영어로 읽는 공상과학 소설 _ 알지스 버드리스의 스토커와 스타
The Stoker and the Stars는 1953년에 발표된 Algis Budrys의 SF 단편 소설이다. 이 작품은 우주선의 기관실에서 일하는 낮은 직급의 기관사와 우주의 광대한 신비를 대비시켜 이야기를 전개한다. 소설은 겉보기에는 평범한 노동자인 주인공이 별들 사이에서 특별한 경험을 하게 되는 과정을 그리며, 인간의 잠재력과 가능성을 탐구한다. 특히 일상적 노동과 우주적 경이로움이라는 대비를 통해, 계급과 직위를 넘어선 인간 존재의 가치를 조명한다. 작품은 우주 시대의 새로운 신화를 창조하면서도, 평범한 인간의 존엄성과 가치를 강조하는 Budrys의 인본주의적 시각을 잘 보여준다.
Reading Science Fiction in English _ The Stoker and the Stars by Algis Budrys
The Stoker and the Stars is a science fiction short story by Algis Budrys published in 1953. The story is told by contrasting a low-ranking engineer working in the engine room of a spaceship with the vast mysteries of the universe. The novel explores human potential and possibility through the process in which the protagonist, a seemingly ordinary worker, has extraordinary experiences among the stars. In particular, through the contrast between everyday labor and cosmic wonders, it illuminates the value of human existence beyond class and position. The work creates a new myth of the space age, while also emphasizing Budrys' humanistic perspective that emphasizes the dignity and value of ordinary humans.
Summary
When you've had your ears pinned back in a bowknot, it's sometimes hard to remember that an intelligent people has no respect for a whipped enemy ... but does for a fairly beaten enemy.
"The Stoker and the Stars" by John A. Sentry is a science fiction novella written in the mid-20th century. The story centers on a post-war Earth struggling for identity and existence while interacting with alien species. The narrative follows the experiences of a crew aboard an interstellar freighter, focusing particularly on the enigmatic stoker, a man whose past is steeped in conflict and whose pursuits are shrouded in mystery. In the novella, the unnamed narrator reflects on his past experience aboard the "Serenus", where he awkwardly interacts with a quiet stoker who has a complex history revealed through hints and implications. As the crew navigates their trade routes with alien races, they grow apprehensive about the stoker's intentions, especially given his military background and his past against their "sworn enemies." However, the story unfolds to depict the stoker's transformation and the eventual positive changes he brings about in human-alien relations. He symbolizes a bridge between worlds, challenging both his crew's and the reader's understanding of loyalty, sacrifice, and the essence of humanity amid the stars, leading to unexpected respect from the very beings they once viewed with animosity.
서평
Algis Budrys의 'The Stoker and the Stars'(1953)는 우주 시대의 계급 문제를 섬세하게 다룬 작품이다. 우주선 기관실의 평범한 노동자와 광활한 우주의 대비를 통해, 인간의 가치는 그의 직위가 아닌 잠재력에 있음을 효과적으로 보여준다. 특히 작품은 메리 셸리의 '프랑켄슈타인'에 등장하는 선원처럼, 낮은 지위의 노동자가 우주의 경이로움을 마주하는 순간을 포착하며 새로운 의미를 부여한다. 1950년대 초기 SF의 낭만적 상상력과 함께 계급 문제에 대한 사회적 통찰을 결합한 점이 돋보이는 작품이다. 짧은 분량이지만 인간의 존엄성과 가능성에 대한 깊은 믿음을 담아낸 수작이다.
Book Review
Algis Budrys' 'The Stoker and the Stars' (1953) is a delicate work dealing with class issues in the space age. Through the contrast between the ordinary workers in the engine room of a spaceship and the vastness of space, it effectively shows that the value of a human being lies in his potential, not his position. In particular, the work captures the moment when a low-status worker encounters the wonders of the universe, like the sailor in Mary Shelley's 'Frankenstein', giving it new meaning. It is a work that stands out for combining the romantic imagination of early 1950s science fiction with social insight into class issues. Although it is a short work, it is a masterpiece that contains a deep belief in human dignity and possibility.
Algis Budrys는 1931년에 태어나 2008년에 사망한 리투아니아계 미국인 SF 작가이다. 본명은 Algirdas Jonas Budrys이며, SF 작가이자 편집자, 평론가로 활동했다. 그는 "Who?", "Rogue Moon", "Michaelmas" 등의 대표작을 남겼으며, 작품에서는 주로 정체성, 현실의 본질, 인간의 한계에 대한 철학적 주제를 다루었다. Writers of the Future 콘테스트의 조정자로 오랫동안 활동했으며, Tomorrow Speculative Fiction의 편집자로도 일했다. 또한 Galaxy와 같은 유명 SF 잡지에 평론을 기고하면서 1950년대부터 2000년대까지 SF 장르에서 중요한 영향력을 행사했다.
Budrys는 또한 영향력 있는 편집자이자 비평가였으며, 다양한 공상과학 잡지에서 일했고 이 장르에서 떠오르는 재능을 홍보했습니다. 그의 작품은 종종 철학적 주제와 인간의 상태를 탐구하여 공상과학 독자와 작가 모두에게 존경받는 인물이 되었습니다.
그의 작품들은 냉전 시대의 긴장감과 과학기술 발전이 인간성에 미치는 영향을 주로 탐구했으며, 2008년 일리노이 주 에반스턴에서 77세의 나이로 생을 마감했다.
Algis Budrys, born in 1931 and died in 2008, was a Lithuanian-American science fiction writer. His real name was Algirdas Jonas Budrys, and he worked as a science fiction writer, editor, and critic. His most famous works include "Who?", "Rogue Moon", and "Michaelmas", and his works mainly deal with philosophical themes such as identity, the nature of reality, and human limitations. He was a long-time moderator of the Writers of the Future contest and an editor of Tomorrow Speculative Fiction. He also contributed reviews to popular science fiction magazines such as Galaxy, exerting a significant influence on the genre from the 1950s to the 2000s. Budrys was also an influential editor and critic, working for various science fiction magazines and promoting emerging talent in the genre. His works often explored philosophical themes and the human condition, making him a respected figure for both science fiction readers and writers. His works explored the tensions of the Cold War and the impact of technological advancements on humanity, and he died in Evanston, Illinois, in 2008 at the age of 77.