SOLVED. Science Fiction Short Story anthology with story of a tribe of genetically blind hunters. [s]

[James]

Science fiction short story anthology read sometime between 1974 & 1980. Probably published in the 1960s or 70s but not sure. I can't remember the name of the anthology or the short story I'm trying to find. I read the anthology so long ago that the plot of the short story has become somewhat hazy. I mainly remember that it's about a tribe of blind hunters that harvests the huge brains of Whale-like creatures. The creatures live in a cavernous area inside a tall mountain range. I'm having trouble remembering why but humans are driven insane if they can see the creatures? The creatures' brains hold the secret to interstellar flight and are incorporated into star ships. Long ago their hunters were genetically engineered to be sightless. To ensure there are no tribe members that somehow have the ability to see, all tribe members are ritually blinded when they come of age to hunt. The story opens with children playing a game of catch. One girl is extremely good at the game and we find that it's because she can "sense" the ball with her eyes and not just her ears. The plot revolves around this girl and her father and is sort of a coming of age, save the whales story. I wish I could remember more but I can't.

[Ayshe]

It seems The Dawning Shadow: The Light on the Sound has that, but it's a novel. Maybe you're misremembering it as short sory, or it may have been printed in part in anthplogy, maybe have a look at author's isfdb listings: http://www.isfdb.org/cgi-bin/ea.cgi?151

Edit: Maybe: Darktouch: http://www.isfdb.org/cgi-bin/title.cg... or Light on the Sound: http://www.isfdb.org/cgi-bin/title.cg...

[James]

I don't believe that this is the correct novel. Looking at the synopsis and reviews it doesn't seem to match very closely with the story that I'm looking for. The main theme was a tribe of blind hunters harvesting the brains of Whale-like creatures for star ships. I don't remember anything about Inquestors or instantaneous travel. One thing I'm sure of is that it was definitely a short story, at the time.

[Ayshe]

I found the author searching for "blind hunters" "science fiction" in google books, 20th century date range. The result shows bit garbled Analog Science Fiction/science Fact snippet:

"Light on the Soa*. introduced us to Somtow's universe: Ton (Inqucstor) Davaryush. kinglinc Gallendys. presided over the discover, of the truth that hid within Sky»£ Mountain by Darktouch, sighted sew of a race of blind hunters of the Je phinoids whose brains they harvest '□- drive the Inquest's starships."

[Nóinín]

Light on the Sound by S.P. Somtow for Ayshe's suggestion

[Ayshe]

Nóinín wrote: "Light on the Sound by S.P. Somtow for Ayshe's suggestion"

I did link it above, it's just another edition. And my suggestion was to have a look at author's other listings well.

[James]

I think it could possibly be the novelette "Dark Touch" by Somtow Sucharitkul in the issue of Isaac Asimov's Science Fiction Magazine, January 1980 (Asimov's Science Fiction, #23)
I just purchased it from Amazon. Once I have it, sometime between 4/23 & 4/30, I'll read it and see if this solves my search. I've got my fingers crossed. Thanks for the help!

[James]

SOLVED: The story I was looking for was "Light on the Sound" by Somtow Sucharitkul. It was first published as a novella in Isaac Asimov's Science Fiction Magazine Vol. 4, No. 8 (August 1980). It was later published as a novel with the same name. Thumbs up to Ayshe & Noinin!

[Ayshe]

Great!