The Space Clause
"The Space Clause" | |
---|---|
Short story by L. Sprague de Camp | |
Country | United States |
Language | English |
Genre(s) | Science fiction |
Publication | |
Published in | If: Worlds of Science Fiction |
Publisher | Quinn Publishing Company, Inc. |
Media type | Print (Magazine) |
Publication date | September 1952 |
"The Space Clause" is a science fiction short story by L. Sprague de Camp. It was first published in the magazine If: Worlds of Science Fiction for September, 1952.[1][2] It first appeared in book form in the collection Sprague de Camp's New Anthology of Science Fiction (Hamilton, 1953),[1][2] and afterwards appeared in the later collection Footprints on Sand (Advent, 1981).[1][2]
Plot summary
In the wake of World War III, the World Constitutional Convention, convened in the former headquarters of the United Civilized States in the Rhône Valley, is negotiating the form to be taken by the first true world government. Dr. Mateo Aguirre, delegate from the Andean Federation, is upset because the convention refuses to take seriously his proposed "Space Clause," intended to regulate relations between Earth and possible extraterrestrial civilizations. Moreover, he fears for his life. He sold the dictatorial head of the federation, President Juan de la Torre, on promoting the clause, to the extent that La Torre will feel affronted if it is not adopted. In that event, he may well take out his embarrassment on Aguirre by having him executed. Journalist Dagobert Heck, sympathetic to Aquirre's plight, decides to try to load the dice in the clause's favor before the final vote. He enlists the aid of Richard Nugent, a former colleague in India, in his effort.
The next day, American Secretary of State Myron Kalish, rotating president of the convention, receives a report of an alien landing in Sikkim. Pending confirmation of the report, Kalish postpones the vote, as the timing appears suspicious and the delegates suspect a hoax. Yet, after the convention adjourns for the day additional reports are received, which continue the next morning, all appearing to support the authenticity of the landing. As a result, La Torre redoubles his efforts on behalf of the Space Clause, and there is a scramble to pass it. The clause is adopted just before La Torre and Aguirre fly back to South America in response to domestic disturbances there.
Even before the Andeans arrive home, however, bad news is received; the landing was a hoax after all, perpetrated by Heck and Nugent. While no one thinks it worthwhile to repeal the clause, La Torre is humiliated. Feeling himself a laughing stock, the dictator furiously orders Aquirre hung. Following their return to the federation, despite pleas for clemency from various other countries, La Torre personally oversees the execution. Immediately after the hanging, however, La Torre is visited by Mencias Mola, his ambassador to Mexico. A genuine alien landing occurred there a few hours before, and Mencias has brought Vraku, one of the extraterrestrials, to meet La Torre in an effort to have Aguirre spared. In an abrupt about-face, La Torre proclaims the late Aguirre a martyr to his country and a paragon of wisdom and loyalty who is to be recognized with a medal—sadly, a posthumous award.
Reception
Anthony Boucher characterized the story along with the others collected in Sprague de Camp's New Anthology of Science Fiction as "a drab assemblage of unfunny humor and (what is even less forgivable) unsexy sex."[3]
Notes
- ^ a b c Laughlin, Charlotte, and Levack, Daniel J. H. De Camp: An L. Sprague de Camp Bibliography. San Francisco, Underwood/Miller, 1983, page 242.
- ^ a b c The Space Clause title listing at the Internet Speculative Fiction Database
- ^ Boucher, Anthony. "Recommended Reading," in The Magazine of Fantasy and Science Fiction, v. 7, no. 6, December 1954, pages 92-93.
- v
- t
- e
Interplanetarias
Krishna |
|
---|---|
Kukulkan |
|
Other |
|
- "The Roaring Trumpet" (1940)
- "The Mathematics of Magic" (1940)
- The Castle of Iron (1941/50)
- The Wall of Serpents (1953)
- The Green Magician (1954)
- Sir Harold and the Gnome King (1990)
- Sir Harold of Zodanga (1995)
- The Tritonian Ring (1951)
- "The Eye of Tandyla" (1951)
- "The Owl and the Ape" (1951)
- "The Hungry Hercynian" (1953)
- "The Stronger Spell" (1953)
- "Ka the Appalling" (1958)
- "The Rug and the Bull" (1974)
- "The Stone of the Witch Queen" (1977)
- The Goblin Tower (1968)
- The Clocks of Iraz (1971)
- "The Emperor's Fan" (1973)
- The Fallible Fiend (1973)
- The Unbeheaded King (1983)
- The Honorable Barbarian (1989)
- The Incorporated Knight (1987)
- The Pixilated Peeress (1991)
speculative
fiction
Novels |
|
---|---|
Short stories |
|
- The Dragon of the Ishtar Gate (1961)
- The Arrows of Hercules (1965)
- An Elephant for Aristotle (1958)
- The Bronze God of Rhodes (1960)
- The Golden Wind (1969)
- The Wolf Leader (1950)
- Swords and Sorcery (1963)
- The Spell of Seven (1965)
- Conan the Warrior (1967)
- The Fantastic Swordsmen (1967)
- Conan the Conqueror (1967)
- Warlocks and Warriors (1970)
- 3000 Years of Fantasy and Science Fiction (1972)
- Tales Beyond Time (1973)
Science and history |
|
---|---|
Lit crit and biography |
|
- The Conan Swordbook (1969)
- The Conan Grimoire (1972)
- To Quebec and the Stars (1976)
- The Blade of Conan (1979)
- The Spell of Conan (1980)
- Demons and Dinosaurs (1970)
- Heroes and Hobgoblins (1981)
- Phantoms and Fancies (1972)
- The Continent Makers and Other Tales of the Viagens (1953)
- The Virgin of Zesh & The Tower of Zanid (1983)
- The Incomplete Enchanter (1941)
- Wall of Serpents (1960)
- The Compleat Enchanter (1975)
- The Complete Compleat Enchanter (1989)
- The Enchanter Reborn (1992)
- The Exotic Enchanter (1995)
- The Mathematics of Magic (2007)
- The Tritonian Ring and Other Pusadian Tales (1953)
- The Reluctant King (1985)
- Conan (1967)
- The Conan Chronicles (1989)
- The Conan Chronicles 2 (1990)
- Conan of Aquilonia (1977)
- Conan of Cimmeria (1969)
- Conan the Adventurer (1966)
- Conan the Avenger (1968)
- Conan the Freebooter (1968)
- Conan the Swordsman (1978)
- Conan the Usurper (1967)
- Conan the Wanderer (1968)
- Sagas of Conan (2004)
- Tales of Conan (1955)
- The Treasure of Tranicos (1980)
- Aristotle and the Gun (2002)
- The Best of L. Sprague de Camp (1978)
- Divide and Rule (1948)
- Footprints on Sand (1981)
- A Gun for Dinosaur (1963)
- The Purple Pterodactyls (1980)
- The Reluctant Shaman (1970)
- Rivers of Time (1993)
- Scribblings (1972)
- Sprague de Camp's New Anthology (1953)
- Tales from Gavagan's Bar (1953/78)
- The Undesired Princess (1951)
- The Virgin & the Wheels (1976)
- The Wheels of If (1948)
- Years in the Making (2005)
- GURPS Planet Krishna (1997)
- The Enchanter Completed (2005)