영어로 읽는 공상과학 소설 _ 알지스 버드리스의 평행우주
Never Meet Again은 1950년대에 발표된 Algis Budrys의 SF 단편 소설이다. 이 작품은 시간과 공간의 제약을 넘어선 인간 관계의 단절과 재회 불가능성을 다룬다. 소설은 과학 기술의 발전으로 인해 영원히 만날 수 없게 된 두 인물의 이야기를 통해, 현대 사회에서의 인간 소외와 관계의 단절을 탐구한다. 특히 시공간의 왜곡이라는 SF적 설정을 통해 영원한 이별이라는 실존적 문제를 다루며, 인간 관계의 유한성과 그로 인한 상실감을 섬세하게 묘사한다. 이 작품은 Budrys 특유의 심리적 통찰력과 함께 과학 기술 발전이 인간 관계에 미치는 영향을 깊이 있게 다룬다.
Reading Science Fiction in English _ Never meet again by Algis Budrys
Never Meet Again is a science fiction short story by Algis Budrys published in the 1950s. It deals with the disconnection of human relationships and the impossibility of reunion beyond the limitations of time and space. The novel explores human alienation and the disconnection of relationships in modern society through the story of two people who can never meet again due to the advancement of science and technology. In particular, it deals with the existential problem of eternal separation through the science fiction setting of the distortion of time and space, and delicately depicts the finiteness of human relationships and the resulting sense of loss. This work deeply deals with the impact of scientific and technological advancement on human relationships, along with Budrys' characteristic psychological insight.
Summary
He had spent fifteen patient years of painstaking work, all to construct an exit?which could be used only once!
"Never Meet Again" by Algis Budrys is a science fiction novella written during the mid-20th century, specifically around the time of the Cold War. The story focuses on themes of alternate realities and the consequences of choices made in different worlds, as it follows a scientist who has spent years working on a device that allows him to shift into a parallel universe. The narrative explores the philosophical implications of his work, particularly concerning lost opportunities and the nature of his existence. The protagonist, Professor Jochim Kempfer, is an aging scientist who grapples with the memories of his deceased wife, Marthe, while reflecting on the years spent in a drab routine dominated by his painful past. After activating his invention, he unexpectedly finds himself in a grim version of Berlin where Germany lost World War II, bringing into question the choices and sacrifices made by him and his contemporaries. As he reunites with Marthe, who has lived through her struggles in this alternate existence, Kempfer confronts the stark reality of their lives, the changes brought by the different outcomes of the war, and the burden of his scientific responsibilities. Ultimately, he must decide how to navigate this new world while reconciling the shadows of his former life, leading to a haunting exploration of grief, identity, and the notion of "what if."
