If you have not checked out Neil Clarke's reprint magazine, now is the time to do it. In the sixteenth issue (May 2016) Neil is featuring a long time favorite story of mine-"Hawksbill Station" by Robert Silverberg. In addition to getting this classic story Silverberg contributes an article called "About Hawksbill Station".
I recommend supporting this magazine so that Clarke can continue to reprint other deserving stories.
Magazine: Infinity Science Fiction
First Publication: 1956
Cover Artist: Ed Emsh
Challenge:
42 Challenge 2015
First Line: Niccolo Mazetti lay stomach down on the rug, chin buried in the palm of one small hand, and listened to the Bard disconsolately.
Niccolo Mazetti has an old fashioned bard that he is ashamed of. Old models tell variations of fairy tales and only have audio capabilities. The new models incorporate video and use modern storytelling. His friend is considered a higher intelligence and offers to do an upgrade on Niccolo's bard. But the bard might be more than it appears to be.
"Someday" appears to reflect Asimov's thoughts concerning video media such as movies and television. Radio might be more advanced than it is given credit. Storytelling combined with your own imagination can make a story more spectacular than what is shown on a screen. The combination of the twist at the end, the story taking place in basically one room, and a small cast would have made this a good candidate for a "Twilight Zone" episode.
I highly recommend this story. A great short tale by the "Good Doctor".
Side note: Due to one small reference, this story is part of the Multivac universe where Asimov placed a lot of stories. They dealt with a super computer that helped to run the world.
Other notable authors in this issue were Harlan Ellison, Damon Knight, Randall Garrett, and Robert Silverberg. Ellison's story was part of his "Earth-Kyba War" series.
First Publication: Nebula Science Fiction, February 1954
Cover Artist: Bob Clothier
Second Publication: Super Science Fiction, October 1958
Cover Artist: Emsh
Challenges:
Deal Me In Short Story Challenge
42 Challenge 2015
The 2015 Sci-Fi Experience
Vintage Sci-Fi Challenge
First Line: "Our troubles started the moment the stiffened corpse of Flaherty was found, standing frozen in a field half a kilometer from the ship."
"Gorgon Planet" was a typical story of the early 1950s. An exploratory mission to another world brings about the mysterious death of one of the crewmen. The rest of the crew has to solve the mystery.
Would I recommend this story to other readers? Without a doubt. Why? Because it holds a place in the history of the field. "Gorgon Planet" was the first science fiction story by Robert Silverberg to be published. As such, it holds an honored position in the history of the field.
The history of the story is interesting. It was first accepted in 1953 by Harry Harrison (of the "Stainless Steel Rat" fame) for one of two magazines he was editing. Both magazines ("Rocket Stories" and "Space Science Fiction") went out of business before Silverberg's story could be published. Fortunately, a Scottish science fiction magazine edited by Peter Hamilton accepted it. So Silverberg's first appearance in a science fiction magazine was delayed until the February 1954 edition of "Nebula Science Fiction". In 1958 it was reprinted in the October 1958 issue of "Super Science Fiction". The editor changed the title to "The Fight with the Gorgon". In addition to it was another Silverberg story, a short story by A. Bertram Chandler, and the issue closed out with one by Harlan Ellison.
Little did the editors know at that time that Robert Silverberg would become one of the top writers in the field. Thankfully they recognized his talent and helped to launch a long career.
