"Barry N. Malzberg - Herovit's World" - читать интересную книгу автора (Malzberg Barry N)

Herovit's World
Barry N. Malzberg


© Barry N. Malzberg 1973



For Lee Wright and Robert P. Mills



The sphere darted to the surface with an awful rush and as Mack Miller
regarded it he knew right away that he was dealing with something
absolutely new in the experience of the Survey Team with this sphere. He
was dealing, in fact, with something which was possibly so alien and bizarre
that it could defy the knowledge of anyone on Earth!
Nevertheless, he thought, as he proudly stepped forward to greet the
aliens, he would do the best he could. That was all that was ever asked of a
Surveyman. That was usually enough.
Would it be enough now? Or was it too late?
Kirk Poland: Survey Starlight




There's A Long Way Between Declining and Death.
Isaac Bashevis Singer



Herovit's World

1
 At the second annual cocktail party of the New League for
Science-Fiction Professionals, Jonathan Herovit finds himself accosted by
two angry readers who also despise his work. "You stink, Herovit. You've
been doing this damned crap for so long it molders, and you'd better get
yourself out of science fiction before we throw you out," the taller and
stronger of the readers says ... and, quite possibly drunk, hurls more than
half a glass of scotch and soda into Herovit's thin, querulous face; then,
realizing the apparent seriousness of the action, he apologizes suddenly
and backs away, his face now fallen to sadness, looking just like Mack
Miller's when the Team came across a seemingly insoluble problem. "But
then again ..." the boy says. "Well, then again, I guess everybody has a
right to live."
The other reader, a girl similarly dressed, touches Herovit by her vague
expression of concern. "You shouldn't take this too seriously, Mr. Herovit,"
she says. "Bill's just so involved with all of you writers and science fiction,
but the fact is that you are losing your grip just a little, don't you think?"