March 19 - "Not Yet the End"

“Not Yet the End”
by Fredric Brown
From These Ashes (2000)

* * (Okay) Science Fiction

Two aliens in search of a race of replacement slaves for their world locates an inhabited planet, third from the sun, which may yield promising results.

It is my understanding that most short stories, especially science fiction tales from the 40’s and 50’s, follow a rather basic format: the twist ending. This short, short story is no exception to the format; in fact, it is a rather weak example of the rule. The aliens in this story make a mistake, and humans are saved from a life of slavery. The story is mainly told at us with some clunky exposition, and the only part of the tale that appears to be written with any care is that tacked on ending – the twist. I know this story comes at the beginning of a writing career, so it will be interesting to see how Brown evolves into a stronger writer.