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eBook Category: Science Fiction/Fantasy Hugo Award Nominee, Asimov's Reader's Choice Award Winner, HOMer Award Winner, Nebula Award(R) Finalist
eBook Description: A spaceship from Earth arrives on Neptune in the 25th century, and the human adventurers are surprised to find themselves engaged in a spirited conversation with the planet's pachyderm inhabitants. As the discussions focus on the unfortunate history of man's behavior toward the extinct elephants of Earth, the conceited humans are unaware of the Neptunian phenomenon triggered by their arrival.

eBook Publisher: Fictionwise.com, Published: Isaac Asimov's Science Fiction Magazine, 2000
Fictionwise Release Date: April 2001

1239 Reader Ratings:

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Available eBook Formats [MultiFormat - What's this?]: eReader (PDB) [27 KB] , ePub (EPUB) [25 KB] , Rocket/REB1100 (RB) [14 KB] , Adobe Acrobat (PDF) [67 KB] , Palm Doc (PDB) [14 KB] , Microsoft Reader (LIT) [36 KB] , Franklin eBookMan (FUB) [85 KB] , hiebook (KML) [66 KB] , Sony Reader (LRF) [46 KB] , iSilo (PDB) [11 KB] , Mobipocket (PRC) [15 KB] , Kindle Compatible (MOBI) [43 KB] , OEBFF Format (IMP) [24 KB]
Words: 3930
Reading time: 11-15 min.
Microsoft Reader (LIT) Format: Printing DISABLED, Read-Aloud ENABLED
Adobe Acrobat (PDF) Format:  Printing DISABLED, Read-Aloud DISABLED
All Other formats: Printing DISABLED, Read-aloud DISABLED

Though I don't often read science fiction, this story captivated me. Mike Resnick has taken a simple concept--that killing is part of human nature--and twisted it into a pretzel. The result is an amusing and though-provoking story, full of rich scenery and characters and elephants that become human. "The Elephants on Neptune" is an Asimov's Readers Choice award winner, and was nominated for both Hugo and Nebula awards. -Tammy Cravit, Fictionwise Recommender

Mike Resnick's "The Elephants on Neptune" is a bitter little fable, in which the first human expedition to Neptune encounters, as the title suggests, elephants. Neptune, it seems, is where the last elephants escaped after their kin were slaughtered by humans. Neptune is also a place where metamorphosis, controlled change, is possible, and both humans and elephants take advantage of this. The story is funny, in a savage way, and the ending is both disturbing and inevitable. -Chris Markwyn, Tangent Online (Learn more about Tangent Online, the Internet's leading SF&F short fiction review website)

When men finally landed on Neptune in 2473 A.D., the elephants were very apprehensive. Still, they approached the spaceship in a spirit of fellowship and goodwill.

The men were a little apprehensive themselves. Every survey of Neptune told them it was a gas giant, and yet they had landed on solid ground. And if their surveys were wrong, who knew what else might be wrong as well?

A tall man stepped out onto the frozen surface. Then another. Then a third. By the time they had all emerged, there were almost as many men as elephants.

"Well, I'll be damned!" said the leader of the men. "You're elephants!"

"And you're men," said the elephants nervously.

"That's right," said the men. "We claim this planet in the name of the United Federation of Earth."

"You're united now?" asked the elephants, feeling much relieved.

"Well, the survivors are," said the men.

"Those are ominous-looking weapons you're carrying," said the elephants, shifting their feet uncomfortably.

"They go with the uniforms," said the men. "Not to worry. Why would we want to harm you? There's always been a deep bond between men and elephants."

That wasn't exactly the way the elephants remembered it.