[Gutenberg 64596] • The Star Beast

Six vintage stories from Science Fiction Grand Master, Damon Knight. First published in the 1940s 50s, these stories show his diversity from galactic adventure to nihilistic philosophy. Doorway to Kal-Jmar--Two men had died before Syme Rector's guns to give him the key to the ancient city of Kal-Jmar--a city of untold wealth, and of robots that made desires instant commands. The Beachcomber--Alice saw the Beachcomber as a glorious hunk of man; Maxwell saw him as a super being from the future. Tragically, he was both! The Star Beast--They called this strange tentacle-headed blob that had floundered into the System Oscar. They were to learn a better name. The Worshipers--Destiny reached out a hand to Algernon Weaver--but he was a timid man, at first. But on the strange world of Terranova, there was much to be learned--of destiny, and other things.... Blackout-- A short short story that mentions Charles Fort. And it has an idea as strange as any conjectured by Mr. Fort. The Earth Quarter--The Niroi permitted refugees from Earth to live in their cramped little ghetto conditionally: that they do so peacefully. But there will always be patriotic fanatics, like Harkway and Rack, who must disturb the peace ...