Cordwainer Smith

from Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Cordwainer Smith 1953

Cordwainer Smith (actually Paul Myron Anthony Linebarger ; born July 11, 1913 in Milwaukee , Wisconsin , USA ; † August 6, 1966 in Baltimore ) was an American science fiction author. He was a political scientist and political advisor by profession. Under his real name he published a number of books on Far Eastern politics and psychological warfare . Other pseudonyms he used were Felix C. Forrest , Carmichael Smith and Anthony Bearden .

Life

Linebarger was the son of a retired judge and grew up in Japan, China, France and Germany. His godfather was the Chinese politician Sun Yat-sen , who gave him the Chinese name Lin-Bai Lo ('Forest of Radiant Happiness', later reused by Linebarger himself in his pseudonym "Felix C. Forrest"). He received his PhD in political science from Johns Hopkins University at the age of twenty-three and worked for the US Army Intelligence Service. During World War II he worked in psychological warfare in Chongqing , later he was an employee of the CIA , advising the British troops in Malaya and the US armed forces in Korea . He was a member of the advisory staff of US President John F. Kennedy as an Asia expert.

Paul Linebarger was an expert on Southeast Asian politics; With Psychological Warfare he wrote a book that is still considered the standard work on psychological warfare today.

Linebarger used the pseudonym Cordwainer Smith for science fiction work . Much of Cordwainer Smiths' works are set in the so-called universe of the "instrumentality of humanity": In a distant future, humanity has conquered space, and both the earth and all other human planets are governed by an all-embracing, well-meaning government, the “Instrumentality” rules. This first tries in a utilitarian way to maintain a stable peace, which is bought at the price of eugenics, the suppression of all passions and the enslavement of the “subhumans” (humanoids bred from genetically modified animals, see below). Only with the “rediscovery of man”, of all things, coming from the “subhumans” does the instrumentality find its way to the new goal of bringing society back to its roots, not only to allow imperfection, but to appreciate it as a substantial characteristic of humanity and to appreciate the old mistakes such as slavery or Avoid exploitation. The stories cannot be assigned to any classic direction of science fiction. The reader interested in Christian philosophy can recognize many ideas and subjects; at the same time, the narrative style is reminiscent of Chinese literature .

Some of Cordwainer Smith's better-known "inventions" are the planet Norstrilia , in whose semi-deserts gigantic mutant sheep (weighing over 100 tons) provide an immortal serum, the punitive planet Shayol , on which convicted criminals constantly regrow organs that are harvested for transplants, and subhumans who are actually animals whose growth has been manipulated at fertilization to take on human form. These lawless beings, drawn to serve people, fight for their human rights.

In 2001 the Cordwainer Smith Foundation was established. It presents the Cordwainer Smith Rediscovery Award annually at the Readercon in Burlington , Massachusetts, which aims to draw renewed attention to the work of unjustly forgotten or inappropriately recognized science fiction authors.

Works

The Instrumentality of Mankind

Short stories
  • Was No. 81-Q (1928)
    • German: War No. 81-Q. In: Instrumentality of Mankind. 1982.
  • Scanners Live in Vain (1950)
    • German: Seers live in vain. Translated by Rudolf Hermstein . In: Star dreamers. 1975. Also as: Seers live in vain. Translated by Thomas Ziegler . In: The best stories by Cordwainer Smith. 1980. Also as: Checkers are passé. Translated by Franziska Zinn. In: Robert Silverberg , Wolfgang Jeschke (Eds.): Titan 15. Heyne Science Fiction & Fantasy # 3787, 1981, ISBN 3-453-30688-0 . Also as: Scanners live in vain. Translated by Thomas Ziegler. In: What became of the people. 2011.
  • The Game of Rat and Dragon (1955)
    • German: The dragon game. In: Lothar Heinecke (Ed.): Galaxis Science Fiction, # 15. Moewig, 1959. Also as: The game "Rat and Dragon". Translated by Rudolf Hermstein. In: Star dreamers. 1975. Also as: The game "Rat and Dragon". Translated by Thomas Ziegler. In: Hans Joachim Alpers , Werner Fuchs (ed.): The Fifties II. Hohenheim (Edition SF in Hohenheim Verlag), 1982, ISBN 3-8147-0019-8 . Also as: The rat and dragon game. Translated by Thomas Ziegler. In: The best stories by Cordwainer Smith. 1980. Also in: What became of people. 2011. Also as: The game 'Rat and Dragon'. Translated by Michael K. Iwoleit . In: James Gunn (ed.): From Clement to Dick. Heyne (Library of Science Fiction Literature # 95), 1990, ISBN 3-453-03911-4 .
  • Mark Elf (1957)
  • Variant: Mark XI (1957)
    • German: Model Elf. In: Instrumentality of Mankind. 1982.
  • The Burning of the Brain (1958)
    • English: The burned out brain. Translated by Rudolf Hermstein. In: Star dreamers. 1975. Also called: The Burning Brain. Translated by Thomas Ziegler. In: The best stories by Cordwainer Smith. 1980. Also called: The Burning Brain. In: Charles G. Waugh, Martin Harry Greenberg , Isaac Asimov (eds.): Sternenschiffe (1). Ullstein Science Fiction & Fantasy # 31144, 1987, ISBN 3-548-31144-X .
  • No, no, not Rogov! (1959)
    • German: No, no, not Rogow !. In: Instrumentality of Mankind. 1982.
  • Golden the Ship Was - Oh! Oh! Oh! (1959) with Genevieve Linebarger
    • German: The ship was golden - Oh! Oh! Oh!. In: The best stories by Cordwainer Smith. 1980. Also called: The ship was golden - oh so golden !. In: What became of the people. 2011.
  • When the People Fell (1959)
    • German: When people fall. In: The best stories by Cordwainer Smith. 1982. Also as: When the people fell. In: What became of the people. 2011.
  • The Lady Who Sailed the Soul (1960, with Genevieve Linebarger)
    • German: The woman who sailed in the soul. Translated by Rudolf Hermstein. In: Star dreamers. 1975. Also as: The lady who sailed with the "soul". In: The best stories by Cordwainer Smith. 1980. Also as: The lady who sailed with her soul. Translated by Thomas Ziegler. In: What became of the people. 2011.
  • Alpha Ralpha Boulevard (1961)
    • English: The prophecy of the Abba-Dingo. Translated by Birgit Reß-Bohusch . In: HW Mommers, AD Krauss (Ed.): 9 Science Fiction Stories. Heyne (Heyne Anthologies # 30), 1969. Also as: Alpha Ralpha Boulevard. Translated by Rudolf Hermstein. In: Star dreamers. 1975. Also called: Alpha Ralpha Boulevard. Translated by Thomas Ziegler. In: The best stories by Cordwainer Smith. 1980.
  • Mother Hitton's Littul Kittons (1961)
    • English: Mother Fettchens kleene Kettchens. Translated by Helmuth W. Mommers . In: Helmuth W. Mommers, Arnulf D. Kraus (eds.): 10 Science Fiction Kriminal-Stories. Heyne (Heyne Anthologies # 11), 1965. Also called: Mother Hudson's Klainen Katsen. Translated by Rudolf Hermstein. Gentlemen in space. 1973. Also called: Mother Hudson's klainen Katsen. Translated by Thomas Ziegler. In: The best stories by Cordwainer Smith. 1980.
  • A Planet Named Shayol (1961)
    • English: A planet called Schayol. Translated by Rudolf Hermstein. In: Gentlemen in Space. 1973. Also called: A planet called Shayol. Translated by Thomas Ziegler. In: The best stories by Cordwainer Smith. 1980. Also called: A planet called Shayol. Translated by Barbara Slawig . In: Alien Contact, Yearbook # 4 2005. Shayol, 2006, ISBN 3-926126-55-8 .
  • From Gustible's Planet (1962)
    • English: From Gustibles Planet. Translated by Thomas Ziegler. In: Instrumentality of Mankind. 1982. Also called: Gustibles Planet. Translated by Thomas Ziegler. In: What became of the people. 2011.
  • The Ballad of Lost C'mell (1962)
    • English: The ballad of the lost K'mell. Translated by Rudolf Hermstein. Gentlemen in space. 1973. Also as: The Ballad of the Lost K'mell. Translated by Uwe Anton . In: Ben Bova , Wolfgang Jeschke (Ed.): Titan 8. Heyne Science Fiction & Fantasy # 3597, 1978, ISBN 3-453-30504-3 . Also as: The ballad of the lost K'mell. Translated by Thomas Ziegler. In: The best stories by Cordwainer Smith. 1980.
  • Think Blue, Count Two (1963)
    • German: Think blue, count to two. Translated by Rudolf Hermstein. In: Star dreamers. 1975. Also as: Think blue, count to two. Translated by Thomas Ziegler. In: Instrumentality of Mankind. 1982.
  • Drunkboat (1963)
    • German: Rauschboot. Translated by Dagmar Türck-Wagner. In: Thomas Landfinder (Ed.): Liebe 2002. Bärmeier & Nikel, 1971. Also as: Das drunken Schiff. Translated by Rudolf Hermstein. Gentlemen in space. 1973. Also as: The drunken ship. Translated by Thomas Ziegler. In: Instrumentality of Mankind. 1982.
  • The Crime and the Glory of Commander Suzdal (1964)
    • English: Crime and Glory of Commander Suzdal. Translated by Rudolf Hermstein. In: Star dreamers. 1975. Also called: The Crime of Commander Suzdal. In: Walter Spiegl (Ed.): Science-Fiction-Stories 46. Ullstein 2000 # 87 (3118), 1975, ISBN 3-548-03118-8 . Also as: Crime and Glory of Commander Suzdal. Translated by Thomas Ziegler. In: The best stories by Cordwainer Smith. 1980. Also as: The Crime and Glory of Commander Suzdal. Translated by Heinz Nagel. In: Brian W. Aldiss , Wolfgang Jeschke (eds.): Titan 19. Heyne Science Fiction & Fantasy # 3949, 1983, ISBN 3-453-30879-4 .
  • The Dead Lady of Clown Town (1964)
    • English: The Dead Lady of Clowntown. Translated by Rudolf Hermstein. Gentlemen in space. 1973. Also called: The Dead Lady of Clowntown. Translated by Thomas Ziegler. In: The best stories by Cordwainer Smith. 1980.
  • Under Old Earth (1966)
    • German: Under the old earth. Translated by Rudolf Hermstein. In: Star dreamers. 1975. Also as: Under the old earth. Translated by Thomas Ziegler. In: The best stories by Cordwainer Smith. 1980.
  • Down to a Sunless Sea (1975) with Genevieve Linebarger
    • English: Down into the sunless lake. Translated by Horst Pukallus . In: Manfred Kluge (Ed.): Cagliostros Spiegel. Heyne Science Fiction & Fantasy # 3569, 1977, ISBN 3-453-30464-0 . Also as: Down to a sunless sea. Translated by Thomas Ziegler. In: Instrumentality of Mankind. 1982.
  • The Queen of the Afternoon (1978)
    • German: the queen of the afternoon. Translated by Thomas Ziegler. In: Instrumentality of Mankind. 1982.
  • The Colonel Came Back from the Nothing-at-All (1979)
    • English: The Colonel returned from never-nothing. Translated by Thomas Ziegler. In: Instrumentality of Mankind. 1982.
  • Himself in Anachron (1993) with Genevieve Linebarger
    • German: Alone in the anachron. Translated by Ulrich Thiele. In: What became of the people. 2011.
  • Was No. 81-Q (1993, revised version)
    • German: War No. 81-Q. Translated by Ulrich Thiele. In: What became of the people. 2011.
Casher O'Neill (short stories)
  • On the Gem Planet (1963)
    • English: Planet of Precious Stones. Translated by Ulrich Thiele. In: What became of the people. 2011.
  • On the Storm Planet (1965)
    • English: Planet of the Storms. Translated by Ulrich Thiele. In: What became of the people. 2011.
  • Three to a Given Star (1965)
    • German: Wanderer through space. Translated by Ulrich Thiele. In: What became of the people. 2011.
  • On the Sand Planet (1965)
    • English: Planet des Sand. Translated by Ulrich Thiele. In: What became of the people. 2011.
  • Quest of the Three Worlds (1966, collection)
    • German: Return to Mizzer. Translated by Thomas Ziegler. Droemer Knaur (Knaur Science Fiction & Fantasy # 5733), 1981, ISBN 3-426-05733-6 .
Rod McBan
  • The Boy Who Bought Old Earth (1964, short story)
  • The Store of Heart's Desire (1964, short story)
  • The Planet Buyer (1964, novel)
    • German: The planet buyer. Droemer Knaur (Knaur Science Fiction & Fantasy # 5720), 1979, ISBN 3-426-05720-4 .
  • The Underpeople (1968, novel)
    • German: Die Untermenschen. Droemer Knaur (Knaur Science Fiction & Fantasy # 5724), 1980, ISBN 3-426-05724-7 .
  • Norstrilia (1975, novel; originally intended as a novel, split into The Planet Buyer and The Underpeople due to length )
Collections
  • You Will Never Be the Same (1963)
  • Space Lords (1965)
    • German: Gentlemen in Space. Translated by Rudolf Hermstein. Insel (Fantastic Reality: Science Fiction of the World), 1973, ISBN 3-458-05860-5 .
  • Under Old Earth and Other Explorations (1970)
  • The Best of Cordwainer Smith (1975)
    • English: The best stories by Cordwainer Smith. Translated by Thomas Ziegler. Moewig (Playboy Science Fiction # 6708), 1980, ISBN 3-8118-6708-3 .
  • Variant: The Rediscovery of Man (1988)
  • The Instrumentality of Mankind (1979)
    • German: instrumentality of mankind. Moewig Science Fiction # 3579, 1982, ISBN 3-8118-3579-3 .
  • We the Underpeople (2006; includes Norstrilia and five other stories)
  • When the People Fell (2007)
  • Scanners and Others (2010)

German compilation:

Individual publications

Novels
  • Ria (1947, as Felix C. Forrest)
  • Carola (1948, as Felix C. Forrest)
  • Atomsk: A Novel of Suspense (1949, as Carmichael Smith)
Collections
  • Stardreamer (1971)
  • Star Dreamers [German] (1975)
  • The Rediscovery of Man: The Complete Short Science Fiction of Cordwainer Smith (1993)
Short stories
  • Western Science Is So Wonderful (1958)
    • English: Western science is so wonderful. In: Instrumentality of Mankind. 1982.
  • Nancy (1959)
  • Variant: The Nancy Routine (1959)
    • German: Nancy. In: Instrumentality of Mankind. 1982.
  • The Fife of Bodidharma (1959)
    • German: Bodidharmas Querpfeife. In: Instrumentality of Mankind. 1982.
  • Angerhelm (1959)
    • German: Angerhelm. Translated by Joachim Pente. In: Frederik Pohl, Wolfgang Jeschke (Ed.): Titan 5. Heyne Science Fiction & Fantasy # 3546, 1977, ISBN 3-453-30440-3 . Also as: Angerhelm. Translated by Thomas Ziegler. In: Instrumentality of Mankind. 1982.
  • The Good Friends (1963)
    • German: The good friends. 1982.
  • The Archer from the Deep (1987)
  • The Cravat of the Brilliant Stars (1987)
  • The Saga of the Third Sister (1987)
Non-fiction (as Paul Linebarger)
  • The Political Doctrines of Sun-Yat-Sen: An Exposition of the San Min Chu I (1937)
  • Government in Republican China (1938, with Fritz Morstein Marx)
  • The China of Chiang K'ai-shek: A Political Study (1941)
  • Psychological Warfare (1948)
    • German: battles without dead. Translated by AJC Middleton and PHG Röhl. Mittler, Berlin & Frankfurt 1960.
  • Far Eastern Government and Politics: China and Japan (1954, with Ardath W. Burks and Chu Djang; 2nd edition 1956)
  • Essays on military psychological operations (1965)

literature

Web links

Individual evidence

  1. ^ A b John J. Pierce: Foreword to What became of the people . P. 9.
  2. ↑ John J. Pierce: Foreword to What Became of People . P. 8.
  3. ^ The Cordwainer Smith Foundation , accessed December 15, 2017.
  4. ^ The Cordwainer Rediscovery Award ( memento June 17, 2013 in the Internet Archive ), accessed on December 15, 2017.
personal data
SURNAME Smith, Cordwainer
ALTERNATIVE NAMES Linebarger, Paul (real name); Linebarger, Paul Myron Anthony (full name); Smith, Carmichael (pen name); Forrest, Felix C. (pseudonym); Bearden, Anthony (pseudonym)
BRIEF DESCRIPTION American writer
DATE OF BIRTH July 11, 1913
PLACE OF BIRTH Milwaukee , Wisconsin
DATE OF DEATH August 6, 1966
Place of death Baltimore