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Green Patches
"Green Patches" is a science fiction short story by Isaac Asimov. It was first published in the November 1950 issue of Galaxy Science Fiction under as "Misbegotten Missionary" and reprinted under its present title in the 1969 collection Nightfall and Other Stories.
A research spaceship from Earth lands on Saybrook's Planet to investigate a report by an earlier colony ship. The colony ship's captain, Saybrook, had reported that the planet's abundant plant and animal life was all part of a single organism with a unified consciousness. That organism was able to induce pregnancy in all the colony ship's female animals, and all the offspring born had green patches of fur instead of eyes, a sign that they were part of the planetary organism. When Saybrook had the women in his crew examined and confirmed that they were all pregnant, he sent a sub-ether report back to Earth and then destroyed his ship.
A research spaceship from Earth lands on Saybrook's Planet to investigate a report by an earlier colony ship. The colony ship's captain, Saybrook, had reported that the planet's abundant plant and animal life was all part of a single organism with a unified consciousness. That organism was able to induce pregnancy in all the colony ship's female animals, and all the offspring born had green patches of fur instead of eyes, a sign that they were part of the planetary organism. When Saybrook had the women in his crew examined and confirmed that they were all pregnant, he sent a sub-ether report back to Earth and then destroyed his ship.
Unknown Binding
First published November 1, 1950
About the author
Isaac Asimov
4,366 books28.2k followersWorks of prolific Russian-American writer Isaac Asimov include popular explanations of scientific principles,
The Foundation Trilogy
(1951-1953), and other volumes of fiction.
Isaac Asimov, a professor of biochemistry, wrote as a highly successful author, best known for his books.
Asimov, professor, generally considered of all time, edited more than five hundred books and ninety thousand letters and postcards. He published in nine of the ten major categories of the Dewey decimal classification but lacked only an entry in the category of philosophy (100).
People widely considered Asimov, a master of the genre alongside Robert Anson Heinlein and Arthur Charles Clarke as the "big three" during his lifetime. He later tied Galactic Empire and the Robot into the same universe as his most famous series to create a unified "future history" for his stories much like those that Heinlein pioneered and Cordwainer Smith and Poul Anderson previously produced. He penned "Nightfall," voted in 1964 as the best short story of all time; many persons still honor this title. He also produced well mysteries, fantasy, and a great quantity of nonfiction. Asimov used Paul French, the pen name, for the Lucky Starr, series of juvenile novels.
Most books of Asimov in a historical way go as far back to a time with possible question or concept at its simplest stage. He often provides and mentions well nationalities, birth, and death dates for persons and etymologies and pronunciation guides for technical terms. Guide to Science, the tripartite set Understanding Physics, and Chronology of Science and Discovery exemplify these books.
Asimov, a long-time member, reluctantly served as vice president of Mensa international and described some members of that organization as "brain-proud and aggressive about their IQs." He took more pleasure as president of the humanist association. The asteroid 5020 Asimov, the magazine Asimov's Science Fiction, an elementary school in Brooklyn in New York, and two different awards honor his name.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Isaac_As...
Isaac Asimov, a professor of biochemistry, wrote as a highly successful author, best known for his books.
Asimov, professor, generally considered of all time, edited more than five hundred books and ninety thousand letters and postcards. He published in nine of the ten major categories of the Dewey decimal classification but lacked only an entry in the category of philosophy (100).
People widely considered Asimov, a master of the genre alongside Robert Anson Heinlein and Arthur Charles Clarke as the "big three" during his lifetime. He later tied Galactic Empire and the Robot into the same universe as his most famous series to create a unified "future history" for his stories much like those that Heinlein pioneered and Cordwainer Smith and Poul Anderson previously produced. He penned "Nightfall," voted in 1964 as the best short story of all time; many persons still honor this title. He also produced well mysteries, fantasy, and a great quantity of nonfiction. Asimov used Paul French, the pen name, for the Lucky Starr, series of juvenile novels.
Most books of Asimov in a historical way go as far back to a time with possible question or concept at its simplest stage. He often provides and mentions well nationalities, birth, and death dates for persons and etymologies and pronunciation guides for technical terms. Guide to Science, the tripartite set Understanding Physics, and Chronology of Science and Discovery exemplify these books.
Asimov, a long-time member, reluctantly served as vice president of Mensa international and described some members of that organization as "brain-proud and aggressive about their IQs." He took more pleasure as president of the humanist association. The asteroid 5020 Asimov, the magazine Asimov's Science Fiction, an elementary school in Brooklyn in New York, and two different awards honor his name.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Isaac_As...
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Displaying 1 - 15 of 15 reviews
May 7, 2025
I actually enjoyed this one more than 'Nightfall.' 4.25/5
January 4, 2020
A sort of Avatar in reverse.. this short Asimov story will stay with you and bug you with “what if’s?”
June 28, 2018
The slow build of this story reveals the inventive creation of a uniquely complete species which is brilliantly planning to invade earth. It has already successfully invaded a ship of fertile terrestrial beings and forced them to generate newborn with soft green patches instead of eyes. Now it hopes to take over the entire planet. Will it succeed?
December 2, 2025
This story is a quiet, unsettling critique of conformity disguised as a tale of alien invasion. At first glance, the green organism seems almost benign—a blissful, unified collective that wants nothing more than harmony.
But harmony, in Asimov’s hands, becomes terrifying.
The aliens offer peace by eliminating individuality, stitching every being into a communal consciousness that feels suspiciously like euthanasia with better PR. Asimov constructs this world with elegant simplicity: an intrusion of “unity” that spreads like a pastoral plague.
The horror here isn’t monstrous; it’s serene.
The protagonist’s resistance becomes the beating heart of the narrative. His fear of being absorbed—erased, perfected, homogenized—echoes deeper anxieties about autonomy, dissent, and the cost of selfhood.
Asimov uses the organism’s cheerful unity as a mirror for every ideology that sacrifices complexity for order.
The story’s tension is understated but relentless. Every green tendril feels like an argument, every assimilation a parable.
Asimov’s prose, crisp and clinical, heightens the dread: the calmness makes it worse.
The ending is a small, defiant spark—one individual refusing a utopia that demands the deletion of the self. It’s melancholy, it’s hopeful, and it’s pure Asimov.
One of the best sci-fi stories you’ll ever read. Most recommended. Give it a go.
But harmony, in Asimov’s hands, becomes terrifying.
The aliens offer peace by eliminating individuality, stitching every being into a communal consciousness that feels suspiciously like euthanasia with better PR. Asimov constructs this world with elegant simplicity: an intrusion of “unity” that spreads like a pastoral plague.
The horror here isn’t monstrous; it’s serene.
The protagonist’s resistance becomes the beating heart of the narrative. His fear of being absorbed—erased, perfected, homogenized—echoes deeper anxieties about autonomy, dissent, and the cost of selfhood.
Asimov uses the organism’s cheerful unity as a mirror for every ideology that sacrifices complexity for order.
The story’s tension is understated but relentless. Every green tendril feels like an argument, every assimilation a parable.
Asimov’s prose, crisp and clinical, heightens the dread: the calmness makes it worse.
The ending is a small, defiant spark—one individual refusing a utopia that demands the deletion of the self. It’s melancholy, it’s hopeful, and it’s pure Asimov.
One of the best sci-fi stories you’ll ever read. Most recommended. Give it a go.
November 14, 2021
Collected in Nightfall and Other Stories and Tomorrow, the Stars, this short story was also published under the title "Misbegotten Missionary". Saybrook's planet is populated by one single giant organism that cooperates with all other organisms through green patches. Are their motives altruistic or sinister as they endeavor to have all other organisms join them? This fantastic story is not just about extra-terrestrial biology, but touches on issues of whether total cooperation and efficiency are more important than individual free will.
January 17, 2022
First published as Misbegotten Missionary in 1950 this is a brilliant Asimov story. Both thought provoking and scary. Many interesting ideas to consider. Is it worth losing free will and individuality to live in a harmonious world? When missionaries bring new beliefs to other societies are they helping or hurting those communities?
June 25, 2019
1950 MASTERWORK! NO WORDS CAN DESCRIBE IT!
September 27, 2021
Another classic from Asimov
May 31, 2022
A good story that deals with the theme of individualism. The fact that the end is decided by a random factor is a bit disappointing.
August 3, 2022
Muy buena historia aunque me hubiera gustado un poco más , fué muy cortita, gente y animales y todo lo vivo que se reproduce sólo pero con manhas verdes en vez de ojos, ojalá tenga segunda parte.
July 13, 2023
Commie aliens attempt to collectivize Terra.
June 11, 2023
It's simple. I like hive mind aliens, so I like this story.
Personal reflection: I have always thought that theoretically, hive mind existence has a lot of perks. However as an adult human, I am unused to sharing my mind space with others and would not be comfortable with integrating into a hive mind society.
Personal reflection: I have always thought that theoretically, hive mind existence has a lot of perks. However as an adult human, I am unused to sharing my mind space with others and would not be comfortable with integrating into a hive mind society.
October 28, 2014
This story was intriguing and terrifying for several reasons. One, is it necessary to completely destroy a planet just because it's lifeforms are different from ours - just because it wants to integrate us into it's existing lifeforms? Two, is it so terrifying to humans to know what everyone and everything around you feels and thinks? Three, is it possible to exist in such a state and still retain your humanity?
April 4, 2021
I won't talk about the plot because I don't want to ruin the suspense for people who have not yet read this story.
I first read this story when I was about 30.
It is maybe one of Asimov's lesser known stories.
I think it is quite good although maybe not exceptional.
For anyone who likes good vintage science fiction stories, this would be a good choice.
I first read this story when I was about 30.
It is maybe one of Asimov's lesser known stories.
I think it is quite good although maybe not exceptional.
For anyone who likes good vintage science fiction stories, this would be a good choice.
November 7, 2022
Науково-фантастичний горор в прекрасному українському перекладі Дмитра Грицюка.
Displaying 1 - 15 of 15 reviews