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Marley's Chain: A Positronic Book
Tam returns home to Earth after years of working in space. But tam is a Sharkie, and on Earth Sharkies need not apply. Refused service in restaurants and other establishments and unable to find employment he takes the only desperate measure he can to survive.
- GenresShort Stories
22 pages, Paperback
First published April 27, 2010
About the author
Alan E. Nourse
260 books42 followersAlan Edward Nourse was an American science fiction (SF) author and physician. He also wrote under the name Dr. X
He wrote both juvenile and adult science fiction, as well as nonfiction works about medicine and science.
Alan Nourse was born to Benjamin and Grace (Ogg) Nourse. He attended high school in Long Island, New York. He served in the U.S. Navy after World War II. He earned a Bachelor of Science degree in 1951 from Rutgers University, New Brunswick, New Jersey. He married Ann Morton on June 11, 1952 in Lynden, New Jersey. He received a Doctor of Medicine (M.D.) degree in 1955 from the University of Pennsylvania. He served his one year internship at Virginia Mason Hospital in Seattle, Washington. He practiced medicine in North Bend, Washington from 1958 to 1963 and also pursued his writing career.
He had helped pay for his medical education by writing science fiction for magazines. After retiring from medicine, he continued writing. His regular column in Good Housekeeping magazine earned him the nickname "Family Doctor".
He was a friend of fellow author Avram Davidson. Robert A. Heinlein dedicated his 1964 novel Farnham's Freehold to Nourse. Heinlein in part dedicated his 1982 novel Friday to Nourse's wife Ann.
His novel The Bladerunner lent its name to the Blade Runner movie, but no other aspects of its plot or characters, which were taken from Philip K. Dick's Do Androids Dream of Electric Sheep? In the late 1970s an attempt to adapt The Bladerunner for the screen was made, with Beat Generation author William S. Burroughs commissioned to write a story treatment; no film was ever developed but the story treatment was later published as the novella, Blade Runner (a movie).
His novel Star Surgeon has been recorded as a public domain audio book at LibriVox
His pen names included "Al Edwards" and "Doctor X".
He died in Thorp, Washington.
He wrote both juvenile and adult science fiction, as well as nonfiction works about medicine and science.
Alan Nourse was born to Benjamin and Grace (Ogg) Nourse. He attended high school in Long Island, New York. He served in the U.S. Navy after World War II. He earned a Bachelor of Science degree in 1951 from Rutgers University, New Brunswick, New Jersey. He married Ann Morton on June 11, 1952 in Lynden, New Jersey. He received a Doctor of Medicine (M.D.) degree in 1955 from the University of Pennsylvania. He served his one year internship at Virginia Mason Hospital in Seattle, Washington. He practiced medicine in North Bend, Washington from 1958 to 1963 and also pursued his writing career.
He had helped pay for his medical education by writing science fiction for magazines. After retiring from medicine, he continued writing. His regular column in Good Housekeeping magazine earned him the nickname "Family Doctor".
He was a friend of fellow author Avram Davidson. Robert A. Heinlein dedicated his 1964 novel Farnham's Freehold to Nourse. Heinlein in part dedicated his 1982 novel Friday to Nourse's wife Ann.
His novel The Bladerunner lent its name to the Blade Runner movie, but no other aspects of its plot or characters, which were taken from Philip K. Dick's Do Androids Dream of Electric Sheep? In the late 1970s an attempt to adapt The Bladerunner for the screen was made, with Beat Generation author William S. Burroughs commissioned to write a story treatment; no film was ever developed but the story treatment was later published as the novella, Blade Runner (a movie).
His novel Star Surgeon has been recorded as a public domain audio book at LibriVox
His pen names included "Al Edwards" and "Doctor X".
He died in Thorp, Washington.
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Displaying 1 - 9 of 9 reviews
April 28, 2023
This review originally published in Looking For a Good Book. Rated 3.5 of 5
Author Alan E. Nourse was one of the first authors I had read that led to a long history of reading science fiction. For a few decades now I've felt as though I've outgrown Nourse's work but when I came across the free download of this story I thought it would be nice to give the author a read again.
In this story, Tam has returned to Earth after spending a long time working in space. But men such as he are known as "Sharkie's" and Sharkies are not welcomed. His clothes are shabby and his meager belongings don't look much better. All he wants is another job, to keep himself busy and productive, but no one will even give him the time of day.
Tam visits an old school chum who is in a position to hire but the most he can promise Tam is a chance for a job on Mercury, but Tam knows that's a death sentence. Without a job prospect, Tam is willing to take matters into his own hands.
Much of this story feels dated - I could pretty well guess when it was written, just by the style of writing. However, the social commentary 'hidden' here is pretty powerful and seems rather risky for this time period.
I'm not sure I'm ready to sit down and read a whole bunch of stories from this time period, but I enjoyed reading this story and would enjoy a few more such stories scattered among my reading lists.
Looking for a good book? Alan E. Nourse's short story "Marley's Chain" is a surprisingly powerful short story, written in 1952, that still could surprise readers today.
Author Alan E. Nourse was one of the first authors I had read that led to a long history of reading science fiction. For a few decades now I've felt as though I've outgrown Nourse's work but when I came across the free download of this story I thought it would be nice to give the author a read again.
In this story, Tam has returned to Earth after spending a long time working in space. But men such as he are known as "Sharkie's" and Sharkies are not welcomed. His clothes are shabby and his meager belongings don't look much better. All he wants is another job, to keep himself busy and productive, but no one will even give him the time of day.
Tam visits an old school chum who is in a position to hire but the most he can promise Tam is a chance for a job on Mercury, but Tam knows that's a death sentence. Without a job prospect, Tam is willing to take matters into his own hands.
Much of this story feels dated - I could pretty well guess when it was written, just by the style of writing. However, the social commentary 'hidden' here is pretty powerful and seems rather risky for this time period.
I'm not sure I'm ready to sit down and read a whole bunch of stories from this time period, but I enjoyed reading this story and would enjoy a few more such stories scattered among my reading lists.
Looking for a good book? Alan E. Nourse's short story "Marley's Chain" is a surprisingly powerful short story, written in 1952, that still could surprise readers today.
January 24, 2025
As soon as you see the portrait of the space colonizer you know this novella is going to be a little different. It's like a tryhard PKD with a lot of discrimination and racism thrown in. Most of the racism stuff works, but I'm not sure the rest does. It seems to be trying to be something like The Martian Chronicles or something. It's very predictable, and the conversations are all kind of the same, so it's not much of a mystery. But if you ignore all the weirdness it's a bit of a different science fiction thriller. Good but not great.
March 27, 2026
Full review: https://sciencefictionruminations.com...
"Today I’ve selected two lesser-known short stories from the early 1950s that explore issues of race in America. The Civil Rights mass movement gathered steam in the post-WWII world as soldiers returned to segregated hometowns. The federal government took a few tentative steps. In 1948, President Truman issued Executive Oder 9981, which abolished discrimination “on the basis of race, color, religion [..."
"Today I’ve selected two lesser-known short stories from the early 1950s that explore issues of race in America. The Civil Rights mass movement gathered steam in the post-WWII world as soldiers returned to segregated hometowns. The federal government took a few tentative steps. In 1948, President Truman issued Executive Oder 9981, which abolished discrimination “on the basis of race, color, religion [..."
November 26, 2025
Returning to Earth after eight years aboard a freighter out near the asteroid belt, Tam Peters faces racism and bigotry at every turn. He is regarded with such contempt and disdain that no one will hire him. Even an old friend in charge of the Bureau of Employment can do nothing for him, forcing Tam to take drastic action.
January 20, 2020
This is a short story that follows Tam as he is being checked at the airport and the things that he witnesses while there. Things that he only thought were made up stories. I don't want to go into this story more as to not spoil it because it is only a short story but I do recommend it.
January 18, 2020
An intense story about discrimination and racial hatred.
January 23, 2022
✔️ Published in Worlds of IF, September 1952.
Here is a short story from the Golden Age of Science Fiction that really entertained me.
What we have here in Marley's Chain is a bold and short science fiction story that lays out discrimination right there for the world to see.
I enjoyed reading this, with a dénouement that make this entire story poignant.
🟤 Project Gutenberg
Here is a short story from the Golden Age of Science Fiction that really entertained me.
What we have here in Marley's Chain is a bold and short science fiction story that lays out discrimination right there for the world to see.
Tam's problem was simple. He lived in a world that belonged to someone else. . . . "What freedom do I have now?" Tam snarled, his voice growing wild. "Freedom to starve? Freedom to crawl on my hands and knees for a little bit of food?
No prodding, no conversation, no pushing, no threats could convince Tam to compromise his own beliefs, and with this, "Dave leaned forward, his face in his hands, tears running down his black cheeks, sobs shaking his broad, heavy shoulders. . . . Why couldn't he have gone to Mercury? Only a few months, not long enough to hurt him. . . .
I enjoyed reading this, with a dénouement that make this entire story poignant.
🟤 Project Gutenberg
July 8, 2015
A bit short but it came in a collection.
March 9, 2020
50's SF is funny.
very short story about a man in the future getting discriminated against because of his race. idk how progressive this type of story was for the 50s, interesting to read now tho.
very short story about a man in the future getting discriminated against because of his race. idk how progressive this type of story was for the 50s, interesting to read now tho.
Displaying 1 - 9 of 9 reviews