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September 28, 2006
'The recreation is not to help them make the trip; it is the whole purpose of the trip.'
Hm, maybe I shouldnt bring the Sponge Bob Sodoku sticker book on my next trip... This story calls to mind the Mark Twain quote, 'Work and play are words used to describe the same thing under differing conditions.' Or (to summarize this story in one of those old Science Fiction Book Club questions): 'What could people achieve if they were freed from the sense of burden or obligation with work?'
One of the pleasures of 'The Gold at the Starbows End' lies in its surprises (and its lapses into poetry.) I dont recommend googling it before you read it - and I dont wish to spoil much of it, myself. Ill only say this is a fine tale of the first manned trip to Alpha Centauri and of human potential at its best - and worst.
The author of this story, Frederik Pohl, was an established and accomplished writer by the time this story appeared. (It was the cover story for Analog in March 1972.) A Nebula Grand Master, he had been publishing since 1932 and has been both an SF editor (Galaxy, If) and a SF literary agent. (His works and awards are too many to count.)
He continues to publish and appear at cons.
(The editor of this collection comments that 'Starbow' should win the Hugo and Nebula: in fact it was nominated for both but lost to the novella 'The Word for World is Forest' by Ursula K. LeGuin, and 'A Meeting with Medusa' by Arthur C. Clarke, respectively. Pohl won that year for 'The Meeting.')
An Interview with a good warning against fixing an unpleasant habit to ones work:
http://www.scifi.com/sfw/issue240/interview.html
Why political themes are important in this story and his other work:
http://www.tor.com/pohl/interview.html
Official Bio: http://www.frederikpohl.com/
Next time, a story by Clifford D. Simak.
-LV
Posted by lisav at September 28, 2006 12:43 AM