"Star Light, Star Bright" is a 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...

 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...

 by Alfred Bester

Alfred Bester

Alfred Bester was an American science fiction author, TV and radio scriptwriter, magazine editor and scripter for comic strips and comic books...

, first published in 1953.

Synopsis

In the story, a man named Marion Perkin Warbeck has discovered children with supernatural powers, which he calls "genius". He is pursuing one Stuart Buchanan, a ten year old boy who he believes can lead him to these children. The story ends with Warbeck trapped on a "road cleaving infinitely through blackness", having been sent there by Buchanan. The boy wished to be left alone, and formally wished so with the "Star Light, Star Bright

Star Light, Star Bright

"Star Light, Star Bright" is an English language nursery rhyme. It has a Roud Folk Song Index number of 16339.-Lyrics:The lyrics usually conform to the following:-References in popular culture:...

" nursery rhyme. The story closes by stating that Buchanan unknowingly has a genius "for wishing".

Publication history

"Star Light, Star Bright" was first published in the July 1953 issue of The Magazine of Fantasy and Science Fiction. It was later included in several anthologies and Bester short story collections, including:

• Starburst, 1958
• Star Light, Star Bright: The Short Fiction of Alfred Bester, Volume 2
  Star Light, Star Bright (book)
  Star Light, Star Bright is the name of a 1976 collection of science fiction short stories by Alfred Bester containing:* "Adam and No Eve"* "Time Is the Traitor"* "Oddie And Id"* "Hobson's Choice"* "Star Light, Star Bright"...
  
  , 1976
• Virtual Unrealities
  Virtual Unrealities
  Virtual Unrealities is a collection of short stories by science fiction author Alfred Bester. Published in 1997 by Random House ISBN 0-679-76783-5, with an introduction by Robert Silverberg.Virtual Unrealities contains the stories:...
  
  , 1997