Fateful Planet

1951

Here in 2020, I'm celebrating the science fiction stories of  Isaac Asimov. In August of 1951, a small publisher, Gnome Press, created the first ever book-format compilation of Asimov's Foundation saga stories.

What if there were a Reality in which a trilogy of Foundation films was made in the 1950s? Almost 70 years after the Gnome Press Foundation trilogy, here is my new Asimov fan-fiction story "Terminus Planet", a kind of alternate history story which takes place in the Ekcolir Reality and which depicts how the Foundation saga was transformed into a series of movies.

"Terminus Planet" is the first of five linked stories that comprise Grean's Hack, an account of how Grean the Kac'hin made use of operatives such as Isaac Asimov to hack into the AR Simulator.

Grean's Hack (image credits)

In the Ekcolir Reality
The pace of technological advance was slightly faster in the Ekcolir Reality, and the science fiction genre developed at an accelerated rate. Interventionist agents made use of science fiction story tellers to prepare the people of Earth for first contact with aliens. In 1950, a Fru'wu spacecraft arrived on Earth and technology obtained from the aliens suddenly thrust Humanity into the Space Age.
___________________________________

Terminus Planet

Editor's note: the dates and other arbitrary cultural references such as names have been altered to conform to Final Reality standards.

Ekcolir Reality Analogue          Final Reality Analogue
          Richella                                  Frederik Pohl
            Ariel                                      Allen Adler
          Marcia                                 Martin Greenberg

1. Born Knowing

Terminus

His first reaction to the proposal was amazement. Isaac Asimov laughed uneasily and asked, "What am I going to learn about science from an English professor?"

Richella watched Isaac from across the expanse of the broad wooden desk that separated them. A tall stack of file folders rose up high to one side. Inside each folder was a manuscript that Richella needed to read. Hoping to get Asimov out of her office as quickly as possible, she tersely explained, "This isn't about science, Isaac. However, you'll be interested to know that Sheri was a physics major at the University of Tübingen."

"And now she teaches creative writing?"

"You will find that Dr. Sollar is versatile." A small twist of the lips betrayed Richella's amusement. "Before specializing in alternative history, Sheri wrote and published science fiction stories, high fantasy, mysteries... you name it. That was back in the Golden Age, before you and I were even..." Her voice faded away and Richella's eyes unfocused while she gazed back through time for a moment.

Asimov shifted in his chair and for one of the few times in his life he found himself not knowing what to say. From the day when he first met her, Isaac had known that there was a misty cloak of weirdness that clung to Richella. He'd been irresistibly drawn to that strangeness but with time, and long familiarity, what remained was their friendship. Occasionally, as now, the inexplicable weirdness of Richella emerged into the upper levels of his consciousness and set Isaac's nerves to tingling.

Richella stood up and went to a bookshelf that was over-loaded with old science fiction magazines and hardcovers. After searching through the mass of paper for a minute, she finally extracted a slim volume and brought it to Asimov. She asked Isaac, "Have you read any of her stuff?"

Published in 1917 in the Ekcolir Reality

Asimov looked at the cover of the book and wondered where this walk down memory lane was leading. Of course, he'd heard of Doorway to Olympus but had never read it, suspecting that it was part of the silly "old school" science fiction that existed before he had been born. He replied to Richella's question, "Maybe I've read some of her anthologized short stories. I don't remember."

Richella shook her head. "No, had you read her work you would remember it." Richella sighed as if she had expected Asimov to not know anything about one of the more celebrated stylists in fantasy literature. Some called Sherralda Sollar the princess of hard fantasy. "Exposure to Sheri and her writing will do you good. I took the liberty of registering you into her upcoming course at N.Y.U."

It struck Isaac as odd to be receiving advice about which university courses he should take when the advice was coming from a high school dropout. However, Richella Pohl was a rising star in science fiction and was soon going to be putting into print Asimov's first published story. Isaac had already cashed the payment check, so he felt obliged to listen to her. "You never took a university class on how to write."

Richella again settled in behind her desk. "School was not for me." She said enigmatically, "I was born knowing how to write."

Asimov chuckled and asked, "Did you inherit the ability from your dad?" Isaac knew Richella's parents. "I think all you got from your mom was her last name."

Richella warned Asimov, "Don't divert us into another discussion of genetics. I don't have the time for that."

Years previously, when they were in their early teens, Isaac had bluntly told Richella that she did not look anything like either of her parents. He'd suggested that she must have been adopted. Confident in her sense of personal identity, Richella had giggled and told Isaac to grow up. She had added, "Don't be a jackass and say rude things like that to people." [editor's note: in the Ekcolir Reality, it was not unusual for children in families to be of diverse origins. The identity of a child's biological father was seldom a matter of record, or a topic for polite discussion. By ancient tradition, all children were unconditionally loved and esteemed. Even after 300 years of changes and assorted modernizations, New England still luxuriated in its exceedingly matriarchal culture.]

Richella looked at her watch. "Listen to me, Isaac: don't be stubborn. The times are changing. There is a new generation of people writing science fiction who are college graduates. English majors... people who really know how to write. Are you going to compete with them or just give up on your dream of being a regularly published author?"

Asimov commented bitterly, "Rather depressing to think that the future of science fiction lies with English majors who don't know any science."

"Well, they know enough science to satisfy the film studios. That's where the money is. If you want to make a living in science fiction you won't be able to do it at the rate of a penny a word paid for short stories that are only published in magazines."

Money was never far from Isaac's mind. "I'm going to be a scientist. For me, writing stories is a hobby."

"I'm paying the tuition cost for you to take Dr. Sollar's course. That's my investment in you as an author with some promise. I know you are hoping to sell more of your stories to help fund your education. Just attend the classes with Dr. Sollar, Isaac. Pay attention to Sheri and try to develop a modern literary style. It will help you sell your stories."

Asimov tried to explain his approach to writing science fiction, "I've been reading fiction for many years. I try to emulate the story telling methods of my favorite authors. Anyhow, what is most important to me is the point of my stories, not style." He spat out the last word with obvious distaste.

August 1939 issue of Astonishing
magazine in the Ekcolir Reality

"Yes, yes... your lack of interest in style is quite evident. However, a clever plot can seldom make up for clumsy writing." Richella took a deep breath and tried to think of a way to say what needed to be said without further antagonizing Isaac. "Every story you write reads like a science textbook. That won't do. If you don't change your ways, you'll soon go the way of a million unsuccessful writers. Editors will stop reading your stories and your writing career will be over before it gets off the ground. Now, our meeting is over." Richella flicked her fingers dismissively at Asimov and turned her attention to the big stack of unread manuscripts on the desk. She lifted the top one off of the stack.

Asimov was thumbing through the pages of Doorway to Olympus. He asked, "If my writing is so hopeless then why did you buy 'Callisto'?"

Richella did not bother to look at Isaac while she replied to his question. "Because I'm your friend and also because I needed to fill the pages of a newly launched magazine." For a minute she read a manuscript, then glancing at Asimov and seemingly surprised that he was still there, she added, "You can do better than 'Callisto', Isaac. I'm giving you a chance to improve yourself." She turned her attention back to the manuscript and began writing a comment on one of the pages that she had spread across the desk in front of her.

Asimov stood up and placed Doorway to Olympus on the front corner of Pohl's desk then turned away from Richella. He had not expected to hear such an honest answer from a friend. Filled with self-doubt about his writing skills and moving like a zombie, he stumbled out of Richella's office, nervously imagining that he would be forced to demonstrate at school, in front of other students, that he could not write.

Asimov was a completely self-taught writer of science fiction stories, so far with only one professional sale of his work, and that to a childhood friend. It was bad enough to have a stack of rejection letters for his stories without having to face the humiliations that he could well imagine arising if he attended a college course on writing.

2. The Encyclopedists

Svahr playing the role of Dr. Sollar

Two weeks later, at the start of the fall semester, Asimov found himself in Dr. Sherralda Sollar's writing class at New York University, surrounded by a group of mostly female students; English majors with an interest in professor Sollar's area of specialization, what she called alternate reality fiction.

During her autobiographical introduction, Asimov could not cognitively process what Dr. Sollar was saying. His chemistry professors were all at least forty, and he had expected the same to be true of Sollar, but she seemed remarkably young. Isaac watched her with fascination and tried to place her odd eastern European accent. She looked too young to have been publishing science fiction back in the teens.

While introducing herself at the beginning of the first class session, Dr. Sollar had described the type of fiction that she wrote. "I simply imagine a different version of the universe, quite close to our own world, but better."

Unfortunately, all the other students in the creative writing course were several years older than Isaac and his new nickname in the class was 'the kid'. His classmates showed no interest in even saying 'hello' to the 'kid'. Feeling unhappy with his fate and while wondering if he could possibly find a way to talk to some of the cute girls in the class, at the end of the first class session in the second week of the semester, Dr. Sollar said, "Mr. Asimo, may I have a minute of your time?"

In class the previous week, Isaac had explained that he was Asimov, with a 'v", but the professor did not seem to care; she had persisted in calling him 'Asimo'. At least she did not call him 'kid'. Isaac walked to the front of the classroom where Dr. Sollar was erasing the blackboard. She turned, plucked her notes from the lectern, tucked them into a stylish briefcase and pulled out a sheaf of papers. She glanced at the papers, slowly shook her head and handed them to Asimov. This set of typed pages, held together by a paperclip, was a story that Asimov had given her and asked her to read at the end of the first week of classes.

Startled by the huge amount of red pencil marks on his carefully typed story, Asimov asked, "Are you a fan of hard science fiction?"

Dr. Sollar grinned. "I am. Is that what you call this?" She pointed at the story in Isaac's hand. "I thought it was fantasy."

Isaac thought: At least she read it. The manuscript was a short story called "Giskard" that he had sent to a publisher and received back by return mail, apparently never having been read by the magazine editor. Looking at the red marks that now covered the manuscript, he said, "I know I have a lot to learn about writing, but-"

Professor Sollar cut him off. "I have a meeting that I must attend. Read my comments." She hurried off.

Territorial border of New England in the Ekcolir Reality.
Also shown: the positions of New York and New Amsterdam.

Asimov watched Dr. Sollar march quickly out of the classroom. He felt rather irked to have his story called a fantasy. Shifting his attention, he noticed that two other students remained in the classroom. He'd taken note of these two students before, thinking that they were both pretty cute and he had noticed that they both had plenty of interesting things to say during class. Now they were intently discussing something, possibly arguing.

Asimov knew that one of them was named Ariel Adler and based on his research, he was almost certain that she was part of the famous show business Adler family of New York, Virginia. Ariel's friend was Marcia (only later that day would he learn her last name).

Marcia was the one student in the class who had smiled at him and Isaac wished he had the nerve to speak to her. She always seemed to be talking to Ariel. Asimov was trying to read Dr. Sollar's red penciled comments on the back side of the last page of his manuscript, but he could not stop listening to what Ariel and Marcia were saying.

"Sheri won't tolerate any mystical flapdoodle." Ariel glanced one last time towards the doorway at the departing professor and then locked her glistening eyes on Marcia. She wondered if it had been a mistake to team up with another student for their first assignment in the class, particularly if the only real reason for doing so was because Ariel found Marcia physically attractive.

Marcia suggested, "We just need to be meticulous in converting all the magical flavor of the story into hard science."

Ariel asked, "Hard?"

"Well, fake alien science... you know. They call it 'hard' science fiction." Marcia gave examples, "Gamma-ray blasters, hyperspace, time travel, imaginary science like that."

Ariel was vaguely aware that Asimov was nearby, probably listening to what she said. She lowered her voice to a near whisper. "Easy enough for you to talk about this conversion, but Sheri is not just an English prof, she also has a physics degree." In ominous tones of warning, she added, "I've learned the hard way, you simply can't slip nonsense past her."

Marcia cheerfully said, "Yes, I know... Sheri was a physics major in Europe before her family came to New England. Have no fear, I can fix the story."

Ariel asked, "How?"

Vision of the future.

"I'll fix it with science." Marcia was watching the kid from the corner of her eyes and thinking of the first time she had submitted a written assignment to Dr. Sollar. Marcia was remembering the day when she had received back that graded assignment from Sheri; in the lingo of the N.Y.U. English department, one of the professor's "red pencil specials".

Suddenly, in her mind's eye, Marcia saw Dr. Sollar holding a tiny newborn baby. That image had come to Marcia in a flash and then just as quickly it was gone. There was the kid, looking through his manuscript. Marcia realized that she had been gazing upon Asimov rather predaciously and thinking about what it might be like to feel his arms around her when the vision of Sollar and the baby burst upon her.

Now Marcia pushed the little sexual fantasy featuring the cute kid out of her thoughts and tried to focus on the writing assignment that was due later that week. Turning back to her friend, she told Ariel, "I'll go to the library and spend time with an encyclopedia... if I plug enough science jargon into the story and cover up its origins then we will be off to a good start. Good enough for a first draft."

Ariel nervously insisted, "Well, just remember, it can't be an amateurish cover-up." It was widely suspected among her students that Dr. Sollar had read everything and with her tenacious memory could remember it all.

Asimov looked at Marcia and cut into the conversation, "Allow me to offer a suggestion. Let me take care of the science details in your story."

Making an effort to shun Asimov, Ariel spoke to Marcia, "The kid wants to help us!"

Marcia smiled at Isaac. Turning her head back towards Ariel, she said, "Maybe he knows more science than I do." She shifted her eyes back to Asimov and said, "That would not be a surprise... I have no head for math and science."

Ariel turned towards the 'kid' and pointed at Asimov's manuscript which showed an ocean of red editing by the professor. "I heard what Dr. Sollar said." Mimicking the professor's gritty voice, Ariel intoned, "It seems like fantasy!"

Isaac laughed. "She hasn't been in school for twenty years. She does not seem to understand antimatter and I don't think she's ever heard of positrons. Dr. Sollar probably thinks the robot in my story is using magic to read people's minds." Asimov sat down next to Marcia and asked, "What is your story about?"

3. Alien Hybrids
Marcia briefly swam in Asimov's eyes then, recovering her equilibrium, she explained, "We're trying to convert an ancient Lydian fable into science fiction. It's a story about a human-fain hybrid."

Asimov asked, "What did you say? Fain?"

Hai'zek the Fru'wu

Ariel nodded, "Fain. An alien species, sorta like the Fru'wu, but from the Andromeda galaxy."

Asimov commented, "Aliens from another galaxy... now that's out there." He lifted his hand as if to point far off in space, but at the end of the gesture his finger spun around beside his head as if indicating that it was a crazy idea. Asimov doubted that the speed of light would ever be exceeded by space travelers. If that was the unavoidable speed limit of the universe, then stories about travel to distant galaxies were absurd.

Marcia added, "The story is a bit spicy. It includes human-alien sex. However, I'm not sure how to account for the hybrid child in the story."

Isaac jabbed his chest with his thumb, "I'm your man. I'm a zoology major. I know all about sex."

Ariel asked skeptically, "You're in college? You look like a high school kid. How old are you?"

Asimov felt compelled to fib. "21." He was only 19.

"Sure you are. And I'm a 15-year-old virgin." Ariel averted her eyes from Isaac, certain that he was lying.

Marcia laughed and asked Asimov, "Okay, kid, tell me... do you understand all the new molecular biology, things like DNA?"

Asimov had just taken a molecular biology course the previous semester. "Of course." Ariel looked back towards Asimov, a glimmer of interest now in her eyes. "DNA is the genetic molecule. In your story, do these alien fain also use DNA to encode their genes?"

Ariel shrugged, but Marcia said, "I had not thought about it, but I suppose they should."

in the Final Reality

Asimov insisted, "Yes, they must. How else would you get human-fain hybrids?" Asimov decided to mention that he had written a story about human-martian hybrids. "It is easy to imagine that DNA might get spread from Mars to Earth, possibly by a meteor-"

Ariel cut him off and said, "Stories about aliens on Mars are so old-fashioned. Astronomers say that Mars is a dead planet."

Asimov opened his mouth to defend his story about alien beings living on Mars, but he was cut off. Marcia asked Isaac, "Why does it matter? DNA, RNA, ATP... it seems easiest to not mention molecules at all."

"Some of your readers will wonder how a creature from a distant star system is able to reproduce with humans, breeding successfully across the species boundary. If you don't address such an obvious issue explicitly then they'll be taken right out of the story." Asimov paused and thought about the technical problems involved in hybridization. "And just saying 'DNA' isn't enough, either. The fain genetic code might not happen to match that of Earth."

Neither Marcia or Ariel had studied any sciences past their freshman biology courses in high school. Marcia asked, "What code?"

nanotechnology for coding

Isaac sighed. His molecular biology instructor had mentioned the coding problem during the last week of the semester. It was one of the hottest topics in biology research: how did the structure of DNA control the structure of protein molecules? Isaac wondered how he could demonstrate his worth in making a story scientifically plausible if these two girls did not know any science. He turned to Ariel who seemed slightly older than Marcia and asked her, "What about you? Do you know anything about genetics?"

Ariel replied, "Only that I inherited my mother's interest in film making." Hearing this, Asimov felt 100% sure that Ariel was a member of the famous Adler family. "If you'd seen any of her films, then you'd know that she does not clutter up a story with irrelevant sciensy details."

Asimov asked philosophically, "Is 'sciensy' a word?" He shrugged and chuckled. "Anyhow, judging from this," He held up his manuscript, "I suspect Dr. Sollar really cares about details. She absolutely demolished the first draft of my story! You two plan to submit your alien hybrid story as the class assignment that is due on Thursday?"

"We do."

"Then here's the deal, ladies. You scratch my..." He seemed to hear the voice of Richella in his head: Don't be a jackass. Asimov started over, "I'll edit your story for scientific accuracy and you two can make all these grammatical changes that Dr. Sollar marked on my manuscript."

Ariel objected, "We really should do our own work."

Asimov pushed his point. "This is collaboration. Look, you two are already working together. Dr. Sollar told us that she welcomes team efforts. All three of our names will go on both stories." Asimov took out his pen and quickly wrote "Ariel Adler and Marcia." He looked at Marcia and asked, "What is your last name?" She told him and he wrote 'Greenberg' on his manuscript next to 'Marcia'. He tossed the manuscript to Ariel.

She immediately handed the manuscript back to Asimov. "I'm not going to repair your grammar."

Marcia reached out and took the manuscript from Ariel. "Now hold on, Ari. This might work. Why have me copy a bunch of genetics jargon out of the encyclopedia?"

Asimov added, "Any encyclopedia will be out of date."

Marcia nodded. "And so I might fail to fool Sheri."

Asimov was impressed that Ariel and Marcia casually referred to the professor as 'Sheri', just as Richella had. He decided to join the crowd. "When I write a story, I'm always thinking about the editor who I hope will buy the story and publish it. Sadly, I've only had a week to begin learning about Sheri's tastes in fiction."

Ariel said, "We've both taken other classes with her, haven't you?"

"No. I'm a science major. My schedule is full of science classes."

Ariel asked, "Then how did you get into this class? English 207 is a prerequisite for this course."

In the Ekcolir Reality
cover art by Robyn C. Sherry

Asimov shrugged and muttered, "I guess money talks." For a moment, Asimov thought about another possibility. He wondered if Dr. Sollar was also submitting her own manuscripts to Richella for publication in Astonishing or another magazine that Pohl edited. He'd have to investigate that possibility. Asimov swung his thoughts back to the matter at hand. "We can do this and we will all benefit."

Marcia said, "There is not much time. Our first drafts are due in less than 48 hours."

Asimov jumped to his feet, "Let's go to the library. I bet we can get this done in about an hour."

4. Outpost on the Moon
Soon they were walking quickly across campus towards the library. Asimov was getting damp as they moved through a light rain, but he hardly noticed. Ariel and Marcia were together under a big umbrella. While they walked, Asimov told them about 'Callisto', his first published story that would soon be in print. The story was about an alien outpost on a moon of Jupiter, Callisto. The outpost was staffed by artificial lifeforms. The aliens made use of a gravitational energy converter to power their station and transmit by radio their reports about the Solar System (particularly human activity on Earth) back to their home world which was a planet in orbit about a distant star.

Arriving at the library, Asimov asked an attendant at the main desk if one of the big study carrels was available. Those private study rooms were usually reserved for graduate students, but sometimes an undergraduate could snag one. Asimov explained, "I need one that has a typewriter."

The attendant, a middle-aged man, handed Asimov a key and look over Isaac's shoulder towards Ariel and Marcia. "Wow, a threesome."

Asimov laughed, "We have work to do."

"Work, eh?" The attendant winked at Isaac. "Is that what you kids are calling it now?"

Asimov turned his head and gazed for a moment at Ariel and Marcia. He found himself particularly attracted to Marcia. For a moment, a vision of Marcia handing him a book flashed in his mind. On the cover of the book was a planet and a spiral galaxy, rather like the recently released high resolution images of the Andromeda galaxy. Asimov gave his head a small shake as the vision dissolved. Turning back towards the library worker, Asimov said, "We'll be doing homework for Dr. Sollar's writing class."

The man seemed skeptical that Asimov was taking two girls into a private room in order to do school work. "Be warned. A librarian might look in on you."

Asimov led Ariel and Marcia to their little room. In the study carrel, Ariel handed Asimov their story about human-alien hybrids. Scanning down the first page, he saw that their story was called 'Out Foxed'. It was hand-written in a beautiful cursive script and purple ink. He sat down and began typing the story, ruthlessly making some significant changes as he went along.

Ariel and Marcia divided the pages of Asimov's story between them and began making a new draft of the story and incorporating the changes that had been suggested by Dr. Sollar. Marcia quickly realized that most of these suggestions were aimed at making the story seem less like an engineering manual for manufacturing positronic robots and more focused on the human characters in the story.

Five minutes later, as Asimov was putting a second sheet of paper into the typewriter, a librarian knocked and pulled open the door of the study carrel. She looked at Asimov and asked, "That was you typing?"

Asimov grinned, "I can manage fifty words per minute on an electric like this one."

a human-fain hybrid's mission on Earth

The librarian nodded towards Ariel and Marcia and asked, "They're paying you to type their homework?"

"No. We are collaborating on homework for Dr. Sollar's writing class. I just hope I don't run out of typing paper."

"Okay, as long as you are not running a business. I can't let paid typists use the school's equipment. We have to pay for the ribbons, you know." She turned and closed the door as Asimov began typing again.

Ariel picked up the first page that Asimov had typed and immediately complained, "What the hell is this?" She read the title: " You re-named our story 'The Code of the Fain'?"

Asimov again stopped typing and smiled at Ariel. He asked, "Don't you hate it when an editor changes your writing?"

Ariel had never tried to publish a story. She felt a bit jealous that the 'kid' had already sold a story for publication. She told Asimov, "We just want you to smooth out the science angles, not make significant changes to the story."

Asimov had not yet read the entire story, but he could sense where it was heading. He asked pointedly, "There is no fox in your story, is there?"

Marcia took the first page from Ariel and started reading it. Ariel replied, "Of course not. It's a metaphor... the aliens are clever and they trick the humans."

Asimov laughed, a bit too loudly. "Tricked into having sex with an alien! You know, I can see that becoming a Hollywood blockbuster."

Marcia shrugged, "We can always change the title." She set the first page down beside the typewriter and told Ariel, "Leave Isaac alone, I like his changes." She returned to the task of correcting Asimov's manuscript. "Let's not argue, Ari. It's getting late."

Asimov resumed his typing and muttered, "The library is open until 10:00."

Marcia said, "We are going to a meeting this evening. It starts at 7:00."

Asimov said, "I'm meeting my chem lab partner this evening for a study session, so lets get this done." An hour later, Asimov pulled the last page of 'Out Foxed', or, as he preferred to think of it, 'The Code of the Fain' out of the typewriter and handed it to Marcia.

Marcia handed Isaac the half of "Giskard" that she had re-written for him. She commented, "Vasilia seems like quite a formidable woman."

Asimov immediately began a monologue on the backstory of his character Vasilia. While he spoke enthusiastically, neither Marcia or Ariel was listening to him.

another great writing collaboration

Running her eyes quickly down the last page of "Out Foxed", Marcia was very pleased with the science-related changes that Isaac had made to the story. Some of his other changes were silly, but they could be easily reverted. She smiled warmly at Asimov and suggested to Ariel, "Let's take Isaac with us to the meeting."

Ariel had just finished her half of "Giskard", the pages of which were scattered across the table in front of her. She looked up and asked, "Take the kid? Are you serious?"

Asimov complained, "I don't like being called 'kid'."

Ariel told Marcia, "I don't want to get another lecture from my mother. She objected strongly when I told her that I was bringing you." Asimov had gathered up the pages of the corrected draft of his robot story and the three of them exited from the study carrel.

Marcia shifted her large tote bag to the other shoulder, moved close to Isaac and placed a hand on Asimov's arm. She told Ariel, "Here's the solution: just tell your mom that he's my fiancé. That should shut her up."

Asimov was amused. He slipped an arm around her waist and asked Marcia, "When are we getting married?"

Marcia laughed and gave him a provocative shove with her hip that knocked him off his stride. She slipped her arm through his. "It needs to be soon, before my baby bump starts showing."

Asimov's mouth fell open before he realized that Marcia was joking. Quickly recovering, he asked, "What is the meeting about?"

Trying to ignore Marcia's flirting with Asimov, Ariel was walking quickly and led the way to the subway station at the edge of the N.Y.U. campus. She explained, "It is a little party for a group of film industry people who make speculative fiction movies."

Marcia told Asimov, "They call themselves Futurists."

Ariel corrected Marcia, "The group is called Futuria and most of them are very concerned about our future."

Asimov recognized the name of the group. "Ug! Those UFO nuts?"

Marcia whispered to Asimov, "Be careful what you say, Isaac, Ariel is one of the nuts."

The five boroughs of New York, Virginia (Ekcolir Reality):
Severn Pt., The Warren, Airvale, Holly Pt. and Tabbs Pt.

They had reached the station. Asimov said, "Sorry, Ariel, but you have to admit, there is no physical evidence for visitors to Earth from outer space. Still, I'd be interested in attending the meeting."

Ariel said nothing. Her lips were compressed into a hard line. The train arrived at the platform and she raced aboard with Marcia and Isaac following along behind.

in the Ekcolir Reality

When they were seated in a subway car that was taking them from Airvale out to Ariel's family home in Severn Point, Ariel finally said, "Many of the folks in Futuria lobby the government to boost spending on science research. Mostly they work in the entertainment industry to make films and television shows about the the Fru'wu. They are not nuts."

Asimov and Marcia gazed into each others eyes and they both wondered what could account for the wide-spread belief in alien visitors to Earth.

Next: Parts 5 - 8 of Terminus Planet.

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