Passengers (short story)

Last updated
"Passengers"
Short story by Robert Silverberg
CountryUnited States
LanguageEnglish
Genre(s) Science fiction
Publication
Published inOrbit 4
Publication typeHardcover
Publisher G. P. Putnam's Sons
Media typePrint
Publication date1968

"Passengers" is a science fiction short story by American writer Robert Silverberg. It was nominated for the Hugo Award for Best Short Story 1970, and won the Nebula Award for Best Short Story in 1969.

Contents

Background

In the 1970 collection The Cube Root of Uncertainty , Silverberg wrote in the Introduction: "Grim tales include "Passengers" and "Sundance". [1] It is told in the first person present tense. [2] [3] [4]

Publication history

"Passengers" was first published in the 1968 book Orbit 4 edited by Damon Knight. It reappeared in The Best from Orbit (1975), The Best of Robert Silverberg, vol. 1 (1976), The Cube Root of Uncertainty (1970), Moonferns and Starsongs (1971), and Nebula Award Stories Five (1970). [5]

Plot summary

He wonders if a woman was in his room. There are lipstick-stained butts in the ashtrays. The Passenger and woman are missing. He asks Central for hangover remedies. The kitchen dispenses purplish liquid, scrambled eggs and tomato juice. The Passenger rode him for three nights. On Tuesday morning, he had a bad time at work. Passengers rode the section manager three times in five weeks so he treats them poorly. He does not remember Tuesday afternoon. It may have been during a conference. The last three nights are blank. When a Passenger leaves, the memories leave with it. He wonders about the girl. The Passenger had left before Friday morning. He goes for a walk and sits on the library steps. The Passengers had arrived three years ago. They rode him five times. Snow falls. The girl sits across from him. She wears a black shirt, a dark green coat, and purplish lipstick. She has auburn hair and pale eyes. They were together for three nights. He introduces himself as Charles Roth. She is Helen Martin. They go to a cocktail lounge. He asks if being ridden by a Passenger was unpleasant. She asks how he knows. He tells her his Passenger left last night. She tells him hers left two hours ago. They drink. She designs display windows. He works as a securities analyst. They plan to meet again. She waits at the library steps. They walk together to Fifth Avenue. He looks at her. She looks at the grey sky and comments on the Passengers. They agree to meet again. He doesn't meet her. On Monday, he returns to work. It is mid-morning when he remembers her smile. At lunchtime, he apologises to her. They go for a drink and a walk. They arrive back at the cocktail lounge. He tells her the truth. She tells him to stop. He asks if they could go to her apartment. She tells him to shut up. He tells her he knows she has a birthmark. She hits him. Others assume they're being ridden. He wraps his arms around her and tells her not to fight. She pleads with him. He tells her he loves her. She gives up and smiles. There is a chill. He ignores her and goes back to the cocktail lounge. He sits with a young man. The young man gets up and he follows.

Reception

In 1971, SF Commentary's Barry Gillam called it "Silverberg's best story to date." [3] [4] In 1972, Vector 's John Bowles praised "[i]t is perfectly sustained, very carefully and well written [...], and is utterly inexorable." [2]

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References

  1. ↑ Silverberg, Robert (1970). The Cube Root of Uncertainty. New York, NY: Collier Books. p. xi.
  2. 1 2 Bowles, John (Spring 1972). "Books" (PDF). Vector (magazine) . Stoke-on-Trent: British Science Fiction Association. p. 25. Retrieved 2022-06-06.
  3. 1 2 Gillam, Barry (April 1971). "Criticanto" (PDF). SF Commentary. Melbourne: Bruce Gillespie. p. 14. Retrieved 2022-06-05.
  4. 1 2 Gillam, Barry (March 1977). "Spectrum of Silverberg" (PDF). SF Commentary. Melbourne: Bruce Gillespie. p. 19. Retrieved 2022-06-07.
  5. ↑ Clareson, Thomas (1983). Robert Silverberg: A Primary and Secondary Bibliography. Boston, MA: G. K. Hall & Co. p. 29.

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