Howard L Myers' "Practice!" (as by Verge Foray) (novelette, humor, free): Every child is special

Not as powerful as "Taare Zameen Par" which popularized the slogan "Every child is special" in India, but good fun read.

Story summary.

Accreditation inspectors are paying a surprise visit to Thorling School, a specialized school for problem children. And inspectors arrive carrying preconceived notions about headmaster Judson Royster because of his past.

Only the kids here aren't really problem kids - the label society has given them. They share a very special talent. Inspectors will go back happy, thanks to deft handling by teachers & kids.

Fact sheet.

First published: Analog, March 1968.
Rating: A.
Download full text from Baen CD or Webscription.
Listed among the stories from John Campbell's Astounding/Analog.
Related: Stories of Howard L Myers (as by Verge Foray).

Howard L Myers' "Duplex" aka "Partner" (as by Verge Foray) (novelette, mystery, free)

In some sense, this is the first story in - or at least a precursor to - author's "econo-war" series, & the best of the lot. More on series some other time. Unlike series, however, this is not space opera.

Story summary.

Kent & Pard Lindstrom are unusual companions: two men living in the same body! Each lives in, & controls, one hemisphere of the brain! Story is narrated from Kent's perspective.

Kent is a well known pianist; Pard prefers tinkering with gadgets. Neither is interested in other's interests. Pard is usually active at night, when Kent is asleep.

Now, on a single day, two attempts have been made on their life - apparently by military! And during the night, Pard apparently was involved in a street brawl & an arson - activities that landed them behind bars. Pard has apparently got recently involved in something sinister, & without the knowledge of Kent, ...

Fact sheet.

First published: Analog, June 1968.
Rating: A.
Download full text from Baen CD: 7 pages beginning here.
Listed among the stories from John Campbell's Astounding/Analog.
Related: Stories of Howard L Myers (as by Verge Foray).

Howard L Myers' "The Creatures of Man" (as by Verge Foray) (short story, uplift, free): An imperfect god is a better than a perfect one!

Colorful story of a human encounter with the creatures uplifted to sentience eons back by humans.

Uplifted creatures are insects - butterflies, moths, spiders, ants, ... Genetically modified to huge size, reasonable intelligence, & some unusual senses; & grafted on an alien world. Creatures now remember Man, have no conception of what He looks like, but have a means to call Him in an emergency - with caveats.

Now an unknown hive creature has landed on their world & killed some moths & ants in a scuffle. So Man is called to help counter the threat - with unexpected results.

See also.

1. Murray Leinster's "The Mad Planet" (download): Another story where dominant animals on a world are terran insects grown to huge size. But these aren't uplifted ones; they've come to dominate because the climate became favorable.
   

Fact sheet.

First published: If, May 1968.
Rating: B.
Download full text from Baen CD: 4 pages beginning here.
Related: Stories of Howard L Myers (as by Verge Foray).

Howard L Myers' "Lost Calling" (as by Verge Foray): (short story, humor, free): Making of the ultimate diplomat

Sometimes hilarious story of a young genius of a politician - only without ambitions of an office.

Story summary.

Dalton Mirni was picked up by a spaceship, found drifting alone at the edge of human settled worlds. He's in early twenties, was the sole survivor of a mishap in that area when he was 4, & has been raised & trained by super-advanced alien teachers. Only trouble is: he doesn't remember the subject of his training!

But he's just too good at solving very complex human problems...

Fact sheet.

First published: Analog, September 1967.
Rating: A.
Download full text from Baen CD: 3 pages beginning here.
Listed among the stories from John Campbell's Astounding/Analog.
Related: Stories of Howard L Myers (as by Verge Foray).