Danny Goes to Mars

"Danny Goes to Mars" is a science fiction short story by American writer Pamela Sargent. It was first published in Isaac Asimov's Science Fiction Magazine, in October 1992.

Plot summary

After new developments in rocket propulsion enable a trip to Mars to be completed in weeks instead of months, Vice-President Dan Quayle is persuaded to join the crew of the first mission — and becomes its sole survivor.

Reception

"Danny Goes to Mars" won the Nebula Award for Best Novelette of 1992,[1] and was a finalist for the 1993 Hugo Award for Best Novelette.[2]

Paul Di Filippo described it as "wicked satire".[3] The Sun-Sentinel considered it to be "affectionate", noting that although "Sargent gently mocks Quayle's intellectual and spiritual limitations", she also portrays him as having genuine courage;[4] similarly, Mark Pitcavage considered Quayle "a likeable and earnest dimbulb".[5] Geoffrey Landis, writing in 1993, described it as "amusing (but) outdated".[6]

References
  1. Danny Goes to Mars, at Science Fiction Writers of America; retrieved January 31, 2019
  2. 1993 Hugo Awards, at TheHugoAwards.org; retrieved January 31, 2019
  3. The many guises of literary fantasy -- from comic short stories to slip-stream fiction to mega-novels of alternate history., by Paul Di Filippo, in the Washington Post; published December 15, 2002; retrieved January 31, 2019
  4. FANTASY, TERROR, by Monica Strand, in the Sun-Sentinel; published June 12, 1994; retrieved January 31, 2019
  5. Master of the Universe, by Mark Pitcavage, in the Washington Post; published May 29, 1994; retrieved January 31 2019
  6. Science: Mars Missions, originally published in Science Fiction Age, May 1993, archived at GeoffreyLandis.com; retrieved January 31, 2019
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