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Death of a Spaceman
Her silence was long, and he rolled his head toward her again. Her lips tight, she stared down at the palm of his hand, unfolded his bony fingers, felt the cracked calluses that still welted the shrunken skin, calluses worn there by the linings of space gauntlets and the handles of fuel valves, and the rungs of get-about ladders during free fall. "I don't know if I should tell you," she said. "Tell me what, Martha?" She looked up slowly, scrutinizing his face. "Ken's changed his mind, Nora says. Ken doesn't like the academy. She says he wants to go to medical school. Old Donegal thought it over, nodded absently. "That's fine. Space-medics get good pay." He watched her carefully. She lowered her eyes, rubbed at his calluses again. She shook her head slowly. "He doesn't want to go to space." The clock clicked loudly in the closed room.
32 pages, Paperback
First published March 8, 1954
22 people are currently reading
121 people want to read
About the author
Walter M. Miller Jr.
154 books986 followersFrom the Wikipedia article, "Walter M. Miller, Jr.":
Miller was born in New Smyrna Beach, Florida. Educated at the University of Tennessee and the University of Texas, he worked as an engineer. During World War II, he served in the Army Air Corps as a radioman and tail gunner, flying more than fifty bombing missions over Italy. He took part in the bombing of the Benedictine Abbey at Monte Cassino, which proved a traumatic experience for him. Joe Haldeman reported that Miller "had Post Traumatic Stress Disorder for 30 years before it had a name".
After the war, Miller converted to Catholicism. He married Anna Louise Becker in 1945, and they had four children. For several months in 1953 he lived with science-fiction writer Judith Merril, ex-wife of Frederik Pohl and a noted science-fiction author in her own right.
Between 1951 and 1957, Miller published over three dozen science fiction short stories, winning a Hugo Award in 1955 for the story "The Darfsteller". He also wrote scripts for the television show Captain Video in 1953. Late in the 1950s, Miller assembled a novel from three closely related novellas he had published in The Magazine of Fantasy and Science Fiction in 1955, 1956, and 1957. The novel, entitled A Canticle for Leibowitz, was published in 1959.
A Canticle for Leibowitz is a post-apocalyptic (post-holocaust) novel revolving around the canonisation of Saint Leibowitz and is considered a masterpiece of the genre. It won the 1961 Hugo Award for Best Novel. The novel is also a powerful meditation on the cycles of world history and Roman Catholicism as a force of stability during history's dark times.
After the success of A Canticle for Leibowitz, Miller never published another new novel or story in his lifetime, although several compilations of Miller's earlier stories were issued in the 1960s and 1970s.
In Miller's later years, he became a recluse, avoiding contact with nearly everyone, including family members; he never allowed his literary agent, Don Congdon, to meet him. According to science fiction writer Terry Bisson, Miller struggled with depression during his later years, but had managed to nearly complete a 600-page manuscript for the sequel to Canticle before taking his own life with a gun in January 1996, shortly after his wife's death. The sequel, titled Saint Leibowitz and the Wild Horse Woman, was completed by Bisson and published in 1997.
Miller was born in New Smyrna Beach, Florida. Educated at the University of Tennessee and the University of Texas, he worked as an engineer. During World War II, he served in the Army Air Corps as a radioman and tail gunner, flying more than fifty bombing missions over Italy. He took part in the bombing of the Benedictine Abbey at Monte Cassino, which proved a traumatic experience for him. Joe Haldeman reported that Miller "had Post Traumatic Stress Disorder for 30 years before it had a name".
After the war, Miller converted to Catholicism. He married Anna Louise Becker in 1945, and they had four children. For several months in 1953 he lived with science-fiction writer Judith Merril, ex-wife of Frederik Pohl and a noted science-fiction author in her own right.
Between 1951 and 1957, Miller published over three dozen science fiction short stories, winning a Hugo Award in 1955 for the story "The Darfsteller". He also wrote scripts for the television show Captain Video in 1953. Late in the 1950s, Miller assembled a novel from three closely related novellas he had published in The Magazine of Fantasy and Science Fiction in 1955, 1956, and 1957. The novel, entitled A Canticle for Leibowitz, was published in 1959.
A Canticle for Leibowitz is a post-apocalyptic (post-holocaust) novel revolving around the canonisation of Saint Leibowitz and is considered a masterpiece of the genre. It won the 1961 Hugo Award for Best Novel. The novel is also a powerful meditation on the cycles of world history and Roman Catholicism as a force of stability during history's dark times.
After the success of A Canticle for Leibowitz, Miller never published another new novel or story in his lifetime, although several compilations of Miller's earlier stories were issued in the 1960s and 1970s.
In Miller's later years, he became a recluse, avoiding contact with nearly everyone, including family members; he never allowed his literary agent, Don Congdon, to meet him. According to science fiction writer Terry Bisson, Miller struggled with depression during his later years, but had managed to nearly complete a 600-page manuscript for the sequel to Canticle before taking his own life with a gun in January 1996, shortly after his wife's death. The sequel, titled Saint Leibowitz and the Wild Horse Woman, was completed by Bisson and published in 1997.
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Displaying 1 - 13 of 13 reviews
July 18, 2016
Final review, first posted on Fantasy Literature. This is a 1954 SF short story, free online here at Gutenberg, by Walter M. Miller Jr., who wrote the classic A Canticle for Leibowitz:
Donegal, an aging former spaceman or “blastman,” is in the last stages of cancer. He’s dealing with his wife, who’s in denial (if not about his dying, then about how Donegal is leaving her), the noisy party going on next door, the Catholic priest that his wife wants him to see for his last confession, and most of all his thoughts. Those thoughts are more mundane than one might expect: rather than profound musings on the beauty of space, Old Donegal recalls the harshness of that life. He wants to die with his space boots on; he wants another drink of whiskey. And he wants to hear the rocket blasting off for the moon-run one more time.
Understandably for a 1950’s science fiction story, there are a few anachronistic details like cigarettes and a loudly ticking clock, but Walter M. Miller’s talent at drawing characters shines through. Not a whole lot happens; it’s a quiet, introspective, and ultimately moving tale, with a touching, slightly surprising ending that unexpectedly brought me to tears.
3.5 stars.
Donegal, an aging former spaceman or “blastman,” is in the last stages of cancer. He’s dealing with his wife, who’s in denial (if not about his dying, then about how Donegal is leaving her), the noisy party going on next door, the Catholic priest that his wife wants him to see for his last confession, and most of all his thoughts. Those thoughts are more mundane than one might expect: rather than profound musings on the beauty of space, Old Donegal recalls the harshness of that life. He wants to die with his space boots on; he wants another drink of whiskey. And he wants to hear the rocket blasting off for the moon-run one more time.
Understandably for a 1950’s science fiction story, there are a few anachronistic details like cigarettes and a loudly ticking clock, but Walter M. Miller’s talent at drawing characters shines through. Not a whole lot happens; it’s a quiet, introspective, and ultimately moving tale, with a touching, slightly surprising ending that unexpectedly brought me to tears.
3.5 stars.
July 14, 2016
Old Donegal is dying of cancer. The doctors and his family pretend this is not so, but he knows better. The only thing he wants is to be able to die in his own way. And after all, who does not want that?
I did not expect this to be such a moving story. I was prepared for a different type of drama, not this intimate look at one man's last day on earth.
I cannot say more, I will cry again.
Here is the link for the story at Project Gutenberg. It is very short, and very moving. See for yourself.
http://www.gutenberg.org/files/29643/...
I did not expect this to be such a moving story. I was prepared for a different type of drama, not this intimate look at one man's last day on earth.
I cannot say more, I will cry again.
Here is the link for the story at Project Gutenberg. It is very short, and very moving. See for yourself.
http://www.gutenberg.org/files/29643/...
June 10, 2021
Wow. I did not expect to cry. This was very well done. There are unexpected shades of Katherine Mansfield in this science fiction short story. Walter M. Miller Jr. the author actually flew in bombers during WW2. When he writes of old soldiers there is an air of authenticity that can be rarely matched. Surprisingly good story.
June 14, 2014
I'd like to die like that..
The story is of the last moments of a spaceman. He doesn't whine,doesn't resort to putting burden on others,doesn't fear death. It's like he welcomed death now that he had lived his life fully.
More than the plot,what influenced me was the presentation. It's written in clear and conversational style without overflowing of emotions eventhough it wouldn't have been superfluous in this occasion. The writing does justice to the character of Donny,we can believe that the words that come out of his mouth are really his own thoughts. Many authors try to make the characters say things that such a character wouldn't have done in real life. But this doesn't happen here. And I loved it.
The story is of the last moments of a spaceman. He doesn't whine,doesn't resort to putting burden on others,doesn't fear death. It's like he welcomed death now that he had lived his life fully.
More than the plot,what influenced me was the presentation. It's written in clear and conversational style without overflowing of emotions eventhough it wouldn't have been superfluous in this occasion. The writing does justice to the character of Donny,we can believe that the words that come out of his mouth are really his own thoughts. Many authors try to make the characters say things that such a character wouldn't have done in real life. But this doesn't happen here. And I loved it.
May 30, 2020
Mr. Miller’s, Death of a Spaceman, is uniquely different from its other contemporaries in the sense that it’s not just about aliens and planets. This is a different type of story.
Donegal is a retired spaceman. His job was to make runs to the moon and back; a blastman. He is currently dying of cancer when the story opens and by his side is his wife. While he accepts the final outcome (the cancer basically controls his whole body), his wife and daughter (which we meet later), are grieving.
The story is about how he lives those final hours. Memories come back to him of days past and we take the journey with him as he faces the end.
While there’s mention of the moon, rockets and a space academy, this tale only uses them as tools to show us what Donegal (only 63) is going through during this time. It reflects what we will one day face ourselves (albeit, different ways of the same outcome).
Like many stories of the time (written in the 50’s), it has some sexism and while it isn’t that bad in this one, its there. What I do think it gets right is the feeling of sadness and bitterness that comes with death, not only on the dying party’s side, but also the continuing to live party’s side.
Overall, it was a tale that portrays death realistically and gives us a satisfactory ending.
Donegal is a retired spaceman. His job was to make runs to the moon and back; a blastman. He is currently dying of cancer when the story opens and by his side is his wife. While he accepts the final outcome (the cancer basically controls his whole body), his wife and daughter (which we meet later), are grieving.
The story is about how he lives those final hours. Memories come back to him of days past and we take the journey with him as he faces the end.
While there’s mention of the moon, rockets and a space academy, this tale only uses them as tools to show us what Donegal (only 63) is going through during this time. It reflects what we will one day face ourselves (albeit, different ways of the same outcome).
Like many stories of the time (written in the 50’s), it has some sexism and while it isn’t that bad in this one, its there. What I do think it gets right is the feeling of sadness and bitterness that comes with death, not only on the dying party’s side, but also the continuing to live party’s side.
Overall, it was a tale that portrays death realistically and gives us a satisfactory ending.
December 9, 2020
Full reivew: https://sciencefictionruminations.com...
"Walter M. Miller, Jr. (1923-1996), best known for his Hugo-winning fix-up novel A Canticle for Leibowitz (1959), wrote a fascinating range of short fictions between 1951-1957. I’ve previously reviewed a handful in The View From the Stars (1965). However, “Death of a Spaceman” (1954), a complex exploration of death and the delusions we tell ourselves and ones we love [...]"
"Walter M. Miller, Jr. (1923-1996), best known for his Hugo-winning fix-up novel A Canticle for Leibowitz (1959), wrote a fascinating range of short fictions between 1951-1957. I’ve previously reviewed a handful in The View From the Stars (1965). However, “Death of a Spaceman” (1954), a complex exploration of death and the delusions we tell ourselves and ones we love [...]"
December 11, 2024
Wow, what a powerful read! I had thought it would be an interesting sci-fi story but it was really grounded and was told to perfection. I teared up a few times and felt myself really attached to these characters, trying to fill in the gaps in their histories because I wanted to spend a little more time with them. But, as Death of a Spaceman has taught me, we ultimately do not get to decide the end but we can accept it with grace. Goodbye Old Donegan, I'm glad you got to hear the blast-off one last time.
February 28, 2026
📱 I have a feeling this takes more than it’s Turk from death if a salesman but I haven’t actually read that so it’s hard to say.
A nice little story about mortality. A number of lines are very beautiful
A nice little story about mortality. A number of lines are very beautiful
February 22, 2026
SciFi, short story by a master,with Great Narration!!
July 24, 2014
Old Donegal was dying, not violently in space, but quietly at home after a long career rocketing between earth and the moon. He knew it. The cancer was feeding at his spine. It had taken his legs first. Now it was working slowly on the rest of him. His wife Martha didn’t talk about it, though, but preferred to talk about things they would do when he got better. The closest she would talk about it is asking him to call for the priest.
Please read the rest of the review here.
Please read the rest of the review here.
January 29, 2012
I enjoyed listening to this tale told in a unhurried conversational style.
The narrators voice is clear and easy to listen to. He is a good story teller, with lots of experience.
The recording quality is clear (no background noise), it has plenty of volume and the editing technique is seamless.
The narrators voice is clear and easy to listen to. He is a good story teller, with lots of experience.
The recording quality is clear (no background noise), it has plenty of volume and the editing technique is seamless.
March 25, 2023
A dying spaceman, Donegal, tries to relive his life and handle dying HIS way.
He questions his career – what he accomplished and what he wished he did. This is a lovely blend of the melancholy, gruffness, and spirituality with a touch of hum
He questions his career – what he accomplished and what he wished he did. This is a lovely blend of the melancholy, gruffness, and spirituality with a touch of hum
February 10, 2015
It's a short story and reads like a Phillip K. Dick story. Very similar writing style.
Displaying 1 - 13 of 13 reviews