A Matter of Traces
Encyclopedia
Short story
A short story is a work of fiction that is usually written in prose, often in narrative format. This format tends to be more pointed than longer works of fiction, such as novellas and novels. Short story definitions based on length differ somewhat, even among professional writers, in part because...
by science fiction
Science fiction
Science fiction is a genre of fiction dealing with imaginary but more or less plausible content such as future settings, futuristic science and technology, space travel, aliens, and paranormal abilities...
author Frank Herbert
Frank Herbert
Franklin Patrick Herbert, Jr. was a critically acclaimed and commercially successful American science fiction author. Although a short story author, he is best known for his novels, most notably Dune and its five sequels...
which first appeared in Fantastic Universe
Fantastic Universe
Fantastic Universe was a U.S. science fiction magazine which began publishing in the 1950s. It ran for 69 issues, from June 1953 to March 1960, under two different publishers. It was part of the explosion of science fiction magazine publishing in the 1950s in the United States, and was moderately...
magazine in 1958 and later in Herbert’s 1985 short story collection Eye
Eye (Frank Herbert)
Eye is a collection of thirteen short stories written by science fiction author Frank Herbert. All of the works had been previously published in magazine or book form, except for "The Road to Dune."-Introduction:...
. It is notable for being the first story to mention Herbert's ConSentiency universe, one of his three elaborate universes or franchises spanning multiple volumes (the others being the Dune universe
Dune universe
Dune is a science fiction franchise which originated with the 1965 novel Dune by Frank Herbert. Considered by many to be the greatest science fiction novel of all time, Dune is frequently cited as the best-selling science fiction novel in history...
and the Destination: Void universe developed with co-author Bill Ransom).
Plot
This story takes place in the distant future on the planet Aspidiske VII. A meeting of the "Special Subcommittee on Intergalactic Culture" is called to investigate the possibility of excessive wastefulness on the part of the "Historical Preservation Teams of the Bureau of Cultural Affairs". Secretary Hablar comes to present a sample of the work being done by the Historical Preservation Team. The sample he submits is an interview with one of the few surviving pioneersSettler
A settler is a person who has migrated to an area and established permanent residence there, often to colonize the area. Settlers are generally people who take up residence on land and cultivate it, as opposed to nomads...
of the planet Gomeisa III. He is an old man named Hilmot Gustin. During the course of the interview it is learned that Hilmont was the inventor of the rollitor, a plow harness for an alien life form native to the planet, and also the man who discovered what swamp cream does for the complexion. When the interview is finished the meeting is adjourned until the following day.
Characters
- Senator Jorj C. Zolam - chairman of the subcommittee
- Senator Arden B Pingle - from Proxistu I
- Mergis Wl Ledder - counsel to the subcommittee
- Jorj X. McKie - saboteur extraordinary
- Glibbis Hablar - Secretary of Fusion
- Interviewer Simsu Yaggata
- Mr. Presby Kilkau
- Mrs. Kilkau - Gustin’s niece
- Hilmot Gustin - pioneer
Jorj X. McKie
Although there is not explicit reference to the Bureau of SabotageBureau of Sabotage
The Bureau of Sabotage is a fictional government entity set in two of Frank Herbert's science fiction novels, Whipping Star and The Dosadi Experiment, and first introduced in his 1964 short story "The Tactful Saboteur". It is colloquially known as BuSab. Jorj X...
in this story, Jorj X. McKie appears for the first time in his capacity as saboteur extraordinary. In an effort to keep the meeting from going on too long McKie sabotaged Secretary Hablar’s projector and arranged to have the Assistant Secretary for Cultural Affairs sent to another meeting so that he would be unable to testify
Testimony
In law and in religion, testimony is a solemn attestation as to the truth of a matter. All testimonies should be well thought out and truthful. It was the custom in Ancient Rome for the men to place their right hand on a Bible when taking an oath...
.
Related works
"A Matter of Traces" was followed in 1964 by Herbert's short story "The Tactful SaboteurThe Tactful Saboteur
"The Tactful Saboteur" is a novelette by the science fiction author Frank Herbert which first appeared in Galaxy Science Fiction magazine in 1964...
", in 1970 by his short novel Whipping Star
Whipping Star
Whipping Star is a science fiction novel by Frank Herbert. It is the first full-length novel set in the ConSentiency universe established by Herbert in his novelette The Tactful Saboteur.- Plot summary :...
and in 1977 by his full length novel The Dosadi Experiment
The Dosadi Experiment
The Dosadi Experiment is a science fiction novel written by Frank Herbert. It is the second full-length novel set in the ConSentiency universe established by Herbert in his novelette The Tactful Saboteur and continued in Whipping Star....
. While none of these works are exactly sequels they take place in the same imaginary universe and share the character, Jorj X. McKie.
Sources
- Herbert, Frank. "A Matter of Traces" (short story) Fantastic UniverseFantastic UniverseFantastic Universe was a U.S. science fiction magazine which began publishing in the 1950s. It ran for 69 issues, from June 1953 to March 1960, under two different publishers. It was part of the explosion of science fiction magazine publishing in the 1950s in the United States, and was moderately...
, 1958 - Herbert, Frank. "The Tactful Saboteur" (short story) Galaxy Science FictionGalaxy Science FictionGalaxy Science Fiction was an American digest-size science fiction magazine, published from 1950 to 1980. It was founded by an Italian company, World Editions, which was looking to break in to the American market. World Editions hired as editor H. L...
, 1964 - Herbert, Frank. Whipping Star (novel) G. P. Putnam's SonsG. P. Putnam's SonsG. P. Putnam's Sons was a major United States book publisher based in New York City, New York. Since 1996, it has been an imprint of the Penguin Group.-History:...
, 1970 - Herbert, Frank. The Dosadi Experiment (novel) G. P. Putnam's Sons, 1977