Help Me Name This Book?
Cam T
I'm new here. One of my blog readers posed a question to me two weeks
ago, and it seems to have stumped my entire (meager) readership. Can
you help me help him? I've been Googling my heart out but I just don't
have enough to go on. Maybe this will trigger someone's memory.
Here is the meat of the question:
"Has anyone there ever read a time paradox story about a young man who
is shanghaied by a star freighter, returning to earth years later to
find earth and his sweetheart are somewhat the worse for wear? I must
have read this worn novella in the early 1970's."
Not I, though it sounds like I'd love it! At first I thought of
Heinlein, but having read almost all of them I couldn't think of one
that fit. When I pressed him for more details, I got this spoiler
filled response:
"There was a multi-legged shipmate whose species were born
individually knowing the exact moment of their passing, and, I
believe, that the shanghaied crewman eventually becomes the captain,
and repeats the cycle by shanghaiing another poor soul."
Can anyone help me? I'd like to read this book too!
I'm not pimping my site, and there are no extra hints in the comments
but if you need context here is the URL:
http://www.ireadscifi.com/a-reader-question-i-cant-anwer-can-you/
Thanks in advance for anyone who even tries to help me!
You can post answers here or my blog, and if we solve it I'll
certainly credit this group on my blog.
Cam
Butch Malahide
> Hello All,
>
> I'm new here. One of my blog readers posed a question to me two weeks
> ago, and it seems to have stumped my entire (meager) readership. Can
> you help me help him? I've been Googling my heart out but I just don't
> have enough to go on. Maybe this will trigger someone's memory.
>
> Here is the meat of the question:
>
> "Has anyone there ever read a time paradox story about a young man who
> is shanghaied by a star freighter, returning to earth years later to
> find earth and his sweetheart are somewhat the worse for wear? I must
> have read this worn novella in the early 1970's."
>
> Not I, though it sounds like I'd love it! At first I thought of
> Heinlein, but having read almost all of them I couldn't think of one
> that fit. When I pressed him for more details, I got this spoiler
> filled response:
>
> "There was a multi-legged shipmate whose species were born
> individually knowing the exact moment of their passing, and, I
> believe, that the shanghaied crewman eventually becomes the captain,
> and repeats the cycle by shanghaiing another poor soul."
>
> Can anyone help me? I'd like to read this book too!
The author is L. Ron Hubbard, of Scientology fame. It was originally
published as a 2-part serial in Astounding Science Fiction in January
and February of 1950 under the title "To the Stars". It has been
published as a book under the original title and also under the title
"Return to Tomorrow".
Cam T
Thanks!
Butch Malahide
Oops, for "January and February" read "February and March", sorry
about that!
Rich Horton
<fred....@gmail.com> wrote:
>The author is L. Ron Hubbard, of Scientology fame. It was originally
>published as a 2-part serial in Astounding Science Fiction in January
>and February of 1950 under the title "To the Stars". It has been
>published as a book under the original title and also under the title
>"Return to Tomorrow".
It has fairly recently had a reissue under the RETURN TO TOMORROW
title.
I consider it simultaneously one of Hubbard's best works (better
written than most of the garbage he put out, and more original), and
one of his vilest (the central message is morally revolting).
Butch Malahide
> On Fri, 1 Feb 2008 09:56:26 -0800 (PST), Butch Malahide
>
I read the ASF serial in 1950 and I liked it. What is the central
message? That it's OK to shanghai sailors if that's what it takes to
keep your starship going? I'd have to agree that that's morally wrong.
I'm not sure the story said it was right, but it's been almost 60
years since I read it, and maybe I wasn't the most critical reader
back then.
Butch Malahide
Never mind! I reread the book and I see your point. But what story is
the original poster talking about? There was certainly no alien
crewman in Hubbard's story!
Butch Malahide
As I said in another post, the serial appeared in February and March
of 1950, not January and February. But there is no alien shipmate, no
multi-legged shipmate, with or without precognition. I wonder if your
reader could be mixing up two different stories? Everything else in
your description matches Hubbard's story perfectly. The main character
is shanghaied onto an interstellar freighter; returns from his first
trip to find his fiancee a demented old crone; eventually he becomes
captain, and shanghais another engineer.