Review: Science Fiction: "Project Mastodon" by Clifford D. Simak

Tweet

The secretary of state has never heard of Mastodonia. Mr. Hudson, its representative, has had a hard time convincing the staff he was in earnest. “And are you, Mr Hudson?” the secretary asks. “It's a new nation,” Hudson explained, “but quite legitimate. We have a constitution, a democratic form of government, duly elected officials, and a code of laws. We are a free, peace-loving people and we are possessed of a vast amount of natural resources and—” The secretary asks where it’s located and Mr. Hudson has to dither just a little bit, saying technically they’re neighbors. What he’s requesting is some of that Four Point Aid. In return, Mastodonia can offer sanctuary. The secretary promptly shows him the door. Later, General Leslie Bowers puts in a call to State and talks to the secretary. Seems there’s this fellow hanging around the Pentagon— “A crackpot,” the secretary assures him. That is, until a clerk finds a film left in his favorite booth at a bar. It must be fake, but it doesn’t looks fake. Meanwhile, back in Mastodonia, which is a nation not so much in space but in time—150,000 years earlier—its three citizens are discussing their prospects. At this point, they can’t even raise the money they need to build a stockade. They could raise money by bringing big game hunters back. Or, they could sell beaver pelts. But the beavers are the size of St. Bernards. No one would believe them. Plus, only a few states allow the sale of beaver pelts. They could sell ivory from the mastodon tusks… Oh, wait. Things look grim until they become disastrous. Author Clifford D. Simak wrote and edited Minneapolis Star and Tribune throughout his writing career. His fiction output was prolific. As with the present story, he tended to use rural Wisconsin for settings. This sad little novelette is available from Project Gutenberg: _____ Title: “Project Mastodon” Author: Clifford D. Simak (1904-1988) First published: Galaxy Science Fiction, March 1955 Source: ISFDB