"The Weapon" is a short story by the American science fiction writer Isaac Asimov. Written in September 1938 when Asimov was 18, it was first published in the May 1942 issue of Super Science Stories under a pseudonym, H.B. Ogden. Because of the pseudonym, Asimov forgot that this story had ever been published and so, assuming that it had been rejected and believing that he no longer had a copy of it, he omitted it from The Early Asimov (1972), a collection of his earliest stories. In that book he listed "The Weapon" among eleven of his short stories that had been lost forever. However, while writing the first volume of his autobiography, In Memory Yet Green (1979), Asimov came across an entry in his diary which reminded him that the story had indeed been published. Obtaining a copy of the relevant magazine, he ensured that the story was published in chapter 30 of that book.[1]
Democracy has been all but eradicated on Earth as a result of wars waged by totalitarian states. Preston Calvin travels to Mars to seek the assistance of the technologically superior Martians. He asks them to provide him with a weapon: not a weapon of destruction, but a chemical which the Martians used on themselves aeons ago to temper the emotions of anger and hate, allowing them to reject war and violence, and which Calvin intends to use to influence humanity for the better. But the Martians refuse to give it to him, insisting that "every civilization must work out its own destiny".
Calvin resolves to steal the chemical. He infiltrates a laboratory on Deimos and, after a long search, eventually finds the information he needs, but at the moment of discovery he himself is discovered by the Martians. It transpires that they knew he would attempt to steal the weapon and had been monitoring his progress since he began.
However, the Martians tell Calvin that by attempting to steal the weapon (even though they could easily have prevented him), he has taken Earth's destiny in his own hands, and so has earned the right to keep the weapon. "It has not been given you; you have taken it." He returns to Earth with the weapon.
See alsoedit
"Big Game" (short story), another short story Asimov thought was lost in 1972 but which resurfaced
weapon, short, story, weapon, short, story, american, science, fiction, writer, isaac, asimov, written, september, 1938, when, asimov, first, published, 1942, issue, super, science, stories, under, pseudonym, ogden, because, pseudonym, asimov, forgot, that, th. The Weapon is a short story by the American science fiction writer Isaac Asimov Written in September 1938 when Asimov was 18 it was first published in the May 1942 issue of Super Science Stories under a pseudonym H B Ogden Because of the pseudonym Asimov forgot that this story had ever been published and so assuming that it had been rejected and believing that he no longer had a copy of it he omitted it from The Early Asimov 1972 a collection of his earliest stories In that book he listed The Weapon among eleven of his short stories that had been lost forever However while writing the first volume of his autobiography In Memory Yet Green 1979 Asimov came across an entry in his diary which reminded him that the story had indeed been published Obtaining a copy of the relevant magazine he ensured that the story was published in chapter 30 of that book 1 The Weapon Short story by Isaac AsimovCountryUnited StatesLanguageEnglishGenre s Science fictionPublicationPublished inSuper Science StoriesPublisherPopular PublicationsMedia typeMagazinePublication dateMay 1942 Contents 1 Plot summary 2 See also 3 References 4 External linksPlot summary editDemocracy has been all but eradicated on Earth as a result of wars waged by totalitarian states Preston Calvin travels to Mars to seek the assistance of the technologically superior Martians He asks them to provide him with a weapon not a weapon of destruction but a chemical which the Martians used on themselves aeons ago to temper the emotions of anger and hate allowing them to reject war and violence and which Calvin intends to use to influence humanity for the better But the Martians refuse to give it to him insisting that every civilization must work out its own destiny Calvin resolves to steal the chemical He infiltrates a laboratory on Deimos and after a long search eventually finds the information he needs but at the moment of discovery he himself is discovered by the Martians It transpires that they knew he would attempt to steal the weapon and had been monitoring his progress since he began However the Martians tell Calvin that by attempting to steal the weapon even though they could easily have prevented him he has taken Earth s destiny in his own hands and so has earned the right to keep the weapon It has not been given you you have taken it He returns to Earth with the weapon See also edit Big Game short story another short story Asimov thought was lost in 1972 but which resurfaced Isaac Asimov short stories bibliographyReferences edit Asimov I 1979 In Memory Yet Green Doubleday Avon edition 1980 Pages 339 350 External links editThe Weapon title listing at the Internet Speculative Fiction Database Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title The Weapon short story amp oldid 1134835536, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
