Cast a Cold Eye

by William Barton

A novelette by science-fiction writer William Barton. Here we have the planet Nivia, circling the distant star Sigma Draconis. Nivia, home of jellyballs and rumcake mannequins, gloryhole goddesses and wrynackers. Nivia, wholly-owned subsidiary of the NutriChem Scientific-Industrial Enterprise, manufacturerers of fine cosmetics, irresistible perfumes, and lovely, hypnotic, oh-so-useful drugs. And here we have a man named Hahn, once upon a time a journalist, once upon a time a policeman, now down on his luck, come to join NutriChem's wretched workers, harvesting the bounty of Nivia.

37 pages, Kindle Edition

First published February 25, 2012

About the author

William Renald Barton III (born September 28, 1950) is an American science fiction writer. In addition to his standalone novels, he is also known for collaborations with Michael Capobianco. Many of their novels deal with themes such as the Cold War, space travel, and space opera.

Barton also has written short stories that put an emphasis on sexuality and human morality in otherwise traditional science fiction. His short fiction has appeared in Asimov's and Sci Fiction, and has been nominated for the Hugo Award, the Theodore Sturgeon Award, the Sidewise Award, and the HOMer Award, and three of his novels (The Transmigration of Souls, Acts of Conscience, and When We Were Real) have been nominated for the Philip K. Dick Award.

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Reviews

[Clint the Cool Guy · Rating 5 out of 5]

A thoughtful and introverted short story about a man who is hunting on an alien planet, and how he comes to grips with a woman who is being abused. Pretty dark stuff, but very well written. Recommended.