POSSIBLE TOMORROWS
Then there was nothing.
Buildings, an enormous number and variety of them, huge, not one of them less than five stories high, all with ramps instead of stairs. This was to be expected, considerihg the great size of the people who had lived there, and it followed thd familiar pattern.
But there was nothing in those buildingsl On this airless world, there was no decay, no rust or corrosion - and nothing to decay or corrode. Here and there in inaccessible locations were featureless blobs of metal. The implication was clear: where they hadn’t been able to remove a machine, they had melted it down on the spot. The inhabitants themselves had removed all that was worth taking along.
A whole people had packed and moved away, leaving behind only massive, echoing structures.
Also edited by Groff Conklin, and available in Coronet Books:
13 Great Stories of Science-Fiction
7 Trips Through Time and Space
Possible Tomorrows
Science Fiction by
ISAAC ASIMOV
KINGSLEY AMIS J. T. McINTOSH
JAMES H. SCHMITZ
F. L. WALLACE
edited with an Introduction by GROFF CONKLIN
Copyright © 1964 by Pyramid Publications
Originally published in the U.S.A. by
Pyramid Books under the title 'Five-Odd'
This edition first published in Great Britain 1971
Coronet edition 1973
ACKNOWLEDGMENTS
Kingsley Amis, "Something Strange." From My Enemy's Enemy,
© 1962 by Kingsley Amis. Reprinted by permission of Harcourt,
Brace A World, Inc. From Magazine of Fantasy and Science Fiction,
July 1961.
Isaac Asimov, "The Dead Past" Copyright 1956 by Street and Smith Publications, Inc. Reprinted by permission of the author from Astounding Science Fiction, April 1956
J. T. McIntosh, "Unit" Copyright 1957 by Nova Publications. Ltd.
Reprinted by permission of the author and Lurton Blassingame from New Worlds, February 1957.
James H. Schmitz, "Gone Fishing." Copyright © 1961 by Cond6
Nast Publications, Inc. Reprinted by permission of Scott Meredith Literary
Agency from Analog Science Fact-Science Fiction, May 1961.
F. L Wallace, "Big Ancestor." Copyright 1964 by Galaxy Publishing Corporation. Reprinted by permission of Harry Altshuler from Galaxy Magazine, November 1954.
The characters and situations in this book are entirely imaginary and bear no relation to any real person or actual happening
This book Is sold subject to the condition that it shall not, by way of trade or otherwise, be lent, re-sold, hired out or otherwise circulated without the publisher's prior consent in any form of binding or cover other than that In which this Is published and without a similar condition including this condition being imposed on the subsequent purchaser.
Printed and bound in Great Britain for Coronet Books,
Hodder Fawcett Ltd,
St. Paul’s House, Warwick Lane,
London, EC4P 4AH by Hazell Watson A Viney Ltd,
Aylesbury. Bucks
ISBN 0 340 17849 3
Contents
INTRODUCTION
THE DEAD PAST - Isaac Asimov
SOMETHING STRANGE - Kingsley Amis
UNIT - J.T. McIntosh
GONE FISHING - James H. Schmitz
BIG ANCESTOR - F.L. Wallace
INTRODUCTION
It continues to amaze me how the Old Hands in science fiction continue to come up with vivid and original tales about our various possible tomorrows. One would think that they might run out of ideas; but the contrary seems to be true; me ideas run after them.
Basically, you will find as you read, the reason why their stories continue to appeal is not because of their novelty -for, in some instances, there is little novelty at all in their concepts. As I have said many times in the past, the real reason why these creators hold out attention is because ’they have something to say to us Twentieth Century readers, not just because they entertain. They do both, when they are of top grade, and that is what these five novelettes are - top grade. They give us to think, as well as to enjoy.
One story is by a writer who - as far as I know - has never done a piece of science fiction before; but Kingsley Amis, brilliant "mainstream" novelist and pungent critic of science fiction, proves in his entry that he can equal the best of the science fiction professionals. Our other four authors have been producing quality science fiction for from fifteen to twenty-five years, with rarely a weak item; and those in the present collection are among their most stimulating.
Indeed, these are five meaty and meaningful imaginings, and they need no further introduction. So: on with the feast!
Groff Conklin
THE DEAD PAST
Isaac Asimov
Readers of this story who are up on today’s muckraking literature will be familiar with the name of Vance Packard. True, the dangers of electronic spying that Mr. Packard so ominously described In his best-seller The Naked Society do not even approach the terrifying possibilities that are unveiled in the tale you are about to read; but Packard’s reports of the misuse of lie detectors, bugged rooms, secret television cameras, and other techniques of listening-and-looking-in on the behavior of Twentieth Century Man are only too suggestive of the final horror Professor Potterly here bestows on the Twenty-First Century world with his innocent-seeming portable chronoscope.
Maybe we should pass a Constitutional Amendment, or something, to bar the use of all mechanical and electronic machines for the invasion of privacy. However, the moral of “The Dead Past” seems to be that no such law-making will ever stop the human animal from exploiting one of the most typical—and dangerous—of all his characteristics, which is curiosity.
No matter how cleanly scientific the original motives for the spying machines—it is said that the hidden television pickup was originally developed for the purpose of studying animal behavior, child activity, and the private worlds of the mentally ill—they turn out in the end to be as dangerous to the health of society as a triggered hydrogen bomb, though quieter, less lethal, and more insidious. How much more so, then, a device that everyone can have on the cheap, and can use without any social controls whatsoever! We shudder to think . . .
Arnold Potterley was a professor of ancient history. That, in itself, was not dangerous. What changed the world beyond all dreams was the fact that he looked like a Professor of Ancient History.
Thaddeus Aram an, Department Head of the Division of Chronoscopy, might have taken proper action if Dr. Potterley had been owner of a large, square chin, flashing eyes, aquiline nose and broad shoulders.
As it was, Thaddeus Aram an found himself staring over his desk at a mild-mannered individual, whose faded blue eyes looked at him wistfully from either side of a low-bridged button nose; whose small, neatly-dressed figure seemed stamped “Milk-and-water” from thinning brown hair to the neatly-brushed shoes that completed a conservative middle-class costume.
Araman said pleasantly, “And now what can I do for you, Dr. Potterley?”
Dr. Potterley said in a soft voice that went well with the rest of him, “Mr. Araman, I came to you because you’re top man in chronoscopy.”
Araman smiled. “Not exactly. Above me is the World Commissioner of Research and above him is the secretary general of the United Nations. And above both of them, of course, are the sovereign peoples of Earth.”
Dr. Potterley shook his head. “They’re not interested in chronoscopy. I’ve come to you, sir, because for two years I have been trying to obtain permission to do some time-viewing—chronoscopy, that is—in connection with my r
esearches on ancient Carthage. I can’t obtain such permission. My research grants are all props. There is no irregularity in any of my intellectual endeavors and yet—”
“I’m sure there is no question of irregularity,” said Araman, soothingly. He flipped the thin reproduction-sheets in the folder to which Potterley’s name had been attached. They had been produced by Multivac, whose vast analogical mind kept all the department records. When this was over, the sheets could be destroyed, then reproduced on demand in a matter of minutes.
And while Araman turned the pages, Dr. Potterley’s voice continued in a soft monotone.
The historian was saying, “I must explain that my problem is quite an important to me. Carthage was ancient commercialism brought to its zenith. Pre-Roman Carthage was the nearest ancient analogue to pre-atomic America, at least insofar as its attachment to trade, commerce and business in general was concerned. They were the most daring seamen and explorers before the Vikings; much better at it than the overrated Greeks.
“To know Carthage would be very rewarding, yet the only knowledge we have of it is derived from the writings of its bitter enemies, the Greeks and Romans. Carthage itself never wrote in its own defense or, if it did, the books did not survive. As a result, the Carthaginians have been one of the favorite sets of villains of history and perhaps unjustly so. Time-viewing may set the record straight.”
He said much more.
Araman said, still turning the reproduction-sheets before him, “You must realize, Dr. Potterley, that chronoscopy, or time-viewing, if you prefer, is a difficult process.”
Dr. Potterley, who had been interrupted, frowned and said, “I am asking for only certain selected views at times and places I would indicate.”
Araman sighed. “Even a few views, even one—It is an unbelievably delicate art There is the question of focus, getting the proper scene in view and holding it. There is the synchronization of sound, which calls for completely independent circuits.”
“Surely my problem is important enough to justify considerable effort.”
“Yes, sir. Undoubtedly,” said Araman at once. To deny the importance of someone’s research problem would be unforgivably bad manners. “But you must understand how long-drawn-out even the simplest view is. And there is a long waiting line for the chronoscope and an even longer waiting line for the use of Multivac which guides us in our use of the controls.”
Potterley stirred unhappily. “But can nothing be done? For two years—”
“A matter of priority, sir. “I’m sorry. Cigarette?”
The historian started back at the suggestion, eyes suddenly widening as be stared at the pack thrust out toward him. Araman looked surprised, withdrew the pack, made a motion as though to take a cigarette for himself and thought better of it.
Potterley drew a sigh of unfeigned relief as the pack was put out of sight. He said, “Is there any way of reviewing matters, putting me as far forward as possible? I don’t know how to explain—”
Araman smiled. Some had offered money under similar circumstances which, of course, had gotten them nowhere, either. He said, “The decisions on priority are computer-processed. I could in no way alter those decisions arbitrarily.”
Potterley rose stiffly to his feet He stood five and a half feet tall. “Then good day, sir.”
“Good day, Dr. Potterley. And my sincerest regrets.”
He offered his hand and Potterley touched it briefly.
The historian left and a touch of the buzzer brought Araman’s secretary into the room. He handed her the folder.
“These,” he said, “may be disposed of.”
Alone again, he smiled bitterly. Another item in his quarter-century’s service to the human race. Service through negation.
At least, this fellow had been easy to dispose of. Sometimes, academic pressure had to be applied and even withdrawal of grants.
Five minutes later, he had forgotten Dr. Potterley. Nor, thinking back on it later, could he remember feeling any premonition of danger.
During the first year of his frustration, Arnold Potterley had experienced only that—frustration. During the second year, though, his frustration gave birth to an idea that first frightened and then fascinated him. Two things stopped him from trying to translate the idea into action, and neither barrier was the undoubted fact that his notion was a grossly unethical one.
The first was merely the continuing hope that the government would finally give its permission and make it unnecessary for him to do anything more. That hope had perished finally in the interview with Araman just completed.
The second barrier had been not a hope at all but a dreary realization of his own incapacity. He was not a physicist and be knew no physicists from whom he might obtain help. The Department of Physics at the University consisted of men well-stocked with grants and well-immersed in specialty. At best, they would not listen to him. At worst, they would report him for intellectual anarchy and even his basic Carthaginian grant might easily be withdrawn.
That he could not risk. And yet chronoscopy was the only way to carry on his work. Without it, he would be no worse off if his grant were lost.
The first hint that the second barrier might be overcome had come a week earlier than his interview with Araman, and it had gone unrecognized at the time. It had been at one of the faculty teas. Potterley attended these sessions unfailingly because he conceived attendance to be a duty, and he took his duties seriously. Once there, however, he conceived it to be no responsibility of his to make light conversation or new friends. He sipped abstemiously at a drink or two, exchanged a polite word with the dean or such department heads as happened to be present, bestowed a narrow smile at others, and finally left early.
Ordinarily, he would have paid no attention, at that most recent tea, to a young man standing quietly, even diffidently, in one comer. He would never have dreamed of speaking to him. Yet a tangle of circumstance persuaded him this once to behave in a way contrary to his nature.
That morning at breakfast, Mrs. Potterley had announced somberly that once again she had dreamed of Laurel; but this time a Laurel grown up, yet retaining the three-year-old face that stamped her as their child. Potterley had let her talk. There had been a time when he fought her too-frequent preoccupation with the past and death. Laurel would not come back to them, either through dreams or through talk. Yet if it appeased Caroline Potterley—let her dream and talk.
But when Potterley went to school that morning, he found himself for once affected by Caroline’s inanities. Laurel grown up! She had died nearly twenty years ago; their only child, then and ever. In all that time, when he thought of her, it was as a three-year-old.
Now he thought: But if she were alive now, she wouldn’t be three, she’d be nearly twenty-three.
Helplessly, he found himself trying to think of Laurel as growing progressively older; as finally becoming twenty-three. He did not quite succeed.
Yet he tried. Laurel using make-up. Laurel going out with boys. Laurel—getting married!
So it was that when he saw the young man hovering at the outskirts of the coldly circulating group of faculty men, it occurred to him quixotically, that, for all he knew, a youngster such as this might have married Laurel. That youngster himself, perhaps—
Laurel might have met him, here at the University, or some evening when he might be invited to dinner at the Potterleys. They might grow interested in one another. Laurel would surely have been pretty and this youngster looked well. He was dark in coloring, with a lean intent face and an easy carriage.
The tenuous daydream snapped, yet Potterley found himself staring foolishly at the young man, not as a strange face but as a possible son-in-law in the might-have-been. He found himself threading his way toward the man. It was almost a form of autohypnotism.
He put out his hand. “I am Arnold Potterley of the History Department. You’re new here, I think?”
The youngster looked faintly astonished and fumbled with his dri
nk, shifting it to his left hand in order to shake with his right “Jonas Foster is my name, sir. I’m a new instructor in Physics. I’m just starting this semester.”
Potterley nodded, “I wish you a happy stay here and great success.”
That was the end of it, then. Potterley had crane uneasily to his senses, found himself embarrassed and moved off. He stared back over his shoulder once, but the illusion of relationship had gone. Reality was quite real once more and he was angry with himself for having fallen prey to his wife’s foolish talk about Laurel.
But a week later, even while Araman was talking, the thought of that young man had come back to him. An instructor in Physics. A new instructor. Had he-been deaf at the time? Was there a short circuit between ear and brain? Or was it an automatic self-censorship because of the impending interview with the Head of Chronoscopy?
But the interview failed and it was the thought of the young man with whom he had exchanged two sentences that prevented Potterley from elaborating his pleas for consideration. He was almost anxious to get away.
And in the autogiro express back to the University, he could almost wish he were superstitious. He could then console himself with the thought that the casual meaningless meeting had really been directed by a knowing and purposeful Fate.
Jonas Foster was not new to academic life. The long and rickety struggle for the doctorate would make anyone a veteran. Additional work as a post-doctorate teaching fellow acted as a booster shot.
But now he was Instructor Jonas Foster. Professorial dignity lay ahead. And he now found himself in a new sort of relationship toward other professors.
Possible Tomorrows Page 1