers from killing a human who has just made a great scientific breakthrough.

Like Mad Max!

Did you like the Mel Gibson movies based on Mad Max? If so then you’ll love this cool story set in the American Southwest after the collapse of society. There’s no “Thunderdome” here, but there are plenty of cool ideas to keep you engaged!

Non-spoiler Summary in a Nutshell

Ooljee is a Navajo woman who lives at an observatory in Texas. This isn’t your everyday Texas – no, this is a post-apocalyptic Texas where communities are built on trust and outsiders often prove to be thugs who only want to kill and raid for supplies. The scientific community at the Fort Davis / McDonald Observatory is still holding up, however, and when they receive communication that there is something strange happening in Los Alamos, New Mexico, they decide to send Ooljee to investigate. With a few firearms and a couple of trust-worthy companions she sets out on the long trip not knowing what to expect. Along the way she discovers enemies, new friends and something bigger and more bizarre than anyone had imagined!

My Two Cents…

• I grew up in the Southwest and knew several Navajo people, so it was fun to read this story which respects their culture and shows what a resilient people they are.
• If you are a fan of post-apocalyptic stories then you’ll love this one – especially what Ooljee finds at the end!
• Often short stories are so concise that they leave out anything that doesn’t advance the main story line. This story isn’t like that – it has a couple of fascinating side-stories that really help bring it to life. Bravo!

Interesting Tidbits:

• Page Count: 14
• Word Count: 8,733
• Did you know that Nancy Jane Moore holds a third degree black belt in Aikido? Yep. You can learn more about this excellent science fiction author on her web site.

Where You Can Find Or We Will All Hang Separately:

• This story first appeared in August 2010 on the web site Futurismic.
• You can still read "Or We Will All Hang Separately" for free at the Futurismic web site.

Craving More Science Fiction Short Stories?

If you liked "Or We Will All Hang Separately" then you might also enjoy “…For a Single Yesterday” by George R. R. Martin – about a musician in a post-apocalyptic commune who uses a powerful drug to re-live the past.

Non-spoiler Summary in a Nutshell

Harry Morgan and Jack Latrobe have worked together as asteroid miners for a long time. It is a brutal and unforgiving job, but one which the citizens of the Belt Cities rely on to get their oxygen. The two men have become friends and learned to trust each other. So it is no surprise that when Jack goes missing on a trip to Earth that Harry wants to find out what happened to him. As Harry travels there he begins to unravel a deep corporate desire – but more importantly the big wigs on Earth begin to learn a few dark secrets about the citizens of the asteroid belt too! Mwa ha ha ha!

Interesting Tidbits:

• Word Count: 9,767 (22 pages)
• Did you know that in 1999 Randall Garrett won the Sidewise Award for Alternate History Special Achievement for his Lord Darcy series? Yep. You can learn more about this fascinating author at Wikipedia.
• Special thanks to Variety SF for reviewing this excellent short story and making me want to read it!

Where You Can Find Thin Edge:

• This story was originally published in the December 1963 issue of Analog Science Fact -> Science Fiction.
• You can read (or download) a free version of “Thin Edge” at Project Gutenberg.
• It is also included in the book The Second Science Fiction Megapack: 25 Modern and Classic Tales by Masters.

If you liked “Thin Edge” then you may also be enjoy “We Can Remember It For You Wholesale” by Philip K. Dick – about a man who desperately wants to go to Mars but can’t afford it, so he gets vacation memories implanted instead.

"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

NON SPOILER SUMMARY

Chloe recently broke up with her BFF, and now to be considered part of the cool gang at school, she has to do whatever they tell her to do. Chloe takes a dare to break a window at the Cat Lady’s house. The Cat Lady is rumored to steal children and turn them into cat food for the dozens of creepy cats in her yard. But when Chloe hurls a gigantic rock, and hurts a cat instead of a window, the consequences are very severe.

MY THOUGHTS

My kids are always asking me about the science fiction short stories I am reading. So when I was browsing at the school’s book fair, I was delighted to find a “Science Fiction For Kids” section! (Two birds, one stone, my friends… or in this case… two cats, one stone, haha!)

I read The Cat Lady aloud to my kids and we were all pretty happy with this (not too) scary science fiction tale. It had a good buildup, some fun creepy details that grossed my kids out, and a great moral to the story that satisfied the mother in me. While it wasn’t a hardcore science fiction story, it was a fun family read.

INTERESTING TIDBITS

• Word Count: approximately 10,000
• Page Count: 51
• Published: 2006

WHERE TO FIND THIS STORY

• The Cat Lady is one of the 3 Terrifying Tales collected in “The Midnight Library”, a book I purchased at the school book fair.
• You can purchase The Midnight Library at Amazon.com.

Only A Little Bit Outdated!

I get a kick out of reading older science fiction stories like this one. It is fun to see the possibilities that are imagined for our solar system – even if we know better today. There were a few parts in this story that I was like “What?” – and then I remembered that is was written almost 80 years ago, so I just relaxed and went with the flow. It was much more fun that way!

Non-spoiler Summary in a Nutshell

The great thirty-fourth century astronomer Phobar has made a disconcerting discovery: he has found several new stars in the past week, and each of them is getting closer and closer to Earth! It doesn’t take him very long to figure out that something is on its way to visit our planet. As this object gets closer it begins to disrupt the orbits of the outer planets, and even affects the sun. Something needs to be done, and when Phobar is given an amazing but short opportunity he definitely makes the most of it. But will it be enough against such a powerful foe?

Interesting Tidbits:

• Word Count: 8,030 (16 pages)
• Did you know that Donald A. Wandrei was a friend and protege of the famous author H. P. Lovecraft? Yep. You can learn more about this accomplished write at Wikipedia.
• Special thanks to QuasarDragon for pointing me towards this fun story.

Where You Can Find Raiders of the Universes:

• This story was originally published in the September 1932 issue of Astounding Stories.
• You can read (or download) a free version of “Raiders of the Universes” at Project Gutenberg.
• It is also included in the book Colossus: The Collected Science Fiction of Donald Wandrei.

If you liked “Raiders of the Universes” then you may also be interested in “The Colour Out Of Space” by H.P. Lovecraft – about a meteorite that falls from the sky in the 1880′s and the devastating consequences it has upon the people in a rural New England town.

NON SPOILER SUMMARY

Fay has grown up in a world without men.  When the devils came to the world, they obliterated half of the human race, only leaving the women.  Several generations have passed since then, and the race survives by being “seeded” by the devils, and only girls are born.  But still, there are woes in the world, sadness, anger, hostility.

Fay is investigating the suicide of a young woman who had just been married the day before.  And as she discovers the reasons for the suicide, the reader is introduced to a society of only females, and the many roles they have taken since the men disappeared.

MY THOUGHTS

A world without men?  Would that be a good thing or a bad thing?  Hmmm…  ok, ok, it would be bad.  

The most enjoyable part of this story was that it was laced with sarcasm and witty remarks.  My favorite: “I knocked hard enough to wake Marilyn Monroe.”  How appropriate that an iconic sex symbol is still remembered in a world of only females?  I also loved the specific talk of shoes.  I suppose some things will never change.

It was interesting to read and to rationalize that human nature would not change just because there is only one gender.  The world in this story was not more peaceful, and it was not full of daisies and potpourri without men around.  The science fiction detail was thought provoking as well.  A society intertwined with devils and robots… fascinating.  (Although one could argue that men sometimes pull off those roles just fine…)

INTERESTING TIDBITS

• Page Count: 41
• Word Count: 16,777
• About the Author: Did you know that James Patrick Kelly is the winner of a Nebula Award?  Yep!  Read more about this author at his website.

WHERE TO FIND THIS STORY

• You can read Men Are Trouble for free at the author’s website.
• You can also read this story for free at Asimov’s Science Fiction.