Read years ago, could even be a “short-short.” Basic plot was a human starship has visited its first extraterrestrial solar system. When they leave for home and activate their Faster Than Light drive they discover that somehow it totally destroys every planet in the solar system. Our intrepid heroes then realize that when they left Earth surely the same thing happened. Home ain’t gonna be there. Cue Twilight Zone music.
Anybody remember this story’s title/author?
Thanks.
Sir Rhosis
That does sound familiar. Might it be in 100 Great Short Science Fiction Stories Publication: 100 Great Science Fiction Short Short Stories
Time Fuze by Randall Garrett.
Out of copyright. You can read it on Project Gutenberg.
Great work Peter!
No probs. I remembered the final line from the story, and was able to Google for the title.
Thanks guys.
Sir Rhosis
Though I must say whoever composed the blurb for the story did Garrett no favors. Gave it away.
SR
Meant to add the list of places “Time Fuze” has been collected Title: Time Fuze
And this is where I’ve read it before.
That’s a great, haunting story. I’ve been thinking it would make a great movie with that twist at the end.
Sorry: it’s a full length story.
Late 1960’s
Closing scene: father and son on the west coast of Ireland, looking out to sea.
Final words: “It’s all right, son, it’s just America burning…”
Don’t know why it came back to me just now.
Sounds like “The Sheep Look Up” by John Brunner
Yep. Here’s the quote
“Opening the door to the visiting doctor, all set to apologize for the flour on her hands – she had been baking – Mrs. Byrne sniffed. Smoke! And if she could smell it with her heavy head cold, it must be a tremendous fire! “We ought to call the brigade!” she exclaimed. “Is it a hayrick?” “The brigade would have a long way to go,” the doctor told her curtly. “It’s from America. The wind’s blowing that way.””
Thanks Andy. That’s it, though nothing like I remembered.
It’s not the last words of the book: there’s a fragment of Milton after it, including the title of the book. And SHE’s in Canada, not Ireland.
But never mind: memory’s a strange thing. I hadn’t thought of this excerpt for over forty years; I posted the query about 3 hours ago and went to do some physical work. 2 hours later it came to me: title and author. And you dredged it up almost instantly.
You’re part of an amazing resource, and body of knowledge. Thanks again.
Glad to help out.
Great story.
But I had this nightmare vision for what happens next. They set the ship on automatic and just let it hit every solar system until it runs out of fuel. Like a galactic chain reaction. They could see it in Andromeda.