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Study 058 - Allamagoosa (Patreon)

Published:
2023-09-14 12:00:06
Imported:
2026-06
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We're taking inventory space-style with the Hugo award-winning story Allamagoosa by Eric Frank Russell!

Special thanks to reader Greig Johnson! Check out his Patreon NOW!

Here's that article on Russell's book Wasp from TOR.com!

Comments

Jason Thompson

I read Sinister Barrier as a kid! It has a rad horror/dystopia-ish premise, about secret invisible aliens who live off human brain energy, but like many old SF stories, it devolves into a “just gotta make the right invention to solve the problem” situation.

Saint Fu

I strongly recommend Ben Macintyre’s book *Operation Mincemeat*, which is a fantastic deep-dive into the eponymous operation. It’s even crazier than you think. I strongly recommend avoiding the recent Netflix movie, which takes all the cool things about the Macintyre book and turns them into lame ahistorical clichés.

Cole Caron

This story reminds me of Arthur C. Clarke’s “Neutron Tide.” It’s a 2 page description of how an important US space navy ship is torn apart by the gravity of a neutron star, but the whole thing serves to set up a dumb pun. The first time I read it I laughed so hard that I forgot I was riding the bus and the other passengers looked very uncomfortable.

Kyle Griffiths

I have to stand up for "The Cold Equations." Even if it isn't appropriate for the show (which I can respect), it's a devastating read. I read it in The Science Fiction Hall of Fame Volume I, and this was the story that stayed with me and the only one that moved me, beyond being entertaining.

Jeffrey Kahrs

This is one of my all time favorite stories. Thank you for doing it

Bob Sharp

I couldn't help but think of something similar to the story's hook from New York's Adirondacks: Legend has it that the Ausable river got its name from an an early explorer marking the river as "A Usable" river on the map, meaning that goods could be transported on it.

It's a Ghost.

Rather than be just what’s necessary to survive in space, the extreme approach to inventorying reminded me of what happens in authoritarian regimes when everyone is afraid of making a mistake. If only McNaught had felt free to tell Cassidy that they hadn’t found the offog and maybe ask him if he knew what it was. And if he hadn’t known what it was, if only he could have felt the freedom and support to inquire with others about what an offog was. And then when he found out what it was a day later or a week later, he could have simply reported back to McNaught that it was a typo, and then simply none of the negative consequences would have happened.

It's a Ghost.

Also, the crew of the Bustler are looking forward to rest, but as soon as they think they've finally gotten it, they're called back to more bustle.

Matthew Alderman

Ah, Ted Knight. My favorite line from his portrayal of dippy Ted Baxter on the Mary Tyler Moore Show was his comment, looking at the time zone clocks on the wall, along the lines of “Do you realize there are people who are alive in Minneapolis who are already dead in Tokyo?”

The Spider Incident

Very fun story! It would be right at home as the plot of Star Trek Lower Decks episode, or a B-plot on another Trek episode. Just because a story could be told in another setting doesn't mean it's not science fiction, in my opinion.

Illegal_Structures

If this story proves anything, it’s that dad humor will survive into humanity’s distant future.

Erik Gordon

This one gave me Army flashbacks, the good kind. Doing inventory was always a scramble to find everything and there were lots of pranks. Fresh privates were routinely sent on search for a can of squelch or to deliver an exhaust sample in a trash bag. Loved this one.

Jim Cannon

I think I remember this episode of _McHale's Navy_.

Jim Cannon

This read SO much like a story from someone who served in the Pacific during WWII that I was honestly surprised when you revealed what Russell actually did during the war. At the same time, this literal shaggy dog story is predicated upon a punchline that could only happen in a sci-fi story: ain't no gravitational forces tearing an offog apart on the sea.

Richard Horsman

Didn’t really dig this story, but it did make me want to watch some old Sgt Bilko episodes, so calling it a win. From a craft perspective I did like that Russell frequently had dog related stuff around when the offog came up. The dog related inventory items are listed right before the offog, the cook exclaims “name of a dog” in French when he’s being questioned about it, and of course Peaslake is always lurking around at the beginning and during the inspection. The story was a loooong walk for a dumb joke for me, but I gotta respect the craft.

Rafe Ball

Chief Engineer of the USS Sparkle-N-Shine chiming in here - whilst official Starfleet records don’t show any instances of dogs exploding on a starship, La Forge did disintegrate one in TNG.

Drasferatu

I love the outro music. Can I grab that track anywhere?

Jeremy Impson

Why would an admiral be directly conducting an inventory?

Jeremy Impson

It's because dead animal stories are not funny, Chad.

Sweatin' to the Great Oldies

I can't remember when I first read this story, but it was probably right about the time I was reading compilations of best science fiction short stories. There are an astonishing number of such gag stories. The simplest, as I recall, was a one-sentence story entitled "Sign At The End Of The Universe": This end up. (The sentence was printed upside down, of course.) Asimov was the editor on that collection and always had a one-sentence reaction. In this case: Relative to what?

Jourik De Vetter

The outer limits and the new outer limits come to mind if I had to describe science fiction

Steve

The nearest I can find to allamagoosa is államadósság, the Hungarian word for National Debt.

Ed Sizemore

This story is genius. As a former Navy member this rings so true. So very true. My Dad is a retired Marine and sci-fi lover. Can't wait to give him this story to read.

Professor Murder

Has the show ever gone more into Charles Fort and his legacy of Fortean thought? Fascinating stuff.

Professor Murder

In regards "What is Sci Fi", while a focus on how themes define the boundaries of a lit genre is sensible, we should also take into account how aesthetic elements also contribute. If a story does not explore sci-fi themes, but does have robots and lasers, is it still sci-fi? I would say yes, but your mileage may vary.

Aaron La Vene

“Offdog” “Off dog?” “NOT MUCH, WHATS OFF DOG WITH YOU?!”

Jason of the K

That the shore leave crew is "making whoopie" reminds me of that old show Newlywed Game hosted by Chuck Barris. Who knew that was a widespread euphemism beyond old TV censors?

Drix

John Butler? Surely not the John Butler I know from college. If you see this John message me I must needs know