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Surface Tension
In this acclaimed short story, a human colonization ship crash lands on a distant planet where the only landmass is completely covered in shallow puddles of water. The planet is uninhabitable to humans, so the crew must genetically engineer their descendants into something that can survive.
Originally published in August 1952 in "Galaxy Science Fiction."
Originally published in August 1952 in "Galaxy Science Fiction."
32 pages, Paperback
First published August 1, 1952
3 people are currently reading
228 people want to read
About the author
James Blish
454 books327 followersJames Benjamin Blish was an American author of fantasy and science fiction. Blish also wrote literary criticism of science fiction using the pen-name William Atheling Jr.
In the late 1930's to the early 1940's, Blish was a member of the Futurians.
Blish trained as a biologist at Rutgers and Columbia University, and spent 1942–1944 as a medical technician in the U.S. Army. After the war he became the science editor for the Pfizer pharmaceutical company. His first published story appeared in 1940, and his writing career progressed until he gave up his job to become a professional writer.
He is credited with coining the term gas giant, in the story "Solar Plexus" as it appeared in the anthology Beyond Human Ken, edited by Judith Merril. (The story was originally published in 1941, but that version did not contain the term; Blish apparently added it in a rewrite done for the anthology, which was first published in 1952.)
Blish was married to the literary agent Virginia Kidd from 1947 to 1963.
From 1962 to 1968, he worked for the Tobacco Institute.
Between 1967 and his death from lung cancer in 1975, Blish became the first author to write short story collections based upon the classic TV series Star Trek. In total, Blish wrote 11 volumes of short stories adapted from episodes of the 1960s TV series, as well as an original novel, Spock Must Die! in 1970 — the first original novel for adult readers based upon the series (since then hundreds more have been published). He died midway through writing Star Trek 12; his wife, J.A. Lawrence, completed the book, and later completed the adaptations in the volume Mudd's Angels.
Blish lived in Milford, Pennsylvania at Arrowhead until the mid-1960s. In 1968, Blish emigrated to England, and lived in Oxford until his death in 1975. He is buried in Holywell Cemetery, Oxford, near the grave of Kenneth Grahame.
His name in Greek is Τζέημς Μπλις"
In the late 1930's to the early 1940's, Blish was a member of the Futurians.
Blish trained as a biologist at Rutgers and Columbia University, and spent 1942–1944 as a medical technician in the U.S. Army. After the war he became the science editor for the Pfizer pharmaceutical company. His first published story appeared in 1940, and his writing career progressed until he gave up his job to become a professional writer.
He is credited with coining the term gas giant, in the story "Solar Plexus" as it appeared in the anthology Beyond Human Ken, edited by Judith Merril. (The story was originally published in 1941, but that version did not contain the term; Blish apparently added it in a rewrite done for the anthology, which was first published in 1952.)
Blish was married to the literary agent Virginia Kidd from 1947 to 1963.
From 1962 to 1968, he worked for the Tobacco Institute.
Between 1967 and his death from lung cancer in 1975, Blish became the first author to write short story collections based upon the classic TV series Star Trek. In total, Blish wrote 11 volumes of short stories adapted from episodes of the 1960s TV series, as well as an original novel, Spock Must Die! in 1970 — the first original novel for adult readers based upon the series (since then hundreds more have been published). He died midway through writing Star Trek 12; his wife, J.A. Lawrence, completed the book, and later completed the adaptations in the volume Mudd's Angels.
Blish lived in Milford, Pennsylvania at Arrowhead until the mid-1960s. In 1968, Blish emigrated to England, and lived in Oxford until his death in 1975. He is buried in Holywell Cemetery, Oxford, near the grave of Kenneth Grahame.
His name in Greek is Τζέημς Μπλις"
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 35 reviews
June 18, 2019
I read this story as part of a group read in a (most excellent) Science Fiction Facebook group for which I belong. The story was originally published in August 1952 of Galaxy Science Fiction. James Blish was a Hugo and Nebula winner and adapted Star Trek episodes into short stories for Bantam. He also wrote a Star Trek novel titled “Spoke Must Die!” I love that the PDF is actual images from the original magazine, including an ad for ‘The Magazine Institute’, a mail order writing school! At forty pages, it’s quite a lengthy short story. The link for the story is - https://gwijthoff.github.io/globalSF/...
In my opinion, this story starts slowly with a great deal of exposition masked as awkward dialog. However, that quickly falls away, and we rapidly move into the story’s greatest strength; it’s ambitious and wonderous plot. A colonization ship crashes on a world largely covered with freshwater pools of water. The crash has left the crew doomed to die, but they are able to genetically engineer a microscopic version of mankind that will be able to survive on the planet. The ships crew can only leave behind a series of metal plates that can teach the tiny aquatic humans their history and science. The main part of the tale follows the genetically engineered humans as they attempt to build a ship that can escape the surface tension and allow them to emerge into the atmosphere above and on to other freshwater pools beyond.
I enjoyed this story and greatly appreciated the thinking that Blish much have invested into making this story engaging and believable. The tale uses the plight of this version of man’s make-up (tiny aquatic humans!) and environment (you try to do all your science underwater!) to create intriguing plot points and tension.
In my opinion, this story starts slowly with a great deal of exposition masked as awkward dialog. However, that quickly falls away, and we rapidly move into the story’s greatest strength; it’s ambitious and wonderous plot. A colonization ship crashes on a world largely covered with freshwater pools of water. The crash has left the crew doomed to die, but they are able to genetically engineer a microscopic version of mankind that will be able to survive on the planet. The ships crew can only leave behind a series of metal plates that can teach the tiny aquatic humans their history and science. The main part of the tale follows the genetically engineered humans as they attempt to build a ship that can escape the surface tension and allow them to emerge into the atmosphere above and on to other freshwater pools beyond.
I enjoyed this story and greatly appreciated the thinking that Blish much have invested into making this story engaging and believable. The tale uses the plight of this version of man’s make-up (tiny aquatic humans!) and environment (you try to do all your science underwater!) to create intriguing plot points and tension.
May 3, 2019
"I think we'll be able to populate this world with men, but we won't live to see it."
To survive on the pond covered world humans converted themselves to a life underwater with no memories of who they used to be
Back to the beginning
"The panatropes make adaptations, not gods. They take human germ-cells—in this case, our own, since our bank was wiped out in the crash—and modify them toward creatures who can live in any reasonable environment. The result will be manlike and intelligent. It usually shows the donor's personality pattern, too.
"But we can't transmit memory. The adapted man is worse than a child in his new environment. He has no history, no techniques, no precedents, not even a language.
The Books of Ancient Knowledge
"While the panatropes are being calibrated, the rest of us can put our heads together on leaving a record for these people. We'll micro-engrave the record on a set of corrosion-proof metal leaves, of a size our colonists can handle conveniently. Some day they may puzzle it out."
Creation Day
"We know that in this universe there is logically no place for man," the gleaming now immobile cylinder upon the table droned abruptly. "Our memory is the common property to all our races. It reaches back to a time when there were no such creatures as men here. It remembers also that once upon a day there were men here, suddenly, and in some numbers. Their spores littered the bottom; we found the spores only a short time after our season's Awakening, and in them we saw the forms of men slumbering.
"Our strange ally, Man, was like nothing else in this universe. He was and is ill-fitted for it. He does not belong here; he has been—adopted. This drives us to think that there are other universes besides this one, but where these universes might lie, and what their properties might be, it is impossible to imagine. We have no imagination, as men know."
And so, men using their imagination built a "space ship" to discover new water ponds. Their adventures had just begun
Enjoy!
To survive on the pond covered world humans converted themselves to a life underwater with no memories of who they used to be
Back to the beginning
"The panatropes make adaptations, not gods. They take human germ-cells—in this case, our own, since our bank was wiped out in the crash—and modify them toward creatures who can live in any reasonable environment. The result will be manlike and intelligent. It usually shows the donor's personality pattern, too.
"But we can't transmit memory. The adapted man is worse than a child in his new environment. He has no history, no techniques, no precedents, not even a language.
The Books of Ancient Knowledge
"While the panatropes are being calibrated, the rest of us can put our heads together on leaving a record for these people. We'll micro-engrave the record on a set of corrosion-proof metal leaves, of a size our colonists can handle conveniently. Some day they may puzzle it out."
Creation Day
"We know that in this universe there is logically no place for man," the gleaming now immobile cylinder upon the table droned abruptly. "Our memory is the common property to all our races. It reaches back to a time when there were no such creatures as men here. It remembers also that once upon a day there were men here, suddenly, and in some numbers. Their spores littered the bottom; we found the spores only a short time after our season's Awakening, and in them we saw the forms of men slumbering.
"Our strange ally, Man, was like nothing else in this universe. He was and is ill-fitted for it. He does not belong here; he has been—adopted. This drives us to think that there are other universes besides this one, but where these universes might lie, and what their properties might be, it is impossible to imagine. We have no imagination, as men know."
And so, men using their imagination built a "space ship" to discover new water ponds. Their adventures had just begun
Enjoy!
June 22, 2021
-Read in The Science Fiction Hall of Fame, Volume One-
When I bought Sea Monkeys as a kid, this is what I thought I was getting! What a sham. This story starts a bit slow, and can be awkward and unwieldy at times but I absolutely love the plot and ideas. Let’s see if I can sum it up in as few words as possible. Humanity tries to repopulate the stars and one ship crash lands on a marshy mostly water planet. They decide the only way to propagate future humans is to make them aquatic and miniscule. Metal plates with humanity’s story carved on its surface are left as a gift. The new humans don’t understand what the plates are on about; stars?? Eventually they build a ‘spaceship’ to pierce their ‘sky’ and explore the ‘space’ beyond. I loved the parallels between their journey to ‘space’ and ours. It’s such an ambitious and clever story. I highly recommend it!
When I bought Sea Monkeys as a kid, this is what I thought I was getting! What a sham. This story starts a bit slow, and can be awkward and unwieldy at times but I absolutely love the plot and ideas. Let’s see if I can sum it up in as few words as possible. Humanity tries to repopulate the stars and one ship crash lands on a marshy mostly water planet. They decide the only way to propagate future humans is to make them aquatic and miniscule. Metal plates with humanity’s story carved on its surface are left as a gift. The new humans don’t understand what the plates are on about; stars?? Eventually they build a ‘spaceship’ to pierce their ‘sky’ and explore the ‘space’ beyond. I loved the parallels between their journey to ‘space’ and ours. It’s such an ambitious and clever story. I highly recommend it!
May 25, 2017
genetically changed, microscopic humans rediscover technology on a water planet.
Full review at my blog.
Full review at my blog.
March 1, 2015
This is a short story about humans designing new life on a faraway planet. Apparently, humans from Earth traveled to distant planets that had similar earth-like qualities, including an atmosphere, and on each planet they create humans who can survive. On one planet, the rocket crashes and all the humans die. However, before that happens they create microscopic human-like people who can live in the sea. My teacher does not believe in Intelligent Design and ridicules anyone who does not believe in evolution. Yet, he recommended this short story that clearly shows that intelligence was involved in creating new life on each planet. Hilarious!
November 9, 2016
Couldn't read the last 3 pages because fuck you Scribd but I LOVED this, the greatness of the 50's and 60's space exploration age set in a microbial world. If anyone has a link with the full story please hook it up.
March 25, 2018
This review was excerpted from my review of the August, 1952 issue of Galaxy Science Fiction, in which the story originally appeared.
James Blish was never one of my favorite science fiction authors; nevertheless, I think that his story "Surface Tension" is excellent. Wikipedia says:
"Surface Tension" was among the stories selected in 1970 by the Science Fiction Writers of America as one of the best science fiction short stories published before the creation of the Nebula Awards. As such, it was published in The Science Fiction Hall of Fame Volume One, 1929–1964.
In "Surface Tension" (great title!), Earth is attempting to spread some form of Mankind throughout the Galaxy. They plan to do this by genetic engineering. On one planet, they are forced to design "people" to live underwater- and to be microscopic. This was part of a series of stories by Blish that were collected under the title The Seedling Stars.
James Blish was never one of my favorite science fiction authors; nevertheless, I think that his story "Surface Tension" is excellent. Wikipedia says:
"Surface Tension" was among the stories selected in 1970 by the Science Fiction Writers of America as one of the best science fiction short stories published before the creation of the Nebula Awards. As such, it was published in The Science Fiction Hall of Fame Volume One, 1929–1964.
In "Surface Tension" (great title!), Earth is attempting to spread some form of Mankind throughout the Galaxy. They plan to do this by genetic engineering. On one planet, they are forced to design "people" to live underwater- and to be microscopic. This was part of a series of stories by Blish that were collected under the title The Seedling Stars.
November 14, 2021
A classic science fiction story by one of the lesser known great authors of the Golden Age. Originally published in Galaxy Magazine in August 1952, I read it first in Where Do We Go From Here?, edited by Isaac Asimov. I believe it is the first story to explore the idea of genetically altering humans so they can survive in hostile alien environments. Brilliant story.
-Gregory Kerkman
-Gregory Kerkman
January 20, 2022
1.5 stars. I like the premise of genetically engineered humans surviving in a new environment. But there was too much suspension of disbelief required – the genetic engineering was too extreme. There was also quite a bit of action that was boring and didn’t serve the plot well. The overall plot was interesting but could have been so much better written.
June 28, 2018
Although the idea had a huge potential, for me it seems that this short story could have been much better. Some of the dialogue felt really rushed and forced, while the characters were really unremarkable and action fairly plain.
1.8/5
1.8/5
December 10, 2017
My favorite short story.
March 2, 2020
An alternate title: Sea Monkeys in Space!
May 11, 2021
Very cool story. I thought it was going to be a cut and dry human colonization yarn. But it really turned out to be more like the evolution of a species to intelligent life and “space exploration.”
October 22, 2024
Another innovative hall of fame 1950s short story. I’m at a loss to describe how an author thinks up, imagines, such a story. But even though written in the 1950s, it is still fresh today.
July 16, 2024
Όμορφο διαμαντάκι του James Bliss, το Surface Tension (έχει μεταφραστεί και στα ελληνικά από τις εκδόσεις Ωρόρα, στον τόμο Ιστορίες σε Παράξενες Θάλασσες, με τίτλο «Επιφανειακή Τάση»), αποτελεί κλασικό παράδειγμα του πώς η Ε.Φ. σαν είδος επεκτείνει ορίζοντες. Γενικώς. Δε χρειάζεται υψηλή τεχνολογία, δε χρειάζονται διαστημόπλοια (αν και στο συγκεκριμένο διήγημα… έχει ένα, για λίγο), όπλα λέιζερ κ.λπ. Στην πραγματικότητα, αυτά συνήθως την… φτωχαίνουν λίγο.
Μια αποστολή σε εξωπλανήτη που μεταφέρει αρκετό γενετικό υλικό για αποικισμό πάει στραβά. Ο πλανήτης είναι μια απέραντη θάλασσα με ένα μικρό νησί με νερόλακκους. Οι άνθρωποι που επιβιώνουν ξέρουν ότι δεν μπορούν να φύγουν και ξέρουν ότι δεν μπορούν να εποικήσουν τον πλανήτη αναπαραγόμενοι. Ωστόσο, ο πλανήτης αυτός έχει τη δική του ζωή…
Έτσι παίρνουν μια πολύ σημαντική απόφαση για το «είδος» των ανθρώπων που θα αφήσουν πίσω τους.
Χρόνια μετά, μικροσκοπικές υδρόβιες μορφές ζωής έχουν δημιουργήσει μια ακμάζουσα κοινωνία μέσα σε ένα νερόλακκό… Μόνο που δεν γνωρίζουν ότι είναι νερόλακκος, δεν γνωρίζουν ότι βρίσκεται πάνω σε ένα νησί σε μια απέραντη θάλασσα και κυρίως δεν γνωρίζουν πώς κατασκευάστηκαν οι εγχάρακτες μεταλλικές πλάκες που έχουν, οι οποίες με βάση τις γνώσεις που έχουν για το σύμπαν… είναι αδύνατον να κατασκευαστούν. Και πάνω απ’ όλα, ο «ουρανός», ο αδιαπέραστος για όντα του δικού τους μεγέθους ουρανός που δημιουργεί η επιφανειακή τάση του νερού…
Θα μείνουν ικανοποιημένα στο νερόλακκό τους; Ή θα ξεκινήσουν τον ταξίδι τους προς τα δικά τους «άστρα»; Και πώς θα ξεπεράσουν οι αιρετικοί ονειροπόλοι τις αντιξοότητες μιας τέτοιας πρόκλησης;
Απολαυστικό και αγαπημένο, μιλάει για την ανάγκη του ανθρώπου να επεκτείνει τα σύνορά του, τις γνώσεις του, τους ορίζοντές του, να πειραματίζεται και να μαθαίνει.
Μια αποστολή σε εξωπλανήτη που μεταφέρει αρκετό γενετικό υλικό για αποικισμό πάει στραβά. Ο πλανήτης είναι μια απέραντη θάλασσα με ένα μικρό νησί με νερόλακκους. Οι άνθρωποι που επιβιώνουν ξέρουν ότι δεν μπορούν να φύγουν και ξέρουν ότι δεν μπορούν να εποικήσουν τον πλανήτη αναπαραγόμενοι. Ωστόσο, ο πλανήτης αυτός έχει τη δική του ζωή…
Έτσι παίρνουν μια πολύ σημαντική απόφαση για το «είδος» των ανθρώπων που θα αφήσουν πίσω τους.
Χρόνια μετά, μικροσκοπικές υδρόβιες μορφές ζωής έχουν δημιουργήσει μια ακμάζουσα κοινωνία μέσα σε ένα νερόλακκό… Μόνο που δεν γνωρίζουν ότι είναι νερόλακκος, δεν γνωρίζουν ότι βρίσκεται πάνω σε ένα νησί σε μια απέραντη θάλασσα και κυρίως δεν γνωρίζουν πώς κατασκευάστηκαν οι εγχάρακτες μεταλλικές πλάκες που έχουν, οι οποίες με βάση τις γνώσεις που έχουν για το σύμπαν… είναι αδύνατον να κατασκευαστούν. Και πάνω απ’ όλα, ο «ουρανός», ο αδιαπέραστος για όντα του δικού τους μεγέθους ουρανός που δημιουργεί η επιφανειακή τάση του νερού…
Θα μείνουν ικανοποιημένα στο νερόλακκό τους; Ή θα ξεκινήσουν τον ταξίδι τους προς τα δικά τους «άστρα»; Και πώς θα ξεπεράσουν οι αιρετικοί ονειροπόλοι τις αντιξοότητες μιας τέτοιας πρόκλησης;
Απολαυστικό και αγαπημένο, μιλάει για την ανάγκη του ανθρώπου να επεκτείνει τα σύνορά του, τις γνώσεις του, τους ορίζοντές του, να πειραματίζεται και να μαθαίνει.
December 30, 2025
Surface Tension
Surface Tension is a science fiction short story written by James Blish; the version I read was published in the August, 1952 issue of Galaxy Science Fiction. I downloaded the digitized version of this magazine to get part three of a story I read called Gravy Planet, which is included in my collection of reviews here on Goodreads.
Blish's story is considered "hard science fiction," in that he takes a classic concept of science fiction, space exploration, and expands on it for the purpose of this story.
Without spoiling the story, I will say that Mr. Blish had quite a unique angle in Surface Tension; while most sci-fi stories focus on "terraforming," changing the planet to fit the human explorer, the author coined a word, "pantropy" to change the humans to "fit the planet." His title made sense to me after I read the story. Blish was a trained biologist, so the "science in his fiction" was correct.
He concludes his story with his main character, Lavon saying in so many words that when humans cooperate with one another, they can do all things ... in this case, they conquered their universe.
Surface Tension is another excellent science fiction short story with just enough science in the fiction to ensure its five star rating. *****
Surface Tension is a science fiction short story written by James Blish; the version I read was published in the August, 1952 issue of Galaxy Science Fiction. I downloaded the digitized version of this magazine to get part three of a story I read called Gravy Planet, which is included in my collection of reviews here on Goodreads.
Blish's story is considered "hard science fiction," in that he takes a classic concept of science fiction, space exploration, and expands on it for the purpose of this story.
Without spoiling the story, I will say that Mr. Blish had quite a unique angle in Surface Tension; while most sci-fi stories focus on "terraforming," changing the planet to fit the human explorer, the author coined a word, "pantropy" to change the humans to "fit the planet." His title made sense to me after I read the story. Blish was a trained biologist, so the "science in his fiction" was correct.
He concludes his story with his main character, Lavon saying in so many words that when humans cooperate with one another, they can do all things ... in this case, they conquered their universe.
Surface Tension is another excellent science fiction short story with just enough science in the fiction to ensure its five star rating. *****
October 8, 2020
Surface Tension – James Blish
“.. a perpetually youthful technician willing to try anything once, including dying.”
“… nothing to do but look at the dead landscape of Hydrot.”
Pantropy! Quasi-horror, deliberate genetic evolution. Descriptive opening, the long process of narration.
This novella ends with a parallel of modern space travel. Nothing remotely close to actuality but wonderfully philosophical. ***
“.. a perpetually youthful technician willing to try anything once, including dying.”
“… nothing to do but look at the dead landscape of Hydrot.”
Pantropy! Quasi-horror, deliberate genetic evolution. Descriptive opening, the long process of narration.
This novella ends with a parallel of modern space travel. Nothing remotely close to actuality but wonderfully philosophical. ***
April 18, 2021
What a fantastic story! A human colonization ship crash-lands on a distant planet but whose only landmass is completely covered in shallow puddles of water. Knowing they cannot survive the crew genetically engineer their descendants into something that can. What a fantastic story! The premise is mind-blowing, so cleaver so genius in its construction. One of the very best short science fiction stories I have read in some time!
December 31, 2019
A wonderful short story from the 1950s from where humanity creates modified versions of itself in order to live on different planets. This story begins when an accident crashes the scientists on a planet that is (almost) entirely water covered, and the type of humanity that needed to be made to survive there. I am glad that I read it =)
July 23, 2023
Surface Tension by James Blish
Read July 2023 in
The Science Fiction Hall of Fame, Volume One 1929-1964
A fine story. To me the main point was how much their thinking was coloured by the environment. A good reminder.
I did not like: Throwing away the metal plates was unrealistic and unnecessary. The story could have been shorter.
Read July 2023 in
The Science Fiction Hall of Fame, Volume One 1929-1964
A fine story. To me the main point was how much their thinking was coloured by the environment. A good reminder.
I did not like: Throwing away the metal plates was unrealistic and unnecessary. The story could have been shorter.
May 14, 2022
Folks, if you like this remarkable tale, check out "Children of Time" by Adrian Tchaikovsky. It describes a similar dynamic, with a species starting from the bottom and rising to "space." The species isn't human, though humans do make an appearance as well.
December 3, 2022
u go tiny underwater guys
seriously though, interesting commentary on the galactic empire. im not so sure i like all the messages, and it's definitely somewhat sexist. but interesting as a piece of meta sf.
also love the prose and atmosphere.. i rlly felt underwater
seriously though, interesting commentary on the galactic empire. im not so sure i like all the messages, and it's definitely somewhat sexist. but interesting as a piece of meta sf.
also love the prose and atmosphere.. i rlly felt underwater
January 25, 2024
This story acts as a bit of an allegory to people going to space with the new humans leaving the water. However this book was written before Sputnik which means it was an allegory of that before it even happened. The world building is great.
September 9, 2019
Tiny humans are building a space ship. The Science Fiction Hall of Fame: Volume One, 1929-1964 #19
August 4, 2021
On a distant planet, a stranded human colony is on the verge of annihilation. In order to preserve the race, a scientist creates a microscopic version of mankind capable of living underwater.
February 11, 2022
Хорошая классическая научная фантастика.
Read
November 3, 2022A Gnostic sci-fi story
January 23, 2024
microscopic men who live in water leave to travel to other worlds which is that of other water lands. their space is the surface. and they know nothing of their humanly earth creators.
February 3, 2024
The future results of humans seeding life onto an alien world
Displaying 1 - 30 of 35 reviews