Space Lords ~Cordwainer Smith

–first edition 1965, this edition 1968
–206 pages, Pyramid Books
–4.75/5 stars

“This is science fiction, yes. But it comes from your own time, from your own world, even from your own mind. All I can do is work the symbols. The magic and the beauty will come from our own past, your present, your hopes and your experience. This may look alien but it is really as close to you as your own fingers. Some people will like this very much. Many will not understand it, and push it aside.

That is their loss, reader, not yours, not mine.

We two, we have this story between us. Read a bit and see how it goes.”

(Cordwainer Smith, from the Prologue)

Some people will indeed like this very much. I know that I did.

My intention this weekend was to read a handful of short stories in the science fiction genre to feature for Short Story Sunday. Instead I ended up reading the whole book. Yes, that good.

If you have not heard of the name Cordwainer Smith it is likely that you can count yourself among the majority of causal science fiction readers. Smith was the pseudonym of Dr. Paul M. A. Linebarger (1913-1966), a man whose ‘real’ life was full and exciting enough to be the stuff of fiction. I could spend the bulk of a very long post discussing Linebarger the man but will instead point you to his Wikipedia page as well as the home page maintained by his daughter.

These 5 short stories (one of which, at 78 pages would probably be considered a novelette) are all self contained stories that fit within a fictional world 14,000 years in our future. The bulk of Smith’s approximately twenty short stories and two novels are set in this same created world. That future finds humanity in a type of controlled utopia in which underpeople, animals which are genetically modified into a type of humanity, do all the menial, servile work and are considered to be non-human and thus not beneficiaries of the rights and privileges of ‘true humans’. This is also a future dominated by robotics. In the prologue Smith provides a brief overview of the inspiration for each story and reading those alone one realizes just how fascinating and bold he was as an author. Each story is an homage to something else and one gets the impression both from reading them and from Smith’s comments that they are populated with layers of meaning, be it from the influences that caused him to write them in the first place or his knowledge of Eastern culture gained through a life of living and working in China. It is also known that Dr. Linebarger adopted the tenants of Christianity in the later part of his life and at least two of the stories in this collection contain indications of a deeper level of meaning should the reader choose to read it in that fashion.

As a way of turning this ‘review’ to the book at hand, allow me to give a brief summary of the 5 stories in this book:

Mother Hitton’s Littul Kittons (5/5 stars) The planet Norstrilia has a unique commodity. Sheep brought onto the planet by early immigrants developed a disease whose side effect is an immortality drug. This drug plays a larger part in Smith’s created universe as it is used to grant humans their fixed 400 year life span. An enterprising thief with no qualms about killing decides to help himself to the supply. I promise you that you won’t be saying ‘here, kitty, kitty’ after this one.

This first story establishes the unique, sometimes difficult, but ultimately accessible writing style of Smith and was such an entertaining though dark story that I knew this was an author whose work I would enjoy.

The Dead Lady of Clown Town (5/5 stars) is a story based on the legend of Joan of Arc. It involves destiny and prophecy and is a story that sets in motion events that may eventually lead to the freedom of the underpeople. At 78 pages, Smith is able to take time in setting up the story, especially in allowing the reader to understand more about Elaine, the agent of change who will set world-changing events in motion. In the majority of stories in this collection Smith employs the device of telling the story as history. I find that this gives the story a real sense of place and time and adds depth. This device is used most effectively in the telling of events surrounding the underpeople of Clown Town. I was thoroughly engaged in this story as it unfolded and was surprised by the powerful emotional impact that Smith achieves. Had I only read this story I could confidently declare myself a fan of Cordwainer Smith. This is a story that asks, ‘what price, freedom?’ and speaks of how one’s actions can reverberate throughout the course of history. The Dead Lady of Clown Town is a story with great relevance forty plus years after its original publication.

Several of Cordwainer Smith’s short stories can be found online. You can read The Dead Lady of Clown Town here and I highly recommend it. Elaine and D’Joan are characters that will stay with me for a long time.

Drunkboat (4/5): Smith reports that this story was an attempt to render the work of French poet Arthur Rimbauld in English. For no other motivation that the love of a woman Artyr Rambo finds himself transported through a hitherto theorized third dimension of space, arriving in a scene eerily reminiscent of Terminator, many decades later. I found it quite interesting that the term ‘instant message’ was used in this story in a context very similar to the way we use the term today. I wonder if Smith coined the phrase. My only complaint about this story was that the ending, though ultimately satisfactory, felt a bit rushed.

The Ballad of Lost C’Mell: (4/5) This story ties into the events of The Death of the Lady of Clown Town at a much later date. It too speaks of what it means to be human, what one may need to risk in order to secure freedom, and the sacrifices of love. Very entertaining story that ended far too quickly for my tastes. In Ballad, as in other stories included in this collection, Smith employs the use of his own poetry as an integral part of the story. In the Epilogue Smith states, “I am one of the most minor of the minor poets of America, but I thoroughly enjoy incorporating it into science fiction. I am not happy about the 1960s and with the terrible divorce which now exists between poetry and people in most of the English-speaking world.” This work within the work is just one of the many things I enjoyed about my time with Cordwainer Smith.

A Planet Named Shayol: (5/5) Mercer has committed a crime, at least that is what the reader is to assume, and is on his way to the punishment planet of Shayol. Hell. As preparation for what he is about to endure, Mercer undergoes treatments to toughen up his skin and prepare him for pain. What he finds when he arrives is not at all what he expected and what ensues is genuinely one of the most unique and unexpected short stories that I have ever read. Little more can be said without giving away the story and this is one to be experienced, not spoiled.
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Pros: Unique (for me) writing style; new and interesting concepts as well as familiar science fiction concepts; touches of romance and humor; a couple of stories pack a big emotional wallop.

Cons: Initially Smith’s writing might be hard to get into–once one becomes familiar with it the flow is very good. Two of the stories could have benefited from more fully realized endings.
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In experiencing these stories and knowing that Linebarger created the foundations of a fully realized world in just a handful of short stories and novels, I find it sad that he died so early on in his writing career. Had he continued to live and populate his fictional world with more stories, the name Cordwainer Smith might be as well known outside of devoted science fiction fans as that of authors like Isaac Asimov and Arthur C. Clarke.

I could not help comparing this collection to my experience reading the Foundation novels at this time last year. The series of short stories that tie in to a larger universe is very reminiscent of the structure of Foundation. There are also concepts and devices similar to stories I have read by Alfred Bester and Harry Harrison. Smith injects moments of humor that add to rather than distract from events unfolding and he manages to engender true pathos in a medium that is more often than not about an idea or ideas rather than characters.

The entire collection of Cordwainer Smith’s short stories is included in the book The Rediscovery of Man. It has been on my wishlist for some time and now will need to be moved up so that I can experience the rest of the short stories set in Smith’s universe.

Though I did not plan for this to be my first book completed in the new year I must admit that I am extremely pleased with the quality of this first read. I have several volumes of short fiction that I would like to delve into during the coming year. Cordwainer Smith has set the bar of comparison very, very high. This is a unique and compelling collection of stories from a man who should rightly be considered among the masters in the genre.

Cordwainer Smith closes the Epilogue with these lines:

“If you have enjoyed this collection, don’t tell anyone. Keep it a secret. Go on and enjoy it some more. I’d much rather be appreciated by a select few than enjoyed by the brawling millions. You see, I have enjoyed these stories myself.”

Dr. Linebarger, if you are looking down I humbly ask your forgiveness. I couldn’t keep it a secret, not even for a little while.
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This is my first read for the 42 Challenge and my first read for The Sci Fi Experience 2009.