The Stars That Blink
Encyclopedia
"The Stars That Blink" is a short story by Orson Scott Card
. It only appears in his short story collection Capitol
.
world it is almost ready to enter the empire
as a full member and become eligible to receive the fictional drug Somec. The governor
of Answer is looking up at the stars and thinking how this will bring an end to the peaceful life they lead when a starship arrives in orbit. When the captain of the ship lands on the planet he tells the governor that there has been a revolution
and that almost all of the people on the planet Capitol are dead. He goes on to tell the governor that the revolution has spread to other planets and that the people are destroying Somec all over the empire. When the captain says that he has a supply of Somec and the necessary equipment to put people into suspended animation
onboard the ship, the governor asks to see them. Once on the ship the governor destroys the equipment to record people brains making the Somec useless. He then offers to let the crew of the ship live on the planet and they accept.
, such as the sleeping drug Somec and the taping of memories. The fact that Abner Doon destroyed the planet Capitol is mentioned several times in Card's novel The Worthing Chronicle
.
Orson Scott Card
Orson Scott Card is an American author, critic, public speaker, essayist, columnist, and political activist. He writes in several genres, but is primarily known for his science fiction. His novel Ender's Game and its sequel Speaker for the Dead both won Hugo and Nebula Awards, making Card the...
. It only appears in his short story collection Capitol
Capitol (collection)
Capitol was Orson Scott Card's second published book. This collection of eleven short stories set in the Worthing series is no longer in print...
.
Plot summary
This story takes place on a planet called Answer. Although it is still a colonyColony
In politics and history, a colony is a territory under the immediate political control of a state. For colonies in antiquity, city-states would often found their own colonies. Some colonies were historically countries, while others were territories without definite statehood from their inception....
world it is almost ready to enter the empire
Empire
The term empire derives from the Latin imperium . Politically, an empire is a geographically extensive group of states and peoples united and ruled either by a monarch or an oligarchy....
as a full member and become eligible to receive the fictional drug Somec. The governor
Governor
A governor is a governing official, usually the executive of a non-sovereign level of government, ranking under the head of state...
of Answer is looking up at the stars and thinking how this will bring an end to the peaceful life they lead when a starship arrives in orbit. When the captain of the ship lands on the planet he tells the governor that there has been a revolution
Revolution
A revolution is a fundamental change in power or organizational structures that takes place in a relatively short period of time.Aristotle described two types of political revolution:...
and that almost all of the people on the planet Capitol are dead. He goes on to tell the governor that the revolution has spread to other planets and that the people are destroying Somec all over the empire. When the captain says that he has a supply of Somec and the necessary equipment to put people into suspended animation
Suspended animation
Suspended animation is the slowing of life processes by external means without termination. Breathing, heartbeat, and other involuntary functions may still occur, but they can only be detected by artificial means. Extreme cold can be used to precipitate the slowing of an individual's functions; use...
onboard the ship, the governor asks to see them. Once on the ship the governor destroys the equipment to record people brains making the Somec useless. He then offers to let the crew of the ship live on the planet and they accept.
Connection to the Worthing Saga
This book uses several plot elements also used in The Worthing SagaThe Worthing Saga
The Worthing Saga is a science fiction book by American writer Orson Scott Card, set in the Worthing series. It is made up of the novel The Worthing Chronicle and nine related stories...
, such as the sleeping drug Somec and the taping of memories. The fact that Abner Doon destroyed the planet Capitol is mentioned several times in Card's novel The Worthing Chronicle
The Worthing Chronicle
The Worthing Chronicle is a science fiction novel by Orson Scott Card set in the Worthing series. This book by itself is out of print having been published along with nine short stories in the collection The Worthing Saga .-Plot summary:...
.