영어로 읽는 고전 _ 조지 O. 스미스의 커다란 해법
조지 O. 스미스의 "The Big Fix"는 20세기 중반에 쓰인 SF 소설입니다. 이 이야기는 텔레파시와 초능력이 존재하는 세계를 배경으로 하며, 기회와 인간 본성의 조작이 복잡한 게임이 되는 복잡한 사회적 풍경을 만들어냅니다. 이야기는 주인공 월리 윌슨을 중심으로 전개되며, 그는 세 마리의 무능해 보이는 말들이 관련된 켄터키 더비의 결과를 조작하라는 터무니없는 요청에 직면합니다.
줄거리에서 월리는 수수께끼 같은 인물 조셉 바르셀로나에 의해 플라잉 힐스, 문빔, 그리고 레이디 그레이스가 더비에서 특정 순서로 결승선을 통과하도록 보장하라는 강요를 받게 됩니다. 범죄, 텔레파시, 그리고 법의 위험한 교차점을 헤쳐나가면서, 월리는 자신의 곤경이 가져오는 윤리적 함의와 씨름합니다. 이야기는 거칠지만 매력적인 톰보이 테일러와 월리의 활동을 의심하는 델랜시 중위를 포함한 다채로운 등장인물들로 풍성해집니다. 책 전반에 걸쳐, 우정, 범죄 활동, 그리고 자신의 도덕적 나침반 사이의 균형을 맞추려는 월리의 투쟁은 인간 본성이 궁극적으로 바르셀로나의 계획을 좌절시키는 교묘한 해결책으로 이어지며, 조작의 유혹 속에서도 정직함의 회복력을 보여줍니다.
Classics Read in English _ The Big Fix by George O. Smith
"The Big Fix" by George O. Smith is a mid-20th century science fiction novel that presents a fascinating exploration of moral complexity in a world where psychic abilities have become integrated into society's fabric. Set in a universe where telepathy and psi powers are established realities, the story examines how these extraordinary capabilities can be exploited for both criminal enterprises and personal gain, creating a morally ambiguous landscape where the line between right and wrong becomes increasingly blurred.
The narrative centers on Wally Wilson, an ordinary man thrust into extraordinary circumstances when he becomes the unwilling pawn in an elaborate scheme orchestrated by the mysterious and dangerous Joseph Barcelona. Wilson's predicament—being coerced into manipulating the outcome of the Kentucky Derby by ensuring that three specific horses finish in a predetermined order—serves as both the story's central conflict and a metaphor for the broader themes of free will, determinism, and moral choice in a world where mental manipulation is possible.
Smith crafts a compelling cast of supporting characters who each represent different aspects of this morally complex world. Tomboy Taylor embodies the story's blend of toughness and vulnerability, while Lieutenant Delancey represents the institutional suspicion and investigative pressure that Wilson must navigate. These characters create a rich social tapestry that highlights the various ways individuals respond to the existence of psychic powers and the criminal opportunities they create.
The novel's strength lies in its examination of how Wilson grapples with impossible choices while maintaining his moral integrity. As he navigates the treacherous waters between Barcelona's criminal demands, his personal relationships, and his own ethical standards, Wilson's journey becomes a study in how ordinary people can maintain their humanity even when confronted with extraordinary pressures and temptations.
The story's resolution, where human nature ultimately defeats Barcelona's carefully laid plans, serves as Smith's commentary on the resilience of individual integrity and the unpredictability of human behavior, even in a world where minds can be read and influenced. This conclusion reinforces the novel's central theme that genuine human connection and moral courage can triumph over manipulation and coercion, regardless of the technological or psychic advantages available to those who would exploit others.
Among the contents
It was April, a couple of weeks before the Derby. We were playing poker, which is a game of skill that has nothing to do with the velocity of horse meat.
Phil Howland kept slipping open but he managed to close up before I could tell whether the combination of Three-Five-Two-Four meant a full house of fives over fours or whether he was betting on an open-ended straight that he hadn't bothered to arrange in order as he held them. The Greek was impenetrable; he also blocked me from reading the deck so that I could estimate his hand from the cards that weren't dealt out. Chicago Charlie's mind was easy to read but no one could trust him. He was just as apt to think high to score someone out as he was to think low to suck the boys in. As for me, there I was, good old Wally Wilson, holding a pat straight flush from the eight to the queen of diamonds. I was thinking "full house" but I was betting like a weak three of a kind.
서평(Book Review)
조지 O. 스미스의 "The Big Fix"는 텔레파시가 일상화된 사회에서 펼쳐지는 독창적인 범죄 스릴러다. 켄터키 더비 조작이라는 흥미로운 소재를 통해 초능력과 도덕적 선택의 딜레마를 탐구한 설정이 매력적이다. 월리 윌슨이라는 평범한 주인공이 조셉 바르셀로나의 강요와 자신의 양심 사이에서 고뇌하는 과정은 설득력 있게 그려지며, 톰보이 테일러와 델랜시 중위 등 조연 캐릭터들도 각자의 개성을 살려 이야기에 깊이를 더한다. 초능력이 존재하는 세계에서도 인간 본성의 예측 불가능성이 정교한 계획을 무너뜨린다는 결말은 인간성에 대한 긍정적 메시지를 전달한다. 다만 텔레파시의 구체적 작동 방식이나 사회적 파급효과에 대한 설명이 부족하고, 일부 플롯 전개가 다소 성급하게 느껴진다. 그럼에도 불구하고 도덕적 정직함과 인간적 연결의 힘을 강조한 주제 의식은 시대를 초월하여 유효하다.
George O. Smith's "The Big Fix" is an original crime thriller set in a society where telepathy has become commonplace. The premise of exploring the dilemma between psychic abilities and moral choice through the intriguing concept of Kentucky Derby manipulation is appealing. The process of ordinary protagonist Wally Wilson agonizing between Joseph Barcelona's coercion and his own conscience is convincingly portrayed, while supporting characters like Tomboy Taylor and Lieutenant Delancey add depth to the story with their distinct personalities. The conclusion that human nature's unpredictability can defeat elaborate schemes even in a world where psychic powers exist delivers a positive message about humanity. However, explanations of telepathy's specific mechanisms and social ramifications are insufficient, and some plot developments feel somewhat rushed. Nevertheless, the thematic emphasis on moral integrity and the power of human connection remains timelessly valid. The novel succeeds in demonstrating how individual conscience can triumph over external manipulation, making it both an entertaining thriller and a thoughtful examination of personal ethics in extraordinary circumstances.
조지 올리버 스미스(1911-1981)는 미국의 과학 소설 작가로, 황금기 SF의 대표적인 인물 중 한 명이었다. 그는 특히 우주 공학과 기술적 세부사항에 대한 정확하고 현실적인 묘사로 유명했으며, "하드 SF"의 선구자로 평가받고 있다.
스미스는 1938년부터 작품 활동을 시작했으며, 주로 『어스타운딩 사이언스 픽션』 등의 잡지에 단편을 기고했다. 그의 가장 유명한 작품은 1942년부터 1945년까지 연재된 「비너스 에퀴레터럴」 시리즈로, 이는 금성 궤도에 위치한 우주 정거장을 배경으로 한 통신 기술자들의 이야기를 다루고 있다. 이 시리즈는 후에 단행본으로 출간되어 큰 인기를 얻었다.
직업적으로 스미스는 전자 공학자였으며, 이러한 기술적 배경은 그의 작품에 큰 영향을 미쳤다. 그는 작품 속에서 실제 과학 원리에 기반한 상세한 기술적 설명을 제공하는 것으로 유명했고, 이는 당시 SF 작가들 사이에서도 드문 특징이었다. 스미스의 작품은 종종 미래의 기술 발전을 예측하는 데 놀라운 정확성을 보여주었으며, 특히 통신 기술 분야에서 그러했다.
그는 생애 동안 여러 편의 장편 소설과 수십 편의 단편 소설을 발표했으며, 과학 소설 장르의 발전에 중요한 기여를 했다. 스미스의 작품은 오늘날에도 하드 SF의 고전으로 여겨지며, 기술적 정확성과 상상력이 조화를 이룬 훌륭한 예로 평가받고 있다.
George Oliver Smith (1911-1981) was an American science fiction writer who emerged as one of the prominent figures of the Golden Age of Science Fiction. He was particularly renowned for his accurate and realistic depictions of space engineering and technical details, earning recognition as a pioneer of "hard science fiction."
Smith began his writing career in 1938, primarily contributing short stories to magazines such as Astounding Science Fiction. His most famous work is the "Venus Equilateral" series, serialized from 1942 to 1945, which tells the story of communication engineers on a space station orbiting Venus. This series was later compiled into a book that gained considerable popularity.
Professionally, Smith was an electronic engineer, and this technical background significantly influenced his writing. He was famous for providing detailed technical explanations based on actual scientific principles in his works, a characteristic that was rare even among science fiction writers of his time. Smith's works often demonstrated remarkable accuracy in predicting future technological developments, particularly in the field of communications technology.
Throughout his life, he published several novels and dozens of short stories, making important contributions to the development of the science fiction genre. Smith's works are still considered classics of hard SF today, praised as excellent examples of the harmonious blend of technical accuracy and imagination.