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The Slizzers
The main trouble is that you'd never suspect anything was wrong; you'd enjoy associating with slizzers, so long as you didn't know....
11 pages, Kindle Edition
First published March 24, 2011
About the author
Jerome Bixby
171 books43 followersDrexel Jerome Lewis Bixby (January 11, 1923 Los Angeles, California – April 28, 1998 San Bernardino, California) was a American short story writer, editor and scriptwriter, best known for his comparatively small output in science fiction. He also wrote many westerns and used the pseudonyms D. B. Lewis, Harry Neal, Albert Russell, J. Russell, M. St. Vivant, Thornecliff Herrick and Alger Rome (for one collaboration with Algis Budrys).
He was the editor of Planet Stories from Summer 1950 to July 1951; and editor of Two Complete Science Adventure Novels from Winter 1950 to July 1951.
Probably his best-known work is the Star Trek: The Original Series 1967 episode "Mirror, Mirror", which introduced the series' concept of the Mirror Universe, also "Requiem for Methuselah" (Episode 76, Season 3:) about 'Flint' a 6,000 year old man. He also wrote the short story "It's a Good Life" (1953), adapted as a teleplay for The Twilight Zone by Rod Serling and parodied in the Simpsons Halloween episode "Treehouse of Horror II". His 1968 Star Trek episode "Day of the Dove" is also much respected by fans of science fiction. Bixby also conceived and co-wrote the 1966 film Fantastic Voyage, later novelized by Isaac Asimov.
Jerome Bixby's last work, a screenplay The Man From Earth, was conceived in the early 1960s and completed on his deathbed in April 1998. In 2007, Jerome Bixby's The Man From Earth (as it is now called) was turned into an independent motion picture executive produced by his son Emerson Bixby, directed by Richard Schenkman and starring David Lee Smith, William Katt, Richard Riehle, Tony Todd, Annika Peterson, Alexis Thorpe, Ellen Crawford and John Billingsley.
Bixby wrote the original screenplay for 1958's It! The Terror from Beyond Space, which was the inspiration for 1979's Alien. The Star Trek: Deep Space Nine seventh season (1999) Mirror Universe episode, "The Emperor's New Cloak," is dedicated to Bixby's memory.
He was the editor of Planet Stories from Summer 1950 to July 1951; and editor of Two Complete Science Adventure Novels from Winter 1950 to July 1951.
Probably his best-known work is the Star Trek: The Original Series 1967 episode "Mirror, Mirror", which introduced the series' concept of the Mirror Universe, also "Requiem for Methuselah" (Episode 76, Season 3:) about 'Flint' a 6,000 year old man. He also wrote the short story "It's a Good Life" (1953), adapted as a teleplay for The Twilight Zone by Rod Serling and parodied in the Simpsons Halloween episode "Treehouse of Horror II". His 1968 Star Trek episode "Day of the Dove" is also much respected by fans of science fiction. Bixby also conceived and co-wrote the 1966 film Fantastic Voyage, later novelized by Isaac Asimov.
Jerome Bixby's last work, a screenplay The Man From Earth, was conceived in the early 1960s and completed on his deathbed in April 1998. In 2007, Jerome Bixby's The Man From Earth (as it is now called) was turned into an independent motion picture executive produced by his son Emerson Bixby, directed by Richard Schenkman and starring David Lee Smith, William Katt, Richard Riehle, Tony Todd, Annika Peterson, Alexis Thorpe, Ellen Crawford and John Billingsley.
Bixby wrote the original screenplay for 1958's It! The Terror from Beyond Space, which was the inspiration for 1979's Alien. The Star Trek: Deep Space Nine seventh season (1999) Mirror Universe episode, "The Emperor's New Cloak," is dedicated to Bixby's memory.
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Displaying 1 - 6 of 6 reviews
April 10, 2025
”You need some caution in the games we play, no?”
A fun little sci-fi tale that offers an interesting explanation into deja vú and the lifespans of humans.
A fun little sci-fi tale that offers an interesting explanation into deja vú and the lifespans of humans.
May 29, 2026
This started out as a really Cool and Scarey story. One that could of been Horrific and Funny.
I mean, read this bit:
"His head had thinned down, just like his fingers, and now came to a peak on top.
He had practically no shoulders. He smiled at me, and I saw long black hair growing on the insides of his lips.
What are you? I screamed at him to myself.
Joe licked his hairy lips and folded those long inhuman hands in front of him."
Those "Hairy Lips" just Creep Me Out.
And then, at the 2/3's mark, the whole thing Falls Apart because J.B. didn't know how to end the Thing and he Tacked on a whole Bunch of Shit on to the End.
I get that it was Supposed to be a Joke. J.B.'s Publishers and Editor were Slizzers because they spoiled J.B.'s Happy State of Mind and Made Him Depressed because they didn't appreciate His Work and wouldn't Publish it.
But the Whole Shtick just when on for far too long and, In The End, fell flat.
So, I'm Not going to Recommend this one. A Good Idea but Poor Execution on J.B.'s part.
Talk about a Pile of Slizzer!
I mean, read this bit:
"His head had thinned down, just like his fingers, and now came to a peak on top.
He had practically no shoulders. He smiled at me, and I saw long black hair growing on the insides of his lips.
What are you? I screamed at him to myself.
Joe licked his hairy lips and folded those long inhuman hands in front of him."
Those "Hairy Lips" just Creep Me Out.
And then, at the 2/3's mark, the whole thing Falls Apart because J.B. didn't know how to end the Thing and he Tacked on a whole Bunch of Shit on to the End.
I get that it was Supposed to be a Joke. J.B.'s Publishers and Editor were Slizzers because they spoiled J.B.'s Happy State of Mind and Made Him Depressed because they didn't appreciate His Work and wouldn't Publish it.
But the Whole Shtick just when on for far too long and, In The End, fell flat.
So, I'm Not going to Recommend this one. A Good Idea but Poor Execution on J.B.'s part.
Talk about a Pile of Slizzer!
August 22, 2023
I listened to this as part of The Seventh Science Fiction Megapack. It was an enteremting space story. I have listened to a number of novels by the author. I would recommend to readers of space opera novels. 2023
July 5, 2021
Jerome Bixby of star trek fame wrote this.
Jerome Bixby freebie. Suitable for teens and adults. This sci fi story is about aliens who live amongst us and sliz us.
Jerome Bixby freebie. Suitable for teens and adults. This sci fi story is about aliens who live amongst us and sliz us.
April 2, 2023
Available from Audible. Sci-Fi Shorts, V.1 narrated by Felbrigg Napoleon Herriot.
Aliens that can look like us take advantage of that ability. Nothing new or interesting here.
Aliens that can look like us take advantage of that ability. Nothing new or interesting here.
June 18, 2023
They are coming, and their purpose is to slizz you.
Told in the first person, The Slizzers by Jerome Bixby gives the reader a first hand account of these Slizzers. In fact, according to the speaker in this 10-page story, we learn that
they're all around us. I'll call them the slizzers, because they sliz people. Lord only knows how long they've been on Earth, and how many of them there are....Well, we're maple trees to the slizzers, and that life-stuff is the sap we supply them. They do it mostly when we're feeling good—feeling really terrific. It's easier to tap us that way, and there's more to be had.
Without giving the story nor the ending away, I will state that to me, the dénouement is shocking and therefore, helps to make this story one of my favorites by Jerome Bixby.
Published in Science Fiction Stories, 1953.
I thoroughly enjoyed reading this quirky short story once again, and the ending was a surprise and just right.
🚀💫 🟤 Project Gutenberg
Told in the first person, The Slizzers by Jerome Bixby gives the reader a first hand account of these Slizzers. In fact, according to the speaker in this 10-page story, we learn that
they're all around us. I'll call them the slizzers, because they sliz people. Lord only knows how long they've been on Earth, and how many of them there are....Well, we're maple trees to the slizzers, and that life-stuff is the sap we supply them. They do it mostly when we're feeling good—feeling really terrific. It's easier to tap us that way, and there's more to be had.
Without giving the story nor the ending away, I will state that to me, the dénouement is shocking and therefore, helps to make this story one of my favorites by Jerome Bixby.
Published in Science Fiction Stories, 1953.
I thoroughly enjoyed reading this quirky short story once again, and the ending was a surprise and just right.
🚀💫 🟤 Project Gutenberg
Displaying 1 - 6 of 6 reviews