Allamagoosa: Difference between revisions
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==Plot summary== |
==Plot summary== |
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Informed of a surprise inspection by a famously-strict senior officer, the command crew of the interstellar military spaceship ''Bustler'' begin a line-byline itemization of their [[manifest (transportation)|manifest]]. They discover that their equipment is supposed to include something called an "offog"; however, no one among the crew has any idea what that is, or even what department it belongs to. Captain McNaught devises a plan to pass inspection anyway: on the assumption that "offog" must be a nickname for some obscure and unnecessary technological device, he orders communications officer Burman to fabricate a small box with [[blinkenlights]] and feed the inspecting officer some [[technobabble]] about what it does. The ruse seems to work, and the ''Bustler'' passes. |
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Shortly afterward, the ship is unexpectedly ordered |
Shortly afterward, the ship is unexpectedly ordered back to Earth for a complete overhaul; however, Burman warns McNaught that the engineers at the naval shipyard will immediately recognize his fake device. The captain solves this problem by having Burman discreetly dispose of the "offog" and blandly informing headquarters that it had "came apart under gravitational stress" while the ship passed close to a star. Two days later, an almost-unprecedented emergency transmission recalls Earth's entire spacefleet to the nearest bases; an equally urgent query is addressed to the ''Bustler, and'' makes the horrified McNaught and Burman belatedly realize that "offog" had been a [[Typographical error|typo]] for "off.dog," or "official dog." |
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==Reception== |
==Reception== |
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[[John Joseph Adams]] has called it "uproariously funny".<ref name=JJA>[http://www.locusmag.com/2004/Reviews/07_AdamsAudiobooks.html Locus Listens to Audio: Reviews by John Joseph Adams], at [[Locus Online]]; published July 23, 2004; retrieved September 7, 2017</ref> |
[[John Joseph Adams]] has called it "uproariously funny".<ref name=JJA>[http://www.locusmag.com/2004/Reviews/07_AdamsAudiobooks.html Locus Listens to Audio: Reviews by John Joseph Adams], at [[Locus Online]]; published July 23, 2004; retrieved September 7, 2017</ref> |
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[[James Nicoll]] has commented that it is "apparently based on an [[urban legend]]".<ref name=JN>[https://jamesdavisnicoll.com/review/one-of-the-gentler-voices-of-the-golden-age One of the gentler voices of the Golden Age: ''The Best of Eric Frank Russell'' — Eric Frank Russell], reviewed by [[James Nicoll]], at James Nicoll Reviews; published November 9, 2014; retrieved September 7, 2017</ref> In fact, it is essentially a science-fictional retelling of a traditional tall tale, "The Shovewood".<ref name="Ingham">{{cite book |last=Ingham |first=John L. |title=Into Your Tent: The Life, Work and Family Background of Eric Frank Russell |year=2010 |publisher= Plantech (U.K.) |isbn=978-0-9564576-0-8 }}</ref> |
[[James Nicoll]] has commented that it is "apparently based on an [[urban legend]]".<ref name=JN>[https://jamesdavisnicoll.com/review/one-of-the-gentler-voices-of-the-golden-age One of the gentler voices of the Golden Age: ''The Best of Eric Frank Russell'' — Eric Frank Russell], reviewed by [[James Nicoll]], at James Nicoll Reviews; published November 9, 2014; retrieved September 7, 2017</ref> In fact, it is essentially a science-fictional retelling of a traditional [[tall tale]], "The Shovewood".<ref name="Ingham">{{cite book |last=Ingham |first=John L. |title=Into Your Tent: The Life, Work and Family Background of Eric Frank Russell |year=2010 |publisher= Plantech (U.K.) |isbn=978-0-9564576-0-8 }}</ref> |
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==References== |
==References== |
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Revision as of 10:18, 24 May 2024
| "Allamagoosa" | |
|---|---|
| Short story by Eric Frank Russell | |
| Language | English |
| Genre(s) | Science fiction |
| Publication | |
| Published in | Astounding Science Fiction |
| Publication type | magazine |
| Publication date | May 1955 |
"Allamagoosa" is a humorous science fiction short story by English author Eric Frank Russell, originally published in the May 1955 issue of Astounding. It has been collected in The Hugo Winners (1962), The Best Of Eric Frank Russell (1978), and Major Ingredients: The Selected Short Stories of Eric Frank Russell (2000).[1]
Plot summary
Informed of a surprise inspection by a famously-strict senior officer, the command crew of the interstellar military spaceship Bustler begin a line-byline itemization of their manifest. They discover that their equipment is supposed to include something called an "offog"; however, no one among the crew has any idea what that is, or even what department it belongs to. Captain McNaught devises a plan to pass inspection anyway: on the assumption that "offog" must be a nickname for some obscure and unnecessary technological device, he orders communications officer Burman to fabricate a small box with blinkenlights and feed the inspecting officer some technobabble about what it does. The ruse seems to work, and the Bustler passes.
Shortly afterward, the ship is unexpectedly ordered back to Earth for a complete overhaul; however, Burman warns McNaught that the engineers at the naval shipyard will immediately recognize his fake device. The captain solves this problem by having Burman discreetly dispose of the "offog" and blandly informing headquarters that it had "came apart under gravitational stress" while the ship passed close to a star. Two days later, an almost-unprecedented emergency transmission recalls Earth's entire spacefleet to the nearest bases; an equally urgent query is addressed to the Bustler, and makes the horrified McNaught and Burman belatedly realize that "offog" had been a typo for "off.dog," or "official dog."
Reception
"Allamagoosa" won the 1955 Hugo Award for Best Short Story.[2]
John Joseph Adams has called it "uproariously funny".[3]
James Nicoll has commented that it is "apparently based on an urban legend".[4] In fact, it is essentially a science-fictional retelling of a traditional tall tale, "The Shovewood".[5]
References
- ^ ISFDB entry
- ^ "Locus Index to SF Awards". Archived from the original on 2010-10-25. Retrieved 2010-10-11.
- ^ Locus Listens to Audio: Reviews by John Joseph Adams, at Locus Online; published July 23, 2004; retrieved September 7, 2017
- ^ One of the gentler voices of the Golden Age: The Best of Eric Frank Russell — Eric Frank Russell, reviewed by James Nicoll, at James Nicoll Reviews; published November 9, 2014; retrieved September 7, 2017
- ^ Ingham, John L. (2010). Into Your Tent: The Life, Work and Family Background of Eric Frank Russell. Plantech (U.K.). ISBN 978-0-9564576-0-8.
External links
- Allamagoosa title listing at the Internet Speculative Fiction Database
- Allamagoosa at webarchive of scifi.com