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The Cage single work   short story   science fiction  
Issue Details: First known date: 1957... 1957 The Cage
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AbstractHistoryArchive Description

After landing safely on an unexplored planet the 53 surviving crew members of the Lode Star find themselves trapped when their space ship's atomic reactors explode. It is then that they are forced to confront not only their immediate survival but the long-term future of their new civilisation. Fundamental objectives like food, clothing and shelter become scarce, while relationships between men and women are made on grounds other than love. Complicating matters is the fact that the men outnumber the women. And then they encounter the planet's original inhabitants... a species which wants to 'scientifically' examine these newcomers.

Notes

  • Additional international reprints may include:
    • Croation - as 'Kreltka' (Zagreb, 1982)
    • Danish - as 'Buret' (Copenhagen, 1968)
    • Dutch - as 'De Kooi' (Netherlands, 1978)
    • German - as 'Der Kafig' (Munich, 1964)
    • Hungary - as 'A Ketrec' (Budapest, 1972)
    • Romanian - as 'Capcana' or 'Cuska' (Bucharest, 1983)
    • Russian - as 'Kletka' (Russia, 1986)


Publication Details of Only Known VersionEarliest 2 Known Versions of

  • Appears in:
    y separately published work icon The Magazine of Fantasy and Science Fiction vol. 12 no. 6 June 1957 Z990688 1957 periodical issue fantasy science fiction 1957 pg. 118-127
  • Appears in:
    y separately published work icon Authentic Science Fiction no. 82 July 1957 Z1747684 1957 periodical issue science fiction 1957 pg. 94-103
  • Appears in:
    y separately published work icon The Best of Fantasy and Science Fiction : Seventh Series Anthony Boucher (editor), New York (City) : Doubleday , 1958 Z1829131 1958 anthology short story science fiction Includes six stories by Arthur C. Clarke, along with contributions from well-known science fiction authors such as Isaac Asimov, A. Bertram Chandler, Poul Anderson, Frederic Brown and C. M. Kornbluth.
    New York (City) : Doubleday , 1958
    pg. 46-60
  • Appears in:
    y separately published work icon 12 Great Classics of Science Fiction Groff Cronklin (editor), New York (City) : Gold Medal Books , 1963 Z1829109 1963 anthology short story science fiction This anthology of classic science fiction stories comprises: 'Due Process' (Algis Budrys), 'Earthmen Bearing Gifts' (Fredric Brown), 'Things' (Zenna Henderson), 'The Top' (George Sumner Albee), 'My Object All Sublime' (Poul Anderson), 'Human Man's Burden' (Robert Sheckley), 'On The Fourth Planet' (J. F. Bone), 'The Ballad of Lost C'mell' (Cordwainer Smith), 'Thirty Days Had September' (Robert F. Young), 'The Cage' (Bertram Chandler), 'Star-Crossed Lover' (William W. Stuart) and 'Immortality...For Some' (J. T. McIntosh). New York (City) : Gold Medal Books , 1963
  • Appears in:
    y separately published work icon Yet More Penguin Science Fiction Brian Wilson Aldiss (editor), London : Penguin Books , 1964 Z1827161 1964 anthology short story science fiction The third of Aldiss' 1960s Penguin science fiction anthology series, this edition has 12 short stories by Cogswell, Fyfe, Clarke, Porges, Miller Jr., Knight, Kornbluth, Chandler, Tenn, Brunner, Blish and Van Vogt. London : Penguin Books , 1964
  • Appears in:
    y separately published work icon Penguin Science Fiction Omnibus Brian Wilson Aldiss (editor), London : Penguin Books , 1974 Z1827199 1974 anthology short story science fiction London : Penguin Books , 1974 pg. 523-535
  • Appears in:
    y separately published work icon Anthropology Through Science Fiction Carol Mason (editor), Martin H. Greenberg (editor), Patricia Warrick (editor), New York (City) : St. Martin's Press , 1974 Z1828953 1974 anthology short story science fiction A collection of stories dealing with core anthropological issues, such as the definition of 'human', the role of adaptation in human evolution, the development of social groups and establishment of complex societies, and appreciation of other cultural systems and the relation of humans to the universe. While each story has been chosen on the basis of its anthropologically related content, not all of them are clear examples of thought experiments.

    [Source: Ilan and Dragan Jakimovska. "Text as Laboratory: Science Fiction Literature as Anthroplogical Thought Experiment." Antropologija 10.2 (2010)]

    New York (City) : St. Martin's Press , 1974
  • Appears in:
    y separately published work icon Criminal Justice Through Science Fiction Martin H. Greenberg (editor), Joseph Olander (editor), New York (City) : New Viewpoints , 1977 Z1855660 1977 anthology short story science fiction New York (City) : New Viewpoints , 1977
  • Appears in:
    y separately published work icon Science Fiction of the 1950s Martin H. Greenberg (editor), Joseph Olander (editor), New York (City) : Avon Books , 1979 Z1827167 1979 anthology short story science fiction An anthology of 23 science fiction short stories from the 1950s. New York (City) : Avon Books , 1979 pg. 380-393
  • Appears in:
    y separately published work icon Science Fiction A to Z : A Dictionary of the Great S.F. Themes Charles G. Waugh (editor), Martin H. Greenberg (editor), Isaac Asimov (editor), New York (City) : Houghton Mifflin , 1982 Z1855731 1982 anthology short story science fiction A collection of 50 classic science fiction stories, introduced by Isaac Asimov. Among the authors are: A. Bertram Chandler, Ray Bradbury, Arthur C. Clarke, Brian W. Aldiss, H. G. Wells, Poul Anderson, Harlan Ellison and Isaac Asimov.
    New York (City) : Houghton Mifflin , 1982
  • Appears in:
    y separately published work icon The Penguin World Omnibus of Science Fiction Brian Wilson Aldiss (editor), Sam J. Lundwall (editor), London : Penguin Books , 1986 Z1855760 1986 anthology short story science fiction Compiled and edited by Brian Aldiss (author of the bestselling Helliconia series,) in collaboration with Sam J. Lundwell, this volume brings together science fiction stories from all four corners of the world, from China to Chile, Africa to North America, offering new perspectives and possibilities for the future of science fiction. London : Penguin Books , 1986 pg. 305-316
  • Appears in:
    y separately published work icon The Great Science Fiction Stories #19 (1957) 1989 Z1855773 1989 anthology short story science fiction This issue in the Great Science Fiction Stories series includes stories by A. Bertram Chandler, Isaac Asimov, Poul Anderson, C. M. Kornbluth, Harlan Ellison, Robert Silverberg and Kate Wilhelm.
    1989
    pg. 199-214
  • Appears in:
    y separately published work icon From Sea to Shining Star A. Bertram Chandler , Fyshwick : Dreamstone , 1990 Z309117 1990 selected work short story science fiction

    This collection of thirty Chandler stories spans his entire career. Many of the stories, which were only available in hard-to-find magazines, are accompanied by illustrations.

    In a review of the collection published in Eidolon 4 (March 1991), Leigh Edmonds writes, 'The stories fall into two sections, as the title suggests. The first third or so of the collection, "From Sea . . .", contains stories set mainly on this planet, while the second two thirds. . . To Shining Star", are space-faring stories. A great many of the stories are really, however, seafaring ones with all the lore of the sea and Chandler's experience in the merchant marine finding expression. Some stories deal directly with the experience of travelling at sea or in space, others tell stories about the people who travel, either on their journeys or once they arrive'.

    Source: Eidolon ('From Sea to Shining Star').

    Fyshwick : Dreamstone , 1990
    pg. 266-274
  • Appears in:
    y separately published work icon Space Stories Mike Ashley (editor), London : Robinson Children's Books , 1996 Z1855748 1996 anthology short story science fiction A collection of 25 science fiction stories set in space, with additional essays by Mike Ashley and Douglas Hill. Among the authors represented are A. Bertram Chandler, Donald A. Wollhein, Arthur C. Clarke, Stephen Baxter, Ian Watson and Piers Anthony.
    London : Robinson Children's Books , 1996
  • Appears in:
    y separately published work icon The Random House Book of Science Fiction Stories Mike Ashley (editor), New York (City) : Random House , 1997 Z1855849 1997 anthology short story science fiction A collection of classic science fiction stories assembled especially for middle-grade and young adult readers. The authors represented include A. Bertram Chandler, Donald A. Wollheim (as Martin Pearson), Arthur C. Clarke, Piers Anthony and Stephen Baxter.
    New York (City) : Random House , 1997
    pg. 117-132
  • Appears in:
    y separately published work icon The Best Australian Science Fiction Writing : A Fifty Year Collection Rob Gerrand (editor), Melbourne : Black Inc. , 2004 Z1160235 2004 anthology short story novella Melbourne : Black Inc. , 2004 pg. 12-22
  • Appears in:
    y separately published work icon A Science Fiction Omnibus Brian Wilson Aldiss (editor), London : Penguin , 2007 Z1855098 2007 anthology short story Brian Aldiss brings together a diverse selection of 30 science fiction stories spanning over sixty years - from Isaac Asimov's 'Nightfall' (1941) Eliza Blairs 'Friends in Need' (2006). The stories portray struggles against machines, epic journeys, genetic experiments, time travellers and alien races, with a constant theme being humanity itself, compelled by an often fatal curiosity to explore the boundless frontiers of time, space and probability. Among the best known authors are: Clifford Simak, Harry Harrison, Bruce Sterling, A. E. Van Vogt, A. Bertram Chandler and Brian Aldiss himself.
    London : Penguin , 2007
    pg. 423-434
Alternative title: La Jaula
Language: Spanish
  • Appears in:
    y separately published work icon Ciencia y Fantasía no. 12 1957 Z1856042 1957 periodical issue fantasy science fiction 1957

Works about this Work

[Untitled] A. Bertram Chandler , 1974 single work correspondence
— Appears in: SFWA Forum , April no. 33 1974; A. Bertram Chandler 2004-; (p. Letters)

Chandler responds to an article published in SFWA Forum No 32 concerning submissions to publishers in a buyer's market and reflects on some incidents that occurred in earlier times. He also complains about the overuse of some stories in anthologies, while admitting that he nevertheless appreciates the ongoing royalties.

Heard But Not Seen A. Bertram Chandler , 1967 single work essay
— Appears in: Australian Science Fiction Review , March no. 8 1967; A. Bertram Chandler 2004-;

Chandler recalls his one and only appearance on television and provides some insight into his opion of the media and the difference between science fact and science fiction.

Heard But Not Seen A. Bertram Chandler , 1967 single work essay
— Appears in: Australian Science Fiction Review , March no. 8 1967; A. Bertram Chandler 2004-;

Chandler recalls his one and only appearance on television and provides some insight into his opion of the media and the difference between science fact and science fiction.

[Untitled] A. Bertram Chandler , 1974 single work correspondence
— Appears in: SFWA Forum , April no. 33 1974; A. Bertram Chandler 2004-; (p. Letters)

Chandler responds to an article published in SFWA Forum No 32 concerning submissions to publishers in a buyer's market and reflects on some incidents that occurred in earlier times. He also complains about the overuse of some stories in anthologies, while admitting that he nevertheless appreciates the ongoing royalties.

Last amended 28 Mar 2018 07:38:29
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