Assassin and Blind Spot

by Bascom Jones

Overview

Two classic short stories from The Golden Age of Science Fiction by Bascom Jones. Featured here: "Assassin" and "Blind Spot". Excerpt from "Assassin": "I deliberately dug my heels into the concrete floor of the corridor of the Pentagon. The steel plates on the heels of my black uniform boots heralded my approach with sharp anvil sounds as I marched confidently toward the unmarked door five hundred feet ahead. What was that expression used by Earth people of the 20th century? I shifted back through my training, shuffled through the facts about Earth's past history with which I had been indoctrinated, searching for the word. Assassin! That was it. But the term fell short. It lacked in magnitude. There was a difference in the murder of one person and the assassination of the occupants of an entire planet! One foot in front of the other, I paced off the distance toward the end of the hallway, carefully duplicating the strut which was a trademark of the Earth Council's Security Police. I'd practiced the peculiar, jolting method of walking a thousand times, but I began to feel the effects of Earth's heavier gravity before I had covered half the distance. It had been impossible to simulate the difference in gravity in my training. The two guards standing outside the door alertly watched my approach. When I was still four paces away, one of them ordered me to stop. They ignored as though they were not there the gold stars prominently displayed on the shoulders of my tunic. The guard on the left said, "Your ID card, sir.""

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9783965379008
Publisher:	Otbebookpublishing
Publication date:	03/06/2020
Series:	Classics To Go
Sold by:	Bookwire
Format:	eBook
Pages:	19
File size:	493 KB

About the Author

Bascom Jones, a luminary in the realm of speculative fiction, was born in 1925 in a small Midwestern town. His early life was marked by a voracious appetite for literature, which propelled him into the world of writing. Jones's work is often celebrated for its intricate blending of science fiction and psychological thriller elements, a combination that was revolutionary during his time.Jones's literary career took off in the 1950s, a period rife with Cold War anxieties and rapid technological advancements. His narratives often grappled with themes of surveillance, identity, and the ethical implications of scientific progress, resonating deeply with a generation on the brink of the digital age. His ability to foresee the societal impacts of emerging technologies earned him a reputation as a prophetic voice in literature.Controversy was never far from Jones. His outspoken critiques of governmental overreach and his exploration of taboo subjects like mind control and genetic manipulation drew both acclaim and censure. Despite—or perhaps because of—these controversies, Jones's work influenced a cadre of contemporary writers, including Philip K. Dick and Ursula K. Le Guin, who admired his fearless exploration of dystopian futures.Jones was also a champion of civil liberties, often using his platform to advocate for free speech and privacy rights. His commitment to these causes was evident not only in his writing but also in his public life, where he frequently clashed with authorities over issues of censorship.Bascom Jones passed away in 1987, but his legacy endures. His pioneering ideas and bold narratives continue to inspire and challenge readers, securing his place as a pivotal figure in the annals of speculative fiction.