The Weapon Too Dreadful to Use
Encyclopedia
The Weapon Too Dreadful To Use is a science fiction
short story
by Isaac Asimov
. It was first published in the May 1939 issue of Amazing Stories
and reprinted in the August 1965 issue of Amazing and the 1972 collection The Early Asimov
. "The Weapon Too Dreadful to Use" was the eleventh story written by Asimov, and the second to be published.
, despite the intelligent species native to the planet, who are treated as inferiors with no rights (reminiscent of apartheid and Jim Crow laws
on Earth).
One of the Venusians shows his Earthman friend the ruins of an ancient city, where they discover details of an ancient weapon
, apparently abandoned millennia before as being too dreadful to actually use, but, as the domination by the colonists increases, elements of the Venusian resistance obtain the weapon and use it on the colonial cities and their population. The weapon works by disconnecting the brain from the mind, and within a short time, the Venusians take back control of their planet from the defenseless colonists.
Earth surrenders and signs a peace treaty with Venus. The Venusians then destroy the weapon.
might have bought the story because he needed a story quickly, since "The Weapon Too Dreadful to Use" was accepted in February 1939 and published in the May issue. Frederik Pohl
pointed out to Asimov that after the Venusians destroyed the weapon Earth would be free to reconquer Venus. Pohl also pointed out that the weapon too dreadful to use had in fact been used. According to Asimov, this helped to sour him on long, elaborate titles.
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 was first published in the May 1939 issue of Amazing Stories
Amazing Stories
Amazing Stories was an American science fiction magazine launched in April 1926 by Hugo Gernsback's Experimenter Publishing. It was the first magazine devoted solely to science fiction...
and reprinted in the August 1965 issue of Amazing and 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" *...
. "The Weapon Too Dreadful to Use" was the eleventh story written by Asimov, and the second to be published.
Plot summary
The people of Earth have colonised VenusVenus
Venus is the second planet from the Sun, orbiting it every 224.7 Earth days. The planet is named after Venus, the Roman goddess of love and beauty. After the Moon, it is the brightest natural object in the night sky, reaching an apparent magnitude of −4.6, bright enough to cast shadows...
, despite the intelligent species native to the planet, who are treated as inferiors with no rights (reminiscent of apartheid and Jim Crow laws
Jim Crow laws
The Jim Crow laws were state and local laws in the United States enacted between 1876 and 1965. They mandated de jure racial segregation in all public facilities, with a supposedly "separate but equal" status for black Americans...
on Earth).
One of the Venusians shows his Earthman friend the ruins of an ancient city, where they discover details of an ancient weapon
Weapon
A weapon, arm, or armament is a tool or instrument used with the aim of causing damage or harm to living beings or artificial structures or systems...
, apparently abandoned millennia before as being too dreadful to actually use, but, as the domination by the colonists increases, elements of the Venusian resistance obtain the weapon and use it on the colonial cities and their population. The weapon works by disconnecting the brain from the mind, and within a short time, the Venusians take back control of their planet from the defenseless colonists.
Earth surrenders and signs a peace treaty with Venus. The Venusians then destroy the weapon.
Story notes
In The Early Asimov, Asimov speculates that Amazing editor Raymond A. PalmerRaymond A. Palmer
Raymond Arthur Palmer was the influential editor of Amazing Stories from 1938 through 1949, when he left publisher Ziff-Davis to publish and edit Fate Magazine, and eventually many other magazines and books through his own publishing houses, including Amherst Press and Palmer Publications...
might have bought the story because he needed a story quickly, since "The Weapon Too Dreadful to Use" was accepted in February 1939 and published in the May issue. Frederik Pohl
Frederik Pohl
Frederik George Pohl, Jr. is an American science fiction writer, editor and fan, with a career spanning over seventy years — from his first published work, "Elegy to a Dead Planet: Luna" , to his most recent novel, All the Lives He Led .He won the National Book Award in 1980 for his novel Jem...
pointed out to Asimov that after the Venusians destroyed the weapon Earth would be free to reconquer Venus. Pohl also pointed out that the weapon too dreadful to use had in fact been used. According to Asimov, this helped to sour him on long, elaborate titles.