Maxima Library

An anthology of stories edited by Isaac Asimov, Martin H Greenberg and Charles G Waugh

“Normality” is a myth; we’re all a little neurotic, and the study of neurosis has been able to classify the general types of disturbance which are most common. And some types (providing the subject is not suffering so extreme a case as to have crossed the border into psychosis) can be not only useful, but perhaps necessary for certain kinds of work….

We humans are a strange breed, unique in the Universe. Of all the races met among the stars, only “homo sapiens” thrives on deliberate self-delusion. Perhaps this is the secret of our greatness, for we are great. In power, if not in supernal wisdom.

Legends, I think, are our strength. If one day a man stands on the rim of the Galaxy and looks out across the gulfs toward the settee suns of Andromeda, it will be legends that drove him there.

They are odd things, these legends, peopled with unreal creatures, magnificent heroes and despicable villains. We stand for no nonsense where our mythology is concerned. A man becoming part of our folklore becomes a fey, one-dimensional, shadow-image of reality.

Jaq Merril — the Jaq Merril of the history books — is such an image. History, folklore’s jade, has daubed Merril with the rouge of myth, and it does not become him.

The man is rare who will give his life for what is merely the lesser of two evils. Merrick’s decision was even tougher: to save human beings at the expense of humanity, or vice versa?

Every era in history has had its Pop Ganlon’s. Along in years and not successful and not caring much anyway. A matter of living out their years, following an obscure path to oblivion.

It was that way in ancient Egypt, just as it will be when the Solar System shrinks to our size. And once in a while such men are given an opportunity to contribute to the society that has forgotten them….