Calories (story)
Encyclopedia
"Calories" is a science fiction
short story
written by L. Sprague de Camp
, a story in his Viagens Interplanetarias
series. It was first published under the title "Getaway on Krishna" in the magazine Ten Story Fantasy in the issue for Spring, 1951. It first appeared in book form under the present title in the collection Sprague de Camp's New Anthology of Science Fiction
, published simultaneously in hardcover by Hamilton and in paperback by Panther Books in 1953.
In the end, however, the Krishnans halt and give up the chase, as Okagamut, who is of Inuit heritage, has calculated they must. Having determined the caloric requirements of the trip he knew that he and his companion, subsisting on dried meat, could complete the journey, while the soldiers, whose religion requires a vegetarian diet, could not. Worn out by the pursuit, they have no option but to return to more temperate climes or perish. The life-and-death clash the story was apparently building up to is precluded by Okagamut's display of cleverness.
genre, representing both a tribute to the Barsoom
novels of Edgar Rice Burroughs
and an attempt to "get it right", reconstructing the concept logically, without what he regarded as Burroughs' biological and technological absurdities.
As dated in the 1959 version of de Camp's essay "The Krishna Stories," the action of "Calories" takes place in the year 2122 AD., falling between the first part of "Finished
" and Perpetual Motion
, which would make it the second story set on Krishna in terms of chronology. However, internal evidence indicates that it actually falls between The Queen of Zamba
and the second part of "Finished," the attempt to break the Viagens embargo on advanced technology in the former being mentioned as recent news, while the characters show no knowledge of the equally notorious assault on the ban in the latter. This would date the story between the years 2138 and 2140, presumably about 2139, making it the fourth story set on Krishna.
Krishna tales. Equally atypical is his departure from the Triple Seas area, the scene of all other stories set on Krishna, for the planet's Antarctic region, a choice possibly influenced by his then recent collaboration with Finn Ronne
on the non-fiction book Antarctic Conquest: the Story of the Ronne Expedition 1946-1948
(1949). De Camp's work with Ronne may also be reflected in the early Krishna novel The Hand of Zei
, in which the protagonist adopts the alias of an inhabitant of the planet's antarctic and is, like de Camp, employed as a ghostwriter for his explorer boss.
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...
short story
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...
written by L. Sprague de Camp
L. Sprague de Camp
Lyon Sprague de Camp was an American author of science fiction and fantasy books, non-fiction and biography. In a writing career spanning 60 years, he wrote over 100 books, including novels and notable works of non-fiction, including biographies of other important fantasy authors...
, a story in his Viagens Interplanetarias
Viagens Interplanetarias
The Viagens Interplanetarias series is a sequence of science fiction stories by L. Sprague de Camp, begun in the late 1940s and written under the influence of contemporary space opera and sword and planet stories, particularly Edgar Rice Burroughs's Martian novels...
series. It was first published under the title "Getaway on Krishna" in the magazine Ten Story Fantasy in the issue for Spring, 1951. It first appeared in book form under the present title in the collection Sprague de Camp's New Anthology of Science Fiction
Sprague de Camp's New Anthology of Science Fiction
Sprague de Camp's New Anthology of Science Fiction is a 1953 collection of science fiction stories by L. Sprague de Camp and edited by H. J. Campbell, first published in both hardcover and paperback by Panther Books....
, published simultaneously in hardcover by Hamilton and in paperback by Panther Books in 1953.
Plot summary
Set in the Antarctic region of the planet Krishna, "Calories" focuses on a long pursuit by a numerous and well-equipped cohort of fanatical soldiers from the Krishnan theocracy of Nichnyamadze of two Earthmen, Cuthwin ("Dinky") Singer and Earl Okagamut, who are possessed of a minimum of equipment and supplies. The chase tests the endurance of both fugitives and hunters, with the latter slowly but surely overtaking the former.In the end, however, the Krishnans halt and give up the chase, as Okagamut, who is of Inuit heritage, has calculated they must. Having determined the caloric requirements of the trip he knew that he and his companion, subsisting on dried meat, could complete the journey, while the soldiers, whose religion requires a vegetarian diet, could not. Worn out by the pursuit, they have no option but to return to more temperate climes or perish. The life-and-death clash the story was apparently building up to is precluded by Okagamut's display of cleverness.
Setting
The planet Krishna is de Camp's premier creation in the Sword and PlanetSword and planet
Sword and Planet is a subgenre of science fantasy that features rousing adventure stories set on other planets, and usually featuring Earthmen as protagonists. The name derives from the heroes of the genre engaging their adversaries in hand to hand combat primarily with simple melee weapons such as...
genre, representing both a tribute to the Barsoom
Barsoom
Barsoom is a fictional representation of the planet Mars created by American pulp fiction author Edgar Rice Burroughs, who wrote close to 100 action adventure stories in various genres in the first half of the 20th century, and is now best known as the creator of the character Tarzan...
novels of Edgar Rice Burroughs
Edgar Rice Burroughs
Edgar Rice Burroughs was an American author, best known for his creation of the jungle hero Tarzan and the heroic Mars adventurer John Carter, although he produced works in many genres.-Biography:...
and an attempt to "get it right", reconstructing the concept logically, without what he regarded as Burroughs' biological and technological absurdities.
As dated in the 1959 version of de Camp's essay "The Krishna Stories," the action of "Calories" takes place in the year 2122 AD., falling between the first part of "Finished
Finished (story)
"Finished" is a science fiction short story written by L. Sprague de Camp, a story in his Viagens Interplanetarias series. It was first published in the magazine Astounding Science Fiction in the issue for November, 1949...
" and Perpetual Motion
Perpetual Motion (short story)
"Perpetual Motion" is a science fiction short story written by L. Sprague de Camp, a story in his Viagens Interplanetarias series. It was first published under the title "Wide-Open Planet" in the magazine Future in the issue for September-October, 1950...
, which would make it the second story set on Krishna in terms of chronology. However, internal evidence indicates that it actually falls between The Queen of Zamba
The Queen of Zamba
The Queen of Zamba is a science fiction novel written by L. Sprague de Camp, the first book of his Viagens Interplanetarias series and its subseries of stories set on the fictional planet Krishna. It was written between November 1948 and January 1949 and first published in the magazine Astounding...
and the second part of "Finished," the attempt to break the Viagens embargo on advanced technology in the former being mentioned as recent news, while the characters show no knowledge of the equally notorious assault on the ban in the latter. This would date the story between the years 2138 and 2140, presumably about 2139, making it the fourth story set on Krishna.
Relationship to other works
This early Viagens story on the planet Krishna is something of a curiosity, being one of de Camp's set-piece gimmick yarns, a specialty of his at the beginning of his career but atypical of the sword and planetSword and planet
Sword and Planet is a subgenre of science fantasy that features rousing adventure stories set on other planets, and usually featuring Earthmen as protagonists. The name derives from the heroes of the genre engaging their adversaries in hand to hand combat primarily with simple melee weapons such as...
Krishna tales. Equally atypical is his departure from the Triple Seas area, the scene of all other stories set on Krishna, for the planet's Antarctic region, a choice possibly influenced by his then recent collaboration with Finn Ronne
Finn Ronne
Finn Ronne was a U.S. Antarctic explorer.-Background:Finn Ronne was born in Horten, in Vestfold county, Norway. His father, Martin Rønne , was a polar explorer and served in Roald Amundsen's successful expedition to the South Pole...
on the non-fiction book Antarctic Conquest: the Story of the Ronne Expedition 1946-1948
Antarctic Conquest
Antarctic Conquest: the Story of the Ronne Expedition 1946-1948 is a 1949 science book by Norwegian-American Antarctic explorer Finn Ronne and science fiction writer L. Sprague de Camp, published in hardcover by G. P. Putnam's Sons. The role of de Camp, who was commissioned as a ghost writer to...
(1949). De Camp's work with Ronne may also be reflected in the early Krishna novel The Hand of Zei
The Hand of Zei
The Hand of Zei is a science fiction novel written by L. Sprague de Camp, the second book of his Viagens Interplanetarias series and its subseries of stories set on the fictional planet Krishna....
, in which the protagonist adopts the alias of an inhabitant of the planet's antarctic and is, like de Camp, employed as a ghostwriter for his explorer boss.