Dope on Mars

Jack Sharkey

Description

In this classic short story from the golden age of science fiction, a down-on-his-luck writer is sent to Mars to get the inside scoop on the Red Planet. In the diary he keeps to document his first impressions, it becomes clear that interplanetary travel is not all it's cracked up to be. Fans of the genre will love this quirky, irreverent and imaginative tale.

Sujets

• Science fiction

Informations

• Publié par: The Floating Press
• Date de parution: 01 février 2014
• Nombre de lectures: 0
• EAN13: 9781776531172
• Langue: English

Extrait

THE DOPE ON MARS
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JACK SHARKEY
 
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The Dope on Mars First published in 1960 Epub ISBN 978-1-77653-117-2 Also available: PDF ISBN 978-1-77653-118-9 © 2013 The Floating Press and its licensors. All rights reserved. While every effort has been used to ensure the accuracy and reliability of the information contained in The Floating Press edition of this book, The Floating Press does not assume liability or responsibility for any errors or omissions in this book. The Floating Press does not accept responsibility for loss suffered as a result of reliance upon the accuracy or currency of information contained in this book. Do not use while operating a motor vehicle or heavy equipment. Many suitcases look alike. Visit www.thefloatingpress.com
THE DOPE on Mars
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Somebody had to get the human angle on this trip ... but what was humane about sending me?
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My agent was the one who got me the job of going along to write up thefirst trip to Mars. He was always getting me things likethat—appearances on TV shows, or mentions in writers' magazines. If hedidn't sell much of my stuff, at least he sold me .
"It'll be the biggest break a writer ever got," he told me, two daysbefore blastoff. "Oh, sure there'll be scientific reports on the trip,but the public doesn't want them; they want the human slant onthings."
"But, Louie," I said weakly, "I'll probably be locked up for the wholetrip. If there are fights or accidents, they won't tell me aboutthem."
"Nonsense," said Louie, sipping carefully at a paper cup of scaldingcoffee. "It'll be just like the public going along vicariously. They'll identify with you."
"But, Louie," I said, wiping the dampness from my palms on the knees ofmy trousers as I sat there, "how'll I go about it? A story? An article?A you-are-there type of report? What?"
Louie shrugged. "So keep a diary. It'll be more intimate, like."
"But what if nothing happens?" I insisted hopelessly.
Louie smiled. "So you fake it."
I got up from the chair in his office and stepped to the door. "That'sdishonest," I pointed out.
"Creative is the word," Louie said.
So I went on the first trip to Mars. And I kept a diary. This is it. Andit is honest. Honest it is.
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October 1, 1960
They picked the launching date from the March, 1959, New York Times ,which stated that this was the most likely time for launching.