Isaac Asimov Presents the Great SF Stories, 1
Asimov's 1939 science fiction anthology spotlights pivotal stories and authors who transformed pulp fiction into respected literature, exploring diverse themes amidst a world in turmoil.
L. Sprague de Camp, a writer whose talent spanned numerous genres from science fiction and fantasy to the popularization of science and scholarly research, was widely admired for his keen wit and engaging narrative style. Indeed, Isaac Asimov himself lauded de Camp for his ability to craft both excellent short stories and even more effective novels, a versatility rare among writers. "The Blue Giraffe" stands as a delightful testament to de Camp’s skill, presenting a scientific mystery wrapped in a tale that, as Asimov suggested of de Camp's work, captures a unique blend of humor and profound insight.
The story unfolds through the experiences of Athelstan Cuff, an editor for Biological Review, a man whose professional life typically immersed him in the sober realities of scientific study. His journey into the heart of an unusual biological puzzle begins unexpectedly, following a personal revelation involving his adopted son, Peter. This family matter sets Cuff on a path to a remote, wild preserve in South Africa – specifically, the Okavango River Delta in Ngamiland – an area once considered solely for scientific and warden occupation, meant to remain untouched by broader human settlement.
Upon his arrival, Cuff is immediately confronted by a series of bewildering anomalies that challenge his scientific sensibilities. His initial contact, a warden named Mtengeni, reports the appearance of a "blue giraffe" seventeen months prior, followed by other equally strange occurrences. Cuff, with his logical, scientific mind, initially suspects simple trickery, like paint. However, as his investigation deepens, the evidence of systematic and bizarre biological transformation becomes undeniable. He observes not only the vividly colored giraffe but also one with a six-foot-long beard, a startling green hippopotamus with pink spots, and even a buck with disproportionately short forelegs. Each sighting adds another layer to the enigma, pushing Cuff further into a realm where the laws of nature, as he knows them, seem to have been dramatically rewritten.
Mtengeni articulates the dire implications of these phenomena: "freaks like this they are being born. Most of them don’t live. In ten years more, maybe twenty, all my animals will have died out because of this.". This pronouncement elevates the mystery from mere curiosity to an urgent ecological crisis, emphasizing the necessity of uncovering the source of these mutations before the entire ecosystem of the Park is irrevocably altered. Cuff finds himself tasked with stopping "this whatever-it-is", a phrase that perfectly encapsulates the elusive nature of the problem he faces.
Cuff's quest takes him deeper into the unmapped and treacherous Delta, a place cartographers had vaguely marked as "swamp" due to its complexity. Here, his journey introduces him to the "amafene abantu" – the baboon people. These beings, with their greenish-yellow hair, short tails, and striking bluish muzzles resembling "an Egyptian animal-headed god," further blur the lines between known species. Their leader, Indlovu, offers a crucial piece of the puzzle, revealing a history passed down through generations. Indlovu explains that he is the first of his kind, and all others are his descendants, maturing faster and living shorter lives, much like baboons. He recounts being led by a black man named Mqhavi, who worked for a "machine man" – a "pink man like Cuff" – named Heeky (Hickey), who operated a mysterious "machine" near the Chobe Swamp.
The narrative skillfully builds towards the chilling realization that Hickey, a forgotten scientist, had left his gene-affecting machine running, causing random and widespread mutations in the local animal population. This continuous, undirected interference with the fundamental building blocks of life generates a constant stream of "useful" and "harmful" mutations, threatening the genetic integrity of all creatures in the Park. The story thus constructs a scenario where human scientific endeavor, even if accidentally or negligently applied, can have catastrophic and unpredictable long-term consequences for the natural world.
Further complicating Cuff's mission are his own personal challenges, including a self-inflicted foot injury and the unexpected proposition of marriage from one of the baboon women, Ingwamza. These elements, presented with de Camp's characteristic humor, serve to highlight the surreal and disorienting nature of Cuff's situation, reinforcing the idea that he has stepped into a world utterly transformed by forces he must now understand and control.
As Cuff pieces together the fragmented history, it becomes clear that the story is leading to a confrontation with the source of this pervasive biological disruption. The scientific principles at play, though not explicitly detailed in the narrative to avoid plot disclosure, resonate with classic science fiction themes of biological engineering and its ethical implications. Cuff's own encounter with the machine's radiation, resulting in "violent mutations in the germ-plasm," and his subsequent decision to adopt rather than risk passing on these genetic changes, underscores the deeply personal and profound consequences of such scientific accidents. This revelation provides a powerful, human dimension to the broader ecological disaster, demonstrating how a single, isolated incident can have far-reaching and irreversible impacts across generations.
"The Blue Giraffe" is, therefore, a story that skillfully builds from an escalating series of biological oddities to the identification of their scientific origin, culminating in the urgent need to address the unforeseen outcomes of technological intervention. It subtly explores the unpredictable nature of scientific progress and the responsibility that comes with wielding the power to alter life itself. L. Sprague de Camp’s narrative, with its blend of scientific investigation, adventure, and quirky humor, exemplifies why his work, as appreciated by Asimov, remains a significant contribution to science fiction, inviting readers to ponder the delicate balance between human ingenuity and the integrity of the natural world.
