First Publication: Analog, July/August 2012
Cover Artist: Vincent Di Fate
“Donner Summit” is a “Probability Zero” story from Analog. It is a first contact story where, surprise, things go wrong.
The “Probability Zero” stories have been part of Analog Science Fiction/Science Fact for as long as I can remember. They are very short stories that usually have some sort of twist at the end.
“Donner Summit” is only the second Harry Turtledove story I can remember reading. He tells it in a casual, conversational manner that is very easy to read. Both the aliens and the humans seem to be the perfect race to meet for a first alien contact. Everything is going smoothly until… I will not ruin the ending for anyone who might want to read it.
You will find it to be entertaining if you like stories that have a surprise ending.
This issue was the end of an era. I remember when I received the December 1978 issue of Analog in the mail. At first, I did not notice that Ben Bova was not listed as editor. At that time, Stanley Schmidt was only known to me as a writer. I recalled his serial "Sins of the Father" that appeared in late 1973 and early 1974. I no longer have those magazines but I do have the paperback edition sitting on my shelf. Little did I know that Schmidt would have such a long tenure on the title. December 1978 through March of 2013. Whether or not you like his work on the title, Schmidt deserves credit for editing a major science fiction magazine for almost 35 years.
Schmidt's first issue contained a mix of classic and new (at that time) writers. Among the ones who appeared in that issue were Jack Williamson, Frank Herbert, F. M. Busby, Joan Vinge, and Orson Scott Card.
