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One Rejection Too Many (1q7 1s)

bj Patricia Nurse
Dear Dr. Asimov:
Imagine my delight when I spotted your new science fiction magazine on
the newsstands. I have been a fan of yours for many, many years, and
naturally wasted no time in buying a copy. I wish you every success in this"
new venture.
In your second issue I read with interest your plea for stories from new
authors. While no writer myself, I have had a time traveller living with me
for the past two weeks (he materialized in the bathtub without clothes or
money, so I felt obliged to offer him shelter), and he has written a story of
life on earth as it will be in the year 5000.
Before he leaves this time frame, it would give him great pleasure to see
his story in print -I hope you will feel able to make this wish come true.
Yours sincerely,
Nancy Morrison (Miss)

Dear Miss Morrison:

Thank you for your kind letter and good wishes.
It is always refreshing to hear from a new author. You have included
some most imaginative material in your story; however, it is a little short
on plot and human interest-perhaps you could rewrite it with this thought
in mind.
Yours sincerely,
Isaac Asimov

Dear Dr. Asimov:

I was sorry that you were unable to print the story I sent you. Yahl (the
time traveller who wrote it) was quite hurt as he tells me he is an author of
some note in his own time. He has, however, rewritten the story and this
time has included plenty of plot and some rather interesting mating rituals
which he has borrowed from the year 3000. In his own time (the year 5015)
sex is no longer practised, so you can see that it is perfectly respectable
having him in my house. I do wish, though, that he could adapt himself to
our custom of wearing clothes-my neighbours are starting to talk!
 ,--....
\-::rD i'q)
11\1 pART ONE: READING FICTION ONE REJECTION TOO MANY

~2 Anything that you can do to expedite the publishing of Vahl's story chance are you? I really had a more sophisticated type of humour in mind.
would be most appreciated, so that he will feel free to return to his own time. Yours truly,
1.3 Yours sincerely, Isaac Asimov
Nancy Morrison (Miss) P.S. Have you considered reading your story, as it is, on "The Gong Show"?

I~ Dear Miss Morrison: Dear Dr. Asimov:

15 Thank you for your rewritten short story. It really was very distressing to receive the return of my manuscript
16 I don't want to discourage you but I'm afraid you followed my sug- once again - Vahl was quite speechless with anger.
gestions with a little too much enthusiasm - however, I can understand It was only with the greatest difficulty that I prevailed upon him to
that having an imaginary nude visitor from another time is a rather heady refine the humour you found so distasteful, and I am submitting his latest
experience. I'm afraid that your story now rather resembles a far-future rewrite herewith.
episode of "Mary Hartman, Mary Hartman" or "Soap." In his disappointment, Vahl has decided to return to his own time right
17 Could you tone it down a bit and omit the more bizarre sex rituals of away. I shall be sorry to see him leave as I was getting very fond of him-
the year 3000-we must remember that lsaac Asimov's Science Fiction a pity he wasn't from the year 3000 though. Still, he wouldn't have made
Magazine is intended to be a family publication. a very satisfactory husband; I'd have never known where (or when) he
18 Perhaps a little humour would improve the tale too. was. It rather looks as though my plans to marry the vicar have suffered a
19 Yours sincerely, severe setback too. Are you married, Or. Asimov?
Isaac Asimov I must close this letter now as I have to say good-bye to Vahl. He says 32
he has just finished making some long overdue improvements to our time
20 Dear Dr. Asimov: frame as a parting gift-isn't that kind of him?
21 Vahl was extremely offended by your second rejection - he said he Yours sincerely, 33

has never received a rejection slip before, and your referring to him as Nancy Morrison (Miss)
"imaginary" didn't help matters at all. I'm afraid he rather lost his temper
and stormed out into the garden - it was at this unfortunate moment that
Dear Miss Morrison: 34
the vicar happened to pass by.
I am very confused by your letter. Who is Isaac Asimov? I have 35
22 Anyway, I managed to get Vahl calmed down and he has rewritten the
checked with several publishers and none of them has heard of lsaac
story and added plenty of humour. I'm afraid my subsequent meeting with
Asimov's Science Fiction Magazine, although the address on the envelope
the vicar was not blessed with such success! I'm quite sure Vahl would not
was correct for this magazine.
understand another rejection.
However, I was very impressed with your story and will be pleased to 36
23 Yours truly,
accept it for our next issue. Seldom do we receive a story combining such
Nancy Morrison (Miss)
virtues as a well-conceived plot, plenty of human interest, and a delight-
fully subtle brand of humour.
24 Dear Miss Morrison: Yours truly, 37

25 I really admire your persistence in rewriting your story yet another George H. Scithers,
time. Please don't give up hope - you can become a fairly competent Editor,
writer in time, I feel sure. Arthur C. Clarke's Science Fiction Magazine
26 I'm afraid the humour you added was not the kind of thing I had in
m inr] :It ::Ill-voll'rf' not roll::1horMino with Hpnn\! Vou n o rnan h\! O'ln\I lQ7Q
1"1-2 1~3
ONE REJECTION TOO MANY
PART ONE: READING FICTION
1n
9. Discuss the letter technique used here. How else could this story have
NOTES been told? Why is the use of letters effective?
Isaac Asimov (1920 - 1992) A prolific writer of science fiction and other
genres, and a biochemistry professor at Boston University. He is the author
of "The Fun They Had" (p. 28). Isaac Asimov's Science Fiction Magazine
LITERARY TECHNIQUES -- o: pO-rft·~ / is + ~ - tt

r~fo o o.r: \l:J{D~S.rVO

is a real publication, not a fictional creation. Letter form Using a series of letters, the writer concocts a story line or
Mary Hartman, Mary Hartman (1976 - 1977) A TV comedy show plot, often with parts left out to be filled in by the reader's imagination. For
mocking soap operas (overly dramatic continuing television series, usually example, the letters hint at Vahl's subject matter but never completely tell
of it; Miss Morrison includes asides about her desire for marriage and com-
shown in the afternoon).
panionship ("Are you married, Dr. Asimov?" [paragraph 31».
Soap (1977 -1981) A popular TV series, also spoofing soap operas.
Time travel One of the most popular themes in science fiction, it offers
Henny Youngman (1960-1998) An American comedian known for such
not only adventurous and imaginative story lines but also social commen-
one-liners as "Take my wife ... please!" tary. Here, the time traveller Vahl becomes vital to the conclusion of the
The Gong Show A 1970s TV series in which contestants displayed their story.
various and often limited talents until they were stopped by the sound of a Plausibility By using real names and transforming these people into fic-
gong. tional story characters (such as Isaac Asimov and Arthur C. Clarke), the
George H. Scithers A real-life editor of Isaac Asimov's Science Fiction writer lends a credible note to the story. In short, the letters seem like real
correspondence. The content (although outrageous) is delivered matter-of-
Magazine.
factly and in all seriousness .
. Arthur C. Clarke A renowned writer of science and science fiction. His
best-known work is a collaboration with director Stanley Kubrick on 2001: Surprise ending A conclusion to a story that the reader is not expecting.
A Space Odyssey (1968). He does nof'have a science fiction magazine in Often the ending has a twist. When the reader rereads the story, he or she
his name. .fte. d.A' e d / /) .Qoo ~ , discovers that the writer has inserted clues throughout to play fair with the
astute reader.