In Memory Yet Green
An Earthman seeks a "pineal chemical" from emotionless Martians to save democracy. They compel him to discover humanity's true "weapon" through self-reliance, not direct aid.
In the fertile ground of Isaac Asimov’s burgeoning imagination, during the pivotal year of 1938, a story titled "The Weapon" took shape, marking a significant, albeit initially obscured, step in his literary journey. Born from a period of intense global anxiety, specifically the heating up of the Munich crisis, this short piece of fiction reflected the profound concerns of its time, portraying democracy as teetering on the brink of destruction. It was Asimov's sixth story, penned when he was just eighteen years old and navigating his senior year of college.
For many years, the story's existence was almost lost to its creator, published under the pseudonym H. B. Ogden in the May 1942 issue of Super Science. Asimov himself was "distressed" by the pseudonym and the story, leading him to entirely forget its existence for a period, even listing it among his lost works in The Early Asimov. It was only through meticulous review of his diaries for his autobiography that "The Weapon" was rediscovered, allowing it to be rescued from literary limbo and reprinted under his rightful name. This unique publication history speaks volumes about the early struggles and self-perception of a writer who would become a titan of science fiction.
At its core, "The Weapon" delves into a classic science-fiction premise: humanity’s plea to a superior alien civilization for aid. The narrative introduces Preston Calvin, an Earthman who seeks "Assistance in our fight against the forces of ruthlessness and evil" from the Elders of Mars, a race characterized as an "emotionless superrace, this product of countless aeons of evolution". The Martians, embodying a philosophy of non-interference, firmly state, "Mars does not interfere with Earth. We give no assistance," believing "every world must work out its own destiny". This sets up a profound moral and philosophical dilemma, exploring the limits of external intervention and the necessity of self-reliance.
The story, despite its author’s later modest assessment of it as "not exactly a very good story" but "not bad for an eighteen-year-old", showcases Asimov’s nascent talent for integrating scientific concepts into his narratives. It features advanced technology, including a "needle-ray," an "atomic power generator," and a "television screen". Notably, the setting of a vast chemistry laboratory on Deimos is described as his "college laboratories magnified", directly illustrating how his immediate environment influenced the imaginative details of his early fiction. Calvin's mission involves locating "the secret of the pineal chemical" within a meticulously ordered "chemical encyclopedia" accessible through advanced technology. This highlights Asimov's early inclination towards scientific problem-solving, a hallmark of his "hard science fiction" which would later define his career.
As the narrative unfolds, the Martians reveal their true involvement in a carefully orchestrated "experiment," having "introduced a fictitious rest hour; and refrained from interfering until you had discovered your precious weapon". This revelation underscores the Martians' complex understanding of growth and self-determination, emphasizing that genuine aid comes not from direct bestowal but from the opportunity for self-discovery and agency. Their profound statement, "It has not been given you; you have taken it. Return to Earth with your weapon," encapsulates this ethos, suggesting a deeper, more challenging form of assistance than mere charity. Calvin's ultimate realization, "You are a strange people, but a great one!", reflects the story's exploration of alien wisdom and humanity's place in a complex universe.
"The Weapon" stands as an intriguing artifact from Asimov's formative years. While he later dismissed it as "rotten", it demonstrates his early engagement with themes that would become central to his enduring legacy: human ingenuity, the complexities of interspecies relations, and the philosophical underpinnings of societal development. Though Campbell initially rejected it, and it went through several submissions before being sold to Astonishing, it paved the way for the more refined and influential works that would soon establish Asimov as a "major figure in the field". It shows the foundation of a writer who would master clear, logical prose and weave intricate plots around scientific ideas, evolving from early "pulpish aspects" to a "more direct" style. Even in this early, self-professed "not very good" story, the seeds of the "great storyteller and a first-rate explainer" were unmistakably present.
