Isaac Asimov Presents the Great SF Stories, 2
A matter-conversion discovery creates "plastoscene," shrinking Earth. Descendants lead a revolution to democratize the technology, addressing resource consumption and saving the dwindling planet.
"The Dwindling Sphere" by Willard Hawkins, a tale of scientific foresight and societal reflection, stands as a remarkable inclusion in this anthology, representing the classic stories of 1940, a true year of the Golden Age of science fiction. It’s curious, even to me, that despite my immersion in the science fiction of the 1930s and 40s, this particular story and its author initially eluded my attention, a fact I find quite upsetting. Yet, upon recent rediscovery, its brilliance is undeniable, proving once again that these anthologies are indeed a "treasure trove" for anyone who enjoys "brilliant and 'different' tales of the scientific and fantastic imagination".
At its heart, "The Dwindling Sphere" introduces a scientific discovery of profound, albeit unforeseen, implications. Frank Baxter, a dedicated scientist, stumbles upon a process capable of converting virtually any matter into a much smaller residue. The scientific enigma, however, lies in the fact that while matter is undeniably converted, the expected "enormous energy" that should result from such a transformation remains undetectable. This missing energy puzzles Baxter to no end, leading him to consider his life's work a failure in its primary goal of atomic power. This immediate focus on a baffling scientific paradox, even before the full implications are clear, is a hallmark of the kind of imaginative thought that defined this era.
The story then pivots, with a keen sense of irony, to the commercialization of this discovery. Bernard Ogilvie, a shrewd promoter and Baxter's former college roommate, quickly recognizes the immense potential not in the undetectable energy, but in the peculiar, malleable residue produced by the process. This new material, later known as "plastoscene," revolutionizes the plastics industry, creating a vast fortune for Baxter and his heirs, even though the inventor himself remains dismissive of it, perpetually focused on his unachieved dream of capturing the elusive energy. Such a contrast between scientific ambition and practical application often brings a satirical element to the narrative, a characteristic I always appreciate.
The widespread adoption of plastoscene reshapes human society in unexpected ways. While offering incredible convenience and the ability to convert waste into useful products, it inadvertently leads to a form of "technological sterility". Society, as depicted, deliberately suppresses new vital discoveries, particularly those that might render entire classes of workers obsolete, to prevent social unrest and revolution. This exploration of the delicate balance between progress and social stability, and the ethical dilemmas it poses, demonstrates a depth of social commentary that was quite advanced for its time.
Generations later, Frank Baxter's descendant, Quentin Baxter, discovers a further evolution of the plastoscene principle: a three-dimensional scanning device capable of reproducing natural objects, including food, with perfect accuracy. This invention, with its potential to completely disrupt established "agricultural aristocracy" and other "situation-holding classes," sets the stage for a dramatic social transformation. What follows is a cleverly engineered revolution, initiated by the Baxters themselves, to democratize this technology and liberate society from its self-imposed stagnation. This narrative thrust, challenging power structures and exploring profound societal shifts, gives the story an experimental and "different" quality that prefigured later movements in science fiction by decades, making it, in my estimation, "New Wave a quarter-century before its time".
Beyond its social commentary, the story also grapples with the long-term environmental consequences of humanity's actions. The continuous conversion of matter into plastoscene, taken to its extreme, raises the alarming prospect of an Earth whose very mass is slowly but inexorably diminishing. This central concept, which lends the story its poignant title, serves as a powerful, early warning about resource consumption and the potential impact of human activity on a planetary scale – a theme that, as the sources note, was relatively neglected in much of the early science fiction of the time.
"The Dwindling Sphere" is, in essence, a profound meditation on progress, unintended consequences, and the enduring human struggle for autonomy against systemic constraints. Its discussion of fission, even if imperfect in its scientific details, predates the atomic age by years. Its exploration of societal control, technological disruption, and environmental impact resonates with themes that remain relevant today. This ability to foresee, to provoke thought, and to build a coherent narrative around complex ideas is precisely why stories like Hawkins' belong in a collection of "the great SF stories," enriching our understanding of science fiction's enduring power and fostering that unique "sense of wonder".
