"The Magnificent Possession" is a science fictionshort story by American writer Isaac Asimov. It was first published in the July 1940 issue of Future Fiction and reprinted in the 1972 collection The Early Asimov. It was the ninth story written by Asimov, and the seventh to be published. The author recalls that the story, an attempt at humour, was embarrassing to read later, and that he was glad that his long-time editor, John W. Campbell, never saw it, as he would certainly have rejected it.
Asimov was majoring in chemistry at the time he wrote the story in late November 1938. After the story, originally titled Ammonium, was rejected by Thrilling Wonder Stories, Asimov became discouraged and retired it. When Future Fiction accepted his story Ring Around the Sun, he dug out Ammonium and submitted it as well. The title was changed by Future Fiction's editor, Charles D. Hornig.
Plot summaryedit
Walter Sills, a struggling New York consulting chemist, is developing a method of plating metal with pure ammonium, which would be cheaper than using traditional plating metals such as nickel or chromium despite having an appearance very similar to gold. Despite not having properly tested the plating process, he obtains some publicity for his discovery, which leads him into all sorts of problems with gangsters who want to steal his formula and crooked politicians who seek to exploit him.
He hopes to sell the process to a steel magnate, but discovers at the last moment that the process generates an extremely foul smell which lasts almost indefinitely, making it commercially unviable.
Referencesedit
Asimov, Isaac, "The Magnificent Possession" in The Early AsimovISBN0-385-03979-4.
magnificent, possession, science, fiction, short, story, american, writer, isaac, asimov, first, published, july, 1940, issue, future, fiction, reprinted, 1972, collection, early, asimov, ninth, story, written, asimov, seventh, published, author, recalls, that. The Magnificent Possession is a science fiction short story by American writer Isaac Asimov It was first published in the July 1940 issue of Future Fiction and reprinted in the 1972 collection The Early Asimov It was the ninth story written by Asimov and the seventh to be published The author recalls that the story an attempt at humour was embarrassing to read later and that he was glad that his long time editor John W Campbell never saw it as he would certainly have rejected it The Magnificent Possession Short story by Isaac AsimovCountryUnited StatesLanguageEnglishGenre s Science fictionPublicationPublished inFuture FictionPublication typePeriodicalPublisherDouble Action MagazinesMedia typePrint Magazine Hardback amp Paperback Publication dateJuly 1940 Asimov was majoring in chemistry at the time he wrote the story in late November 1938 After the story originally titled Ammonium was rejected by Thrilling Wonder Stories Asimov became discouraged and retired it When Future Fiction accepted his story Ring Around the Sun he dug out Ammonium and submitted it as well The title was changed by Future Fiction s editor Charles D Hornig Plot summary editWalter Sills a struggling New York consulting chemist is developing a method of plating metal with pure ammonium which would be cheaper than using traditional plating metals such as nickel or chromium despite having an appearance very similar to gold Despite not having properly tested the plating process he obtains some publicity for his discovery which leads him into all sorts of problems with gangsters who want to steal his formula and crooked politicians who seek to exploit him He hopes to sell the process to a steel magnate but discovers at the last moment that the process generates an extremely foul smell which lasts almost indefinitely making it commercially unviable References editAsimov Isaac The Magnificent Possession in The Early Asimov ISBN 0 385 03979 4 External links editThe Magnificent Possession title listing at the Internet Speculative Fiction Database nbsp This article about a science fiction short story or stories published in the 1940s is a stub You can help Wikipedia by expanding it vte Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title The Magnificent Possession amp oldid 1222917453, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
