Prisoner on alien planet escapes by making up a story about ghost companions and wins the warSF Story about...
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Prisoner on alien planet escapes by making up a story about ghost companions and wins the war
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I read this short story decades ago in a German translation in some anthology, but I believe the original was in English. Or was it in German? I'm not even sure. I'd like to find out the name of the story and who wrote it. (And the name of the fictitious device that plays an important role in it.) It's very likely that the story is from the 80s or earlier.
A human fighter pilot in an interstellar war is downed on a planet where some alien race lives that works for the enemy, but has had almost no contact with humans before. He is imprisoned and comes up with a plan. Out of old wire and wooden planks he starts to form little devices. Then he speaks through the wire, as if somebody else was there. The guards question him and he tells them that humans use these devices to communicate with their invisible spirit companions. He tells them that his companion is angry, and that he cannot control him, although he tries to. Something bad happens to one of the guards, and they get really anxious about their human prisoner. Anything bad that happens is swiftly attributed to the invisible spirit companion.
The pilot continuous with this plan despite setbacks and complicated questioning, and after a long back and forth, it turns out that he is not only freed, but that the alien alliance have decided to end the war, because invisible human spirit companions are too dangerous.
story-identification short-stories
edited 3 hours ago
JakeGould
8,87745398
asked 13 hours ago
Eric '3ToedSloth'Eric '3ToedSloth'
1885
New contributor
Eric '3ToedSloth' is a new contributor to this site. Take care in asking for clarification, commenting, and answering.
Check out our Code of Conduct.
add a comment |
I read this short story decades ago in a German translation in some anthology, but I believe the original was in English. Or was it in German? I'm not even sure. I'd like to find out the name of the story and who wrote it. (And the name of the fictitious device that plays an important role in it.) It's very likely that the story is from the 80s or earlier.
A human fighter pilot in an interstellar war is downed on a planet where some alien race lives that works for the enemy, but has had almost no contact with humans before. He is imprisoned and comes up with a plan. Out of old wire and wooden planks he starts to form little devices. Then he speaks through the wire, as if somebody else was there. The guards question him and he tells them that humans use these devices to communicate with their invisible spirit companions. He tells them that his companion is angry, and that he cannot control him, although he tries to. Something bad happens to one of the guards, and they get really anxious about their human prisoner. Anything bad that happens is swiftly attributed to the invisible spirit companion.
The pilot continuous with this plan despite setbacks and complicated questioning, and after a long back and forth, it turns out that he is not only freed, but that the alien alliance have decided to end the war, because invisible human spirit companions are too dangerous.
story-identification short-stories
edited 3 hours ago
JakeGould
8,87745398
asked 13 hours ago
Eric '3ToedSloth'Eric '3ToedSloth'
1885
New contributor
Eric '3ToedSloth' is a new contributor to this site. Take care in asking for clarification, commenting, and answering.
Check out our Code of Conduct.
add a comment |
I read this short story decades ago in a German translation in some anthology, but I believe the original was in English. Or was it in German? I'm not even sure. I'd like to find out the name of the story and who wrote it. (And the name of the fictitious device that plays an important role in it.) It's very likely that the story is from the 80s or earlier.
A human fighter pilot in an interstellar war is downed on a planet where some alien race lives that works for the enemy, but has had almost no contact with humans before. He is imprisoned and comes up with a plan. Out of old wire and wooden planks he starts to form little devices. Then he speaks through the wire, as if somebody else was there. The guards question him and he tells them that humans use these devices to communicate with their invisible spirit companions. He tells them that his companion is angry, and that he cannot control him, although he tries to. Something bad happens to one of the guards, and they get really anxious about their human prisoner. Anything bad that happens is swiftly attributed to the invisible spirit companion.
The pilot continuous with this plan despite setbacks and complicated questioning, and after a long back and forth, it turns out that he is not only freed, but that the alien alliance have decided to end the war, because invisible human spirit companions are too dangerous.
story-identification short-stories
edited 3 hours ago
JakeGould
8,87745398
asked 13 hours ago
Eric '3ToedSloth'Eric '3ToedSloth'
1885
New contributor
Eric '3ToedSloth' is a new contributor to this site. Take care in asking for clarification, commenting, and answering.
Check out our Code of Conduct.
I read this short story decades ago in a German translation in some anthology, but I believe the original was in English. Or was it in German? I'm not even sure. I'd like to find out the name of the story and who wrote it. (And the name of the fictitious device that plays an important role in it.) It's very likely that the story is from the 80s or earlier.
A human fighter pilot in an interstellar war is downed on a planet where some alien race lives that works for the enemy, but has had almost no contact with humans before. He is imprisoned and comes up with a plan. Out of old wire and wooden planks he starts to form little devices. Then he speaks through the wire, as if somebody else was there. The guards question him and he tells them that humans use these devices to communicate with their invisible spirit companions. He tells them that his companion is angry, and that he cannot control him, although he tries to. Something bad happens to one of the guards, and they get really anxious about their human prisoner. Anything bad that happens is swiftly attributed to the invisible spirit companion.
The pilot continuous with this plan despite setbacks and complicated questioning, and after a long back and forth, it turns out that he is not only freed, but that the alien alliance have decided to end the war, because invisible human spirit companions are too dangerous.
story-identification short-stories
story-identification short-stories
edited 3 hours ago
JakeGould
8,87745398
asked 13 hours ago
Eric '3ToedSloth'Eric '3ToedSloth'
1885
New contributor
Eric '3ToedSloth' is a new contributor to this site. Take care in asking for clarification, commenting, and answering.
Check out our Code of Conduct.
edited 3 hours ago
JakeGould
8,87745398
asked 13 hours ago
Eric '3ToedSloth'Eric '3ToedSloth'
1885
New contributor
Eric '3ToedSloth' is a new contributor to this site. Take care in asking for clarification, commenting, and answering.
Check out our Code of Conduct.
edited 3 hours ago
JakeGould
8,87745398
edited 3 hours ago
JakeGould
8,87745398
edited 3 hours ago
JakeGould
8,87745398
8,87745398
asked 13 hours ago
Eric '3ToedSloth'Eric '3ToedSloth'
1885
New contributor
Eric '3ToedSloth' is a new contributor to this site. Take care in asking for clarification, commenting, and answering.
Check out our Code of Conduct.
asked 13 hours ago
Eric '3ToedSloth'Eric '3ToedSloth'
1885
asked 13 hours ago
Eric '3ToedSloth'Eric '3ToedSloth'
1885
1885
New contributor
Eric '3ToedSloth' is a new contributor to this site. Take care in asking for clarification, commenting, and answering.
Check out our Code of Conduct.
New contributor
Eric '3ToedSloth' is a new contributor to this site. Take care in asking for clarification, commenting, and answering.
Check out our Code of Conduct.
add a comment |
add a comment |
1 Answer
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Eric Frank Russell - Next of Kin (Expanded from an earlier novel called The Space Willies, which was an expansion of a novella called "Plus X".) A summary is available on Wikipedia.
The Hero (a typical EFR character, an individualist with a fine combat record but a disciplinary one that reads like a crime sheet) claims that all humans have an invisible companion or symbiote called a Eustace, who can wreak revenge if its human partner is harmed. Some coincidences lend plausibility to his story, and in the end his captors (minor allies of Terra's main enemy) send him home with an offer from themselves and other small fry to withdraw from the war.
It's a bit like Wasp, less credible but lots of fun to read.
edited 9 hours ago
DavidW
7,09033073
answered 13 hours ago
Mike StoneMike Stone
6,04512047
Wow, that was a fast reply. Thank you so much! The German translation I've read must have been Plus X, the shorter version, and was called "Der X-Faktor".
– Eric '3ToedSloth'
13 hours ago
2
What is a "EFR character" in this context? I tried googling it but have found all sorts of irrelevant things, from webcomics about schoolgirls with fox ears to some sort of US department of defense parlance....
– Roddy of the Frozen Peas
4 hours ago
1
@RoddyoftheFrozenPeas: That took me a second, too, before making the connection to the author's name (Eric Frank Russell). So a "typical EFR character" is one who is like other characters by that author.
– ruakh
4 hours ago
Typically "an individualist afflicted with the fidgets" as one character puts in in NoK. Pilots of one-man scoutships pop up in Russell quite a bit,and "Wasp" is about a solitary secret agent sent to subvert a whole planet. Russell was a great believer in The Power of One. .
– Mike Stone
3 hours ago
add a comment |
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1 Answer
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1 Answer
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oldest
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active
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votes
Eric Frank Russell - Next of Kin (Expanded from an earlier novel called The Space Willies, which was an expansion of a novella called "Plus X".) A summary is available on Wikipedia.
The Hero (a typical EFR character, an individualist with a fine combat record but a disciplinary one that reads like a crime sheet) claims that all humans have an invisible companion or symbiote called a Eustace, who can wreak revenge if its human partner is harmed. Some coincidences lend plausibility to his story, and in the end his captors (minor allies of Terra's main enemy) send him home with an offer from themselves and other small fry to withdraw from the war.
It's a bit like Wasp, less credible but lots of fun to read.
edited 9 hours ago
DavidW
7,09033073
answered 13 hours ago
Mike StoneMike Stone
6,04512047
Wow, that was a fast reply. Thank you so much! The German translation I've read must have been Plus X, the shorter version, and was called "Der X-Faktor".
– Eric '3ToedSloth'
13 hours ago
2
What is a "EFR character" in this context? I tried googling it but have found all sorts of irrelevant things, from webcomics about schoolgirls with fox ears to some sort of US department of defense parlance....
– Roddy of the Frozen Peas
4 hours ago
1
@RoddyoftheFrozenPeas: That took me a second, too, before making the connection to the author's name (Eric Frank Russell). So a "typical EFR character" is one who is like other characters by that author.
– ruakh
4 hours ago
Typically "an individualist afflicted with the fidgets" as one character puts in in NoK. Pilots of one-man scoutships pop up in Russell quite a bit,and "Wasp" is about a solitary secret agent sent to subvert a whole planet. Russell was a great believer in The Power of One. .
– Mike Stone
3 hours ago
add a comment |
Eric Frank Russell - Next of Kin (Expanded from an earlier novel called The Space Willies, which was an expansion of a novella called "Plus X".) A summary is available on Wikipedia.
The Hero (a typical EFR character, an individualist with a fine combat record but a disciplinary one that reads like a crime sheet) claims that all humans have an invisible companion or symbiote called a Eustace, who can wreak revenge if its human partner is harmed. Some coincidences lend plausibility to his story, and in the end his captors (minor allies of Terra's main enemy) send him home with an offer from themselves and other small fry to withdraw from the war.
It's a bit like Wasp, less credible but lots of fun to read.
edited 9 hours ago
DavidW
7,09033073
answered 13 hours ago
Mike StoneMike Stone
6,04512047
Wow, that was a fast reply. Thank you so much! The German translation I've read must have been Plus X, the shorter version, and was called "Der X-Faktor".
– Eric '3ToedSloth'
13 hours ago
2
What is a "EFR character" in this context? I tried googling it but have found all sorts of irrelevant things, from webcomics about schoolgirls with fox ears to some sort of US department of defense parlance....
– Roddy of the Frozen Peas
4 hours ago
1
@RoddyoftheFrozenPeas: That took me a second, too, before making the connection to the author's name (Eric Frank Russell). So a "typical EFR character" is one who is like other characters by that author.
– ruakh
4 hours ago
Typically "an individualist afflicted with the fidgets" as one character puts in in NoK. Pilots of one-man scoutships pop up in Russell quite a bit,and "Wasp" is about a solitary secret agent sent to subvert a whole planet. Russell was a great believer in The Power of One. .
– Mike Stone
3 hours ago
add a comment |
Eric Frank Russell - Next of Kin (Expanded from an earlier novel called The Space Willies, which was an expansion of a novella called "Plus X".) A summary is available on Wikipedia.
The Hero (a typical EFR character, an individualist with a fine combat record but a disciplinary one that reads like a crime sheet) claims that all humans have an invisible companion or symbiote called a Eustace, who can wreak revenge if its human partner is harmed. Some coincidences lend plausibility to his story, and in the end his captors (minor allies of Terra's main enemy) send him home with an offer from themselves and other small fry to withdraw from the war.
It's a bit like Wasp, less credible but lots of fun to read.
edited 9 hours ago
DavidW
7,09033073
answered 13 hours ago
Mike StoneMike Stone
6,04512047
Eric Frank Russell - Next of Kin (Expanded from an earlier novel called The Space Willies, which was an expansion of a novella called "Plus X".) A summary is available on Wikipedia.
The Hero (a typical EFR character, an individualist with a fine combat record but a disciplinary one that reads like a crime sheet) claims that all humans have an invisible companion or symbiote called a Eustace, who can wreak revenge if its human partner is harmed. Some coincidences lend plausibility to his story, and in the end his captors (minor allies of Terra's main enemy) send him home with an offer from themselves and other small fry to withdraw from the war.
It's a bit like Wasp, less credible but lots of fun to read.
edited 9 hours ago
DavidW
7,09033073
answered 13 hours ago
Mike StoneMike Stone
6,04512047
edited 9 hours ago
DavidW
7,09033073
edited 9 hours ago
DavidW
7,09033073
edited 9 hours ago
DavidW
7,09033073
7,09033073
answered 13 hours ago
Mike StoneMike Stone
6,04512047
answered 13 hours ago
Mike StoneMike Stone
6,04512047
answered 13 hours ago
Mike StoneMike Stone
6,04512047
6,04512047
Wow, that was a fast reply. Thank you so much! The German translation I've read must have been Plus X, the shorter version, and was called "Der X-Faktor".
– Eric '3ToedSloth'
13 hours ago
2
What is a "EFR character" in this context? I tried googling it but have found all sorts of irrelevant things, from webcomics about schoolgirls with fox ears to some sort of US department of defense parlance....
– Roddy of the Frozen Peas
4 hours ago
1
@RoddyoftheFrozenPeas: That took me a second, too, before making the connection to the author's name (Eric Frank Russell). So a "typical EFR character" is one who is like other characters by that author.
– ruakh
4 hours ago
Typically "an individualist afflicted with the fidgets" as one character puts in in NoK. Pilots of one-man scoutships pop up in Russell quite a bit,and "Wasp" is about a solitary secret agent sent to subvert a whole planet. Russell was a great believer in The Power of One. .
– Mike Stone
3 hours ago
add a comment |
Wow, that was a fast reply. Thank you so much! The German translation I've read must have been Plus X, the shorter version, and was called "Der X-Faktor".
– Eric '3ToedSloth'
13 hours ago
2
What is a "EFR character" in this context? I tried googling it but have found all sorts of irrelevant things, from webcomics about schoolgirls with fox ears to some sort of US department of defense parlance....
– Roddy of the Frozen Peas
4 hours ago
1
@RoddyoftheFrozenPeas: That took me a second, too, before making the connection to the author's name (Eric Frank Russell). So a "typical EFR character" is one who is like other characters by that author.
– ruakh
4 hours ago
Typically "an individualist afflicted with the fidgets" as one character puts in in NoK. Pilots of one-man scoutships pop up in Russell quite a bit,and "Wasp" is about a solitary secret agent sent to subvert a whole planet. Russell was a great believer in The Power of One. .
– Mike Stone
3 hours ago
Wow, that was a fast reply. Thank you so much! The German translation I've read must have been Plus X, the shorter version, and was called "Der X-Faktor".
– Eric '3ToedSloth'
13 hours ago
Wow, that was a fast reply. Thank you so much! The German translation I've read must have been Plus X, the shorter version, and was called "Der X-Faktor".
– Eric '3ToedSloth'
13 hours ago
2
2
What is a "EFR character" in this context? I tried googling it but have found all sorts of irrelevant things, from webcomics about schoolgirls with fox ears to some sort of US department of defense parlance....
– Roddy of the Frozen Peas
4 hours ago
What is a "EFR character" in this context? I tried googling it but have found all sorts of irrelevant things, from webcomics about schoolgirls with fox ears to some sort of US department of defense parlance....
– Roddy of the Frozen Peas
4 hours ago
1
1
@RoddyoftheFrozenPeas: That took me a second, too, before making the connection to the author's name (Eric Frank Russell). So a "typical EFR character" is one who is like other characters by that author.
– ruakh
4 hours ago
@RoddyoftheFrozenPeas: That took me a second, too, before making the connection to the author's name (Eric Frank Russell). So a "typical EFR character" is one who is like other characters by that author.
– ruakh
4 hours ago
Typically "an individualist afflicted with the fidgets" as one character puts in in NoK. Pilots of one-man scoutships pop up in Russell quite a bit,and "Wasp" is about a solitary secret agent sent to subvert a whole planet. Russell was a great believer in The Power of One. .
– Mike Stone
3 hours ago
Typically "an individualist afflicted with the fidgets" as one character puts in in NoK. Pilots of one-man scoutships pop up in Russell quite a bit,and "Wasp" is about a solitary secret agent sent to subvert a whole planet. Russell was a great believer in The Power of One. .
– Mike Stone
3 hours ago
add a comment |
Eric '3ToedSloth' is a new contributor. Be nice, and check out our Code of Conduct.
Eric '3ToedSloth' is a new contributor. Be nice, and check out our Code of Conduct.
Eric '3ToedSloth' is a new contributor. Be nice, and check out our Code of Conduct.
Eric '3ToedSloth' is a new contributor. Be nice, and check out our Code of Conduct.
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