The Happy Unfortunate

by Robert Silverberg

Dekker, back from space, found great physical changes in the people of Earth; changes that would have horrified him five years before. But now, he wanted to be like the rest, even if he had to lose an eye and both ears to do it.

Genres: Science Fiction, Short Stories, Fiction, Speculative Fiction

24 pages, Paperback

First published April 11, 2008

About the author

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Robert Silverberg is a highly celebrated American science fiction author and editor known for his prolific output and literary range. Over a career spanning decades, he has won multiple Hugo and Nebula Awards and was named a Grand Master by the Science Fiction and Fantasy Writers of America in 2004. Inducted into the Science Fiction and Fantasy Hall of Fame in 1999, Silverberg is recognized for both his immense productivity and his contributions to the genre's evolution.
Born in Brooklyn, he began writing in his teens and won his first Hugo Award in 1956 as the best new writer. Throughout the 1950s, he produced vast amounts of fiction, often under pseudonyms, and was known for writing up to a million words a year. When the market declined, he diversified into other genres, including historical nonfiction and erotica.
Silverberg’s return to science fiction in the 1960s marked a shift toward deeper psychological and literary themes, contributing significantly to the New Wave movement. Acclaimed works from this period include Downward to the Earth, Dying Inside, Nightwings, and The World Inside. In the 1980s, he launched the Majipoor series with Lord Valentine’s Castle, creating one of the most imaginative planetary settings in science fiction.
Though he announced his retirement from writing in the mid-1970s, Silverberg returned with renewed vigor and continued to publish acclaimed fiction into the 1990s. He received further recognition with the Nebula-winning Sailing to Byzantium and the Hugo-winning Gilgamesh in the Outback.
Silverberg has also played a significant role as an editor and anthologist, shaping science fiction literature through both his own work and his influence on others. He lives in the San Francisco Bay Area with his wife, author Karen Haber.

Reviews

[Leo · Rating 3 out of 5]

An okay space novela about the difference between Spacers and people from earth. And a guy in both worlds. Very short and lacked therefore. Wanted to know more about the different space races and learn more about the world. The plot was ok, not that interesting or exciting but enjoyable nevertheless

[Unreliable NarraTBR]

He's not like other boys

[Matthew Moes]

First published 1957. I read the Project Gutenberg (gutenberg.org) / feedbooks.com edition

[Dan · Rating 3 out of 5]

This short story first appeared in the December 1957 issue of Amazing Stories. It has Silverberg's usual compelling pacing and strong, plot-centered storyline that keeps a reader wondering what will happen to the protagonist. In this case, the story is about Rolf considering changing his race or species from Spacer to Earther. Being a Spacer is just too lonely. Rolf runs into unexpected complications getting himself transformed however.

The story was easy to read and I had no trouble finishing it in one sitting. It has a number of unlikelihoods that prevent me from taking it more seriously. Even still, the characters and plot are so compelling I found myself forgiving the author his inexactitudes, such as evolution happening quickly enough to be a response to new cultural norms.

This is an entertaining story with a theme based on the value (or lack thereof) of conformity. Given the time the story was written, I find myself believing this may be Silverberg's stance on the phenomenon common then of light-skinned African-Americans trying to pass for white in order to obtain social and economic advantages otherwise out of reach. If so, Silverberg's statement on the theme is not deep and so disappoints for its shallowness and failure to adequately address the issue the text itself raises. Still, you have to give Silverberg credit for raising it and attempting an answer.

[Ralph McEwen · Rating 3 out of 5]

Interesting tale, well read with a good voice.

Published: 1957

Free Audio Book MP3 downloaded from Librivox.org
http://librivox.org/short-science-fic...

Public Domain stories from Project Gutenberg, that are read by volunteers.
I listen to these short stories while walking to and from work.

Play Duration: 00:39:09
Read By: Gregg Margarite

[Susan Molloy · Rating 4 out of 5]

🖊 My review: Entertaining.
✔️Published in .Amazing Stories - December 1957 - Vol. 31, No. 12
🤔 My rating 🌟🌟🌟🌟
🟣 Media form: Kindle version.
🟢 Media form Project Gutenberg.
🔲 Excerpts of note:

🔹 Dekker, back from space, found great physical changes in the people of Earth; changes that would have horrified him five years before. But now, he wanted to be like the rest—even if he had to lose an eye and both ears to do it. Rolf Dekker stared incredulously at the slim, handsome young Earther who was approaching the steps of Rolf's tumbling-down Spacertown shack. He's got no ears, Rolf noted in unbelief. After five years in space, Rolf had come home to a strangely-altered world, and he found it hard to accept. Another Earther appeared. This one was about the same size, and gave the same impression of fragility. This one had ears, all right—and a pair of gleaming, two-inch horns on his forehead as well. I'll be eternally roasted, Rolf thought. Now I've seen everything. Both Earthers were dressed in neat, gold-inlaid green tunics, costumes which looked terribly out of place amid the filth of Spacertown, and their hair was dyed a light green to match.

🔹 The bombs had landed on Yawk during the long-forgotten war, but somehow they had spared the sprawling borough across the river. And so Yawk had been completely rebuilt, once the radioactivity had been purged from the land, while what was now Spacertown consisted mostly of buildings that dated back to the Twentieth Century.

🔹 "Please calm down, Mr. Dekker. You don't seem to realize that you're a perfectly normal-looking Spacer. You were bred to look this way. It's your genetic heritage. Space is not a thing for everyone; only men with extraordinary bone structure can withstand acceleration. The first men were carefully selected and bred. You see the result of five centuries of this sort of breeding. The sturdy, heavy-boned Spacers—you, Mr. Dekker, and your friends—are the only ones who are fit to travel in space. The others, the weaklings like myself, the little people, resort to plastic surgery to compensate for their deficiency.

🚀●▬●💫●💫●▬●🚀

[Phil Giunta · Rating 3 out of 5]

Returning to Earth after a five-year mission in space, Rolf Dekker is shocked to see the latest fashion trends among Earthers--extreme makeovers through cosmetic surgery tantamount to mutilation. Most Earthers (i.e. the beautiful people) are small in stature and slight of build whereas Spacers, like Rolf and his co-pilot Kanaday, are tall, broad, and muscular. They are considered by the Earthers to be "apes." After attending a party hosted by an Earther, Rolf convinces himself that he is ugly and seeks out a plastic surgeon to help him blend into society. But it ain't that easy...

[William · Rating 5 out of 5]

Fantasy listening 🔰

Due to eye issues and damage Alexa reads to me.
Another will written fantasy Sci-Fi romantic adventure novella with interesting characters. The story line is entertaining with a spacer on leave on earth 🌎where he is not normal. He tries to become normal but can't. The ending is cute. Enjoy the adventure of reading 📚2021 🗽🏢

[Ryan · Rating 1 out of 5]

Honestly this felt like a waste of time. The main character was so inconsistent and the differences between the earthers and spacers was so vast that it made no sense for him to be interested. It reminded me of the movie elf more than it did of a sci-fi short story.

[Dave · Rating 3 out of 5]

Mediocre story, fun read though.

[Al Lock · Rating 2 out of 5]

I've read this before, but didn't remember it - simply not very memorable and comes off as a bit racist.

[Paul Triller · Rating 3 out of 5]

As long as Kindle keeps offering free old-sci books....I'll keep reading them.

[Gr1972 · Rating 3 out of 5]

3 out of 5

[Tony Ciak · Rating 5 out of 5]

Interesting science fiction story , somewhat relating to Mary Shelly.

[Chris Aldridge · Rating 3 out of 5]

In Librivox SSF Collection Vol ???/ 019 . Only
50% not too good, Robert Silverberg has written far better stories.