Short Fiction · Chapters
Chapters explained
Chapter companions for Short Fiction by Cordwainer Smith.
Chapter 1
War No. 81-Q
In 2127, Tibet and America wage a highly regulated aerial war over the Radiant Heat Monopoly, fought by remote-controlled ships over Kerguelen. After a series of maneuvers and sacrifices, rookie pilot Jack Bearden accidentally destroys two of his own ships but ultimately wins the war for America by downing the last enemy ship, the Yuen.
Chapter 2
Scanners Live in Vain
Martel, a Scanner, argues with his wife Luci about his need to 'cranch'—a process that temporarily restores his human sensations. Despite her concerns, he insists on using the Cranching Wire to break free from the sensory deprivation required for his work, and she reluctantly assists him.
Chapter 3
I
Scanner Martel III, while cranching at home with his wife Luci, is interrupted by an emergency call from Senior Scanner Vomact. Despite being under the influence and unfit for duty, Martel is ordered to report to Central Tie-in for an unprecedented emergency. The chapter explores Martel's internal struggle with his identity as a haberman, his longing for humanity, and the haunting memory of a burning ship.
Chapter 4
II
Martel attends an emergency Scanner meeting called by Vomact, where the Code of Scanners is recited and the threat of Adam Stone's discovery—a method to eliminate the Pain of Space—is discussed. The Scanners debate the implications for their order, and Smith invokes the secret duty to call for Stone's death.
Chapter 5
III
Martel, under the influence of the Cranching Wire, experiences a profound crisis of identity and duty as he attends a Scanner meeting. He reflects on his past, his love for Luci, and the brutal reality of being a Scanner. The meeting debates the fate of Adam Stone, who claims to have conquered the Pain of Space, threatening the very existence of the Scanner confraternity. Vomact calls for a vote on Stone's death, arguing that whether Stone has succeeded or not, he endangers the Scanners' way of life.
Chapter 6
IV
Martel, cranched and determined, resolves to reach Adam Stone before the other Scanner, Parizianski, who has been designated by Vomact to kill Stone. Despite his friendship with Chang, Chang refuses to help, citing loyalty to the Scanner vote. Martel defies the Committee's decision, is ruled out of order, and escapes through a window to race to Chief Downport.
Chapter 7
V
Martel, disguised as an ordinary man, enters the city by biting off his Scanner nail and concealing his instruments. He gains access to Adam Stone, reveals himself as a Scanner, and learns that Stone has conquered the Great Pain by using life (oysters) to shield ships. Martel warns Stone that the Scanners have voted to kill him, then intercepts Parizianski, who has come to assassinate Stone. Martel activates High Speed to stop Parizianski, enduring immense pain.
Chapter 8
The Game of Rat and Dragon
Underhill, a new pinlighter, is paired with a cat partner named Lady May to combat alien 'dragons' in space. The chapter explores the telepathic bond between humans and cats, the dangers of their mission, and the emotional toll of their symbiotic relationship.
Chapter 9
The Table
Underhill and Woodley discuss the dangers and psychological toll of pinlighting, a job that involves telepathically guiding light bombs to destroy hostile entities called Dragons or Rats during interstellar travel. Underhill reflects on the horror of the job, the loss of ships and crews, and the reliance on Partners—non-human creatures with superior speed—to protect planoforming ships. The chapter explores the tension between human limitations and the demands of space travel.
Chapter 10
The Shuffle
In the Fighting Room, pinlighters Underhill, Woodley, Father Moontree, and Miss West draw stone dice to determine their telepathic cat Partners for an upcoming battle. Underhill draws the Lady May, a highly refined Persian cat, while Woodley gets a brutish tom. The chapter explores the unique telepathic bond between humans and cats, highlighting the cats' emotional complexity and the contrast between their animal nature and the human intellect.
Chapter 11
The Deal
Underhill prepares his cat partner Lady May for a mission, carefully placing her in a projectile and connecting with her telepathically through the pin-set. The chapter explores the deep bond between human and cat as they merge consciousnesses, culminating in the announcement that the Fighting Room is ready for planoforming.
Chapter 12
The Play
Underhill and his cat partner Lady May engage in a high-speed space battle, using planoforming jumps and photonuclear bombs to destroy an alien threat. The chapter highlights the intense telepathic bond between human and cat, the rapid pace of combat, and the physical and mental toll it takes on both partners.
Chapter 13
The Score
Underhill recovers in a hospital after a near-fatal encounter with a Dragon, expressing deep concern for his Partner, Lady May, and reflecting on the unique bond between pinlighters and their feline Partners, as well as the resentment they face from others.
