The Imaginary (short story)
Encyclopedia
The Imaginary is a science fiction
short story
by Isaac Asimov
. It first appeared in the November 1942 issue of Super Science Stories
and was reprinted in the 1972 collection The Early Asimov
. Following the sale of "Half-Breeds on Venus
", which was a sequel to "Half-Breed
", Asimov suggested to Astounding Science Fiction editor John W. Campbell
that he write a sequel to the story "Homo Sol
". Campbell was unenthusiastic, but agreed. Since "The Imaginary" lacked the human-alien conflict that he had liked in the earlier story, Campbell ultimately rejected it. "The Imaginary" was the twenty-first story written by Asimov, and the twenty-ninth to be published. Due to the peculiar workings of the science fiction magazine publishing industry, "The Imaginary" appeared a month after the third story in the Homo Sol Trilogy, "The Hazing
".
Psychologist Tan Porus of Arcturus University has come up with a daring explanation for the mind of a particular squid
species which has baffled all other Federation scientists. His formula relies on the use of imaginary numbers in its intermediate steps, which cancel out at the end and provide real answers matching the squid's observed behavior. His colleagues are outraged by this unorthodoxy.
While Porus is on leave at home, two of his students read about a series of experiments using magnetic fields and radiation to induce reactions in invertebrate animals. They devise a stimulus based on those techniques which should lead to imaginary numbers in the result of the squid equations.
They carry out the experiment, with catastrophic results. The creature starts to emit a 'death field' of radiation
of an unknown type that expands uncontrollably and can potentially kill all animal and plant life.
Porus is urgently recalled from his home planet and devises a method that should theoretically stop the expansion; by changing the pH
level of the water in the squid's tank beyond 3.0. He volunteers to try the method himself, using an osmium
-plated suit that will temporarily resist the radiation. He pours hydrochloric acid into the tank and succeeds in destroying the field.
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 Isaac Asimov
Isaac Asimov
Isaac Asimov was an American author and professor of biochemistry at Boston University, best known for his works of science fiction and for his popular science books. Asimov was one of the most prolific writers of all time, having written or edited more than 500 books and an estimated 90,000...
. It first appeared in the November 1942 issue of Super Science Stories
Super Science Stories
Super Science Stories was an American pulp science fiction magazine published by Popular Publications from 1940 and 1943, and again from 1949 to 1951. Popular launched it under their "Fictioneers" imprint, which they used for magazines paying writers less than one cent per word...
and was reprinted in the 1972 collection The Early Asimov
The Early Asimov
The Early Asimov or, Eleven Years of Trying is a 1972 collection of short stories by Isaac Asimov. Each story is accompanied by commentary by the author, who gives details about his life and his literary achievements in the period in which he wrote the story.-Contents:* "The Callistan Menace" *...
. Following the sale of "Half-Breeds on Venus
Half-Breeds on Venus
Half-Breeds on Venus is a science fiction short story by Isaac Asimov. Asimov was asked by Frederik Pohl, editor of Astonishing Stories, to write a sequel to his earlier Tweenie story "Half-Breed", and he spent April and May 1940 doing so. He submitted the sequel to Pohl on June 3, and Pohl...
", which was a sequel to "Half-Breed
Half-Breed (short story)
Half-Breed is a science fiction short story by Isaac Asimov. It was first published in the February 1940 issue of Astonishing Stories and reprinted in the 1972 collection The Early Asimov. It was the fifteenth story written by Asimov, and the fourth to be published...
", Asimov suggested to Astounding Science Fiction editor John W. Campbell
John W. Campbell
John Wood Campbell, Jr. was an influential figure in American science fiction. As editor of Astounding Science Fiction , from late 1937 until his death, he is generally credited with shaping the so-called Golden Age of Science Fiction.Isaac Asimov called Campbell "the most powerful force in...
that he write a sequel to the story "Homo Sol
Homo Sol
Homo Sol is a science fiction short story by Isaac Asimov that was first published in the September 1940 issue of Astounding Science Fiction and reprinted in the 1972 collection The Early Asimov. It deals with the proposed acceptance into a galactic federation of hominid civilizations of the...
". Campbell was unenthusiastic, but agreed. Since "The Imaginary" lacked the human-alien conflict that he had liked in the earlier story, Campbell ultimately rejected it. "The Imaginary" was the twenty-first story written by Asimov, and the twenty-ninth to be published. Due to the peculiar workings of the science fiction magazine publishing industry, "The Imaginary" appeared a month after the third story in the Homo Sol Trilogy, "The Hazing
The Hazing
The Hazing is a science fiction short story by Isaac Asimov. It was first published in the October 1942 issue of Thrilling Wonder Stories and reprinted in the 1972 collection The Early Asimov...
".
Plot summary
In the Homo Sol stories, the Galactic Federation has developed psychology into a hard science, with quantitative equations and solutions for behavior. Consequently, master psychologists are important and highly regarded.Psychologist Tan Porus of Arcturus University has come up with a daring explanation for the mind of a particular squid
Squid
Squid are cephalopods of the order Teuthida, which comprises around 300 species. Like all other cephalopods, squid have a distinct head, bilateral symmetry, a mantle, and arms. Squid, like cuttlefish, have eight arms arranged in pairs and two, usually longer, tentacles...
species which has baffled all other Federation scientists. His formula relies on the use of imaginary numbers in its intermediate steps, which cancel out at the end and provide real answers matching the squid's observed behavior. His colleagues are outraged by this unorthodoxy.
While Porus is on leave at home, two of his students read about a series of experiments using magnetic fields and radiation to induce reactions in invertebrate animals. They devise a stimulus based on those techniques which should lead to imaginary numbers in the result of the squid equations.
They carry out the experiment, with catastrophic results. The creature starts to emit a 'death field' of radiation
Radiation
In physics, radiation is a process in which energetic particles or energetic waves travel through a medium or space. There are two distinct types of radiation; ionizing and non-ionizing...
of an unknown type that expands uncontrollably and can potentially kill all animal and plant life.
Porus is urgently recalled from his home planet and devises a method that should theoretically stop the expansion; by changing the pH
PH
In chemistry, pH is a measure of the acidity or basicity of an aqueous solution. Pure water is said to be neutral, with a pH close to 7.0 at . Solutions with a pH less than 7 are said to be acidic and solutions with a pH greater than 7 are basic or alkaline...
level of the water in the squid's tank beyond 3.0. He volunteers to try the method himself, using an osmium
Osmium
Osmium is a chemical element with the symbol Os and atomic number 76. Osmium is a hard, brittle, blue-gray or blue-blacktransition metal in the platinum family, and is the densest natural element. Osmium is twice as dense as lead. The density of osmium is , slightly greater than that of iridium,...
-plated suit that will temporarily resist the radiation. He pours hydrochloric acid into the tank and succeeds in destroying the field.
See also
- Arcturus in fiction