Wednesday, March 3, 2010

"Hagerty’s Enzymes," 1955 short story written by A. L. Haley

Thanks to the industrious folks at the Internet Archive, you can read or download "Hagerty’s Enzymes," a short story written by A. L. Haley. Originally published in the Vol. 6, No. 10, Spring 1955 issue of Planet Stories magazine, the plot revolves around a businessman named Harper S. Breen who travels to the Red Planet for a rest-cure at a hotel staffed entirely by robots and to learn more about a Martian fungus that produces an invaluable enzyme. Here are the opening lines of “Hagerty’s Enzymes”:

HARPER BREEN sank down gingerly into the new Relaxo-Lounge. He placed twitching bands on the armrests and laid his head back stiffly. He closed his fluttering eyelids and clamped his mouth to keep the corner from jumping.

"Just lie back, Harp," droned his sister soothingly. "Just give in and let go of everything..."


[via Tinkoo Valia of Variety SF]

2 comments:

Doc Mars said...

Hi Paul,
A Ray Bradbury's martian poem from Star*Reach #6 (1976) here:
http://www.flickr.com/photos/doc-mars/4406176146/

Paul said...

Thanks, Doc!