The Little Black Bag
Encyclopedia
"The Little Black Bag" is a short story by science fiction
author Cyril M. Kornbluth
, first published in the July, 1950 edition of Astounding Science Fiction. It is a prequel of sorts to the story "The Marching Morons
". It won the 2001 Retroactive Hugo Award for Best Novelette
(of 1951) and was also recognized as the 13th best all-time short science fiction story in a 1971 Analog Science Fact & Fiction poll, tied with "Microcosmic God
" by Theodore Sturgeon
.
It was the basis of episodes (using the same title) in three television series: Tales of Tomorrow
in 1952, Out of the Unknown
in 1969 and Night Gallery
in 1970.
". The geniuses masquerade as assistants to the morons, the better to covertly manage them and keep them out of trouble.
A "physicist" goads his minder into giving him specifications for a time machine. The faux physicist builds it, and uses it to send a "doctor" friend's highly-automated medical kit into the past (our present), where it is found by Dr. Full, a physician who has succumbed to alcoholism and fallen to the bottom level of society. At first attributing its advanced properties and unfamiliar components to medical advances made since he last practiced, he uses it to heal a seriously injured young child. However, the patient's cynical eighteen-year-old sister, Angie, discovers the patent application date on one of the instruments (2450) and is quick to grasp the financial opportunities. She blackmails Full into taking her on as a partner.
The responsibility helps Full recover from his alcoholism, and he is soon running a respectable clinic curing mankind's ills, although Angie wants to specialize in plastic surgery. When Angie learns that Full intends to turn the bag over to the medical establishment for the good of humanity, she grabs it and tries to leave. In the ensuing scuffle, the instruments spill out. Without thinking, Angie stabs Full with one of the scalpels, killing him. Initially shocked, she quickly recovers and disposes of the body using a small incinerating device used for tumors. Luckily, Full had taught her how to use the kit, so she sees no obstacle to continuing to treat rich patients.
Back in the future, the technician responsible for monitoring the bag notes that it has been used for murder and deactivates it. Previously, the patients had been blindfolded during their operations, but Angie's first client sees the sharp instruments and balks at another treatment. To reassure her, Angie demonstrates the safety of the scalpel by running it across her own throat, with fatal results.
Science fiction
Science fiction is a genre of fiction dealing with imaginary but more or less plausible content such as future settings, futuristic science and technology, space travel, aliens, and paranormal abilities...
author Cyril M. Kornbluth
Cyril M. Kornbluth
Cyril M. Kornbluth was an American science fiction author and a notable member of the Futurians. He used a variety of pen-names, including Cecil Corwin, S. D. Gottesman, Edward J. Bellin, Kenneth Falconer, Walter C. Davies, Simon Eisner and Jordan Park...
, first published in the July, 1950 edition of Astounding Science Fiction. It is a prequel of sorts to the story "The Marching Morons
The Marching Morons
"The Marching Morons" is a science fiction story written by Cyril M. Kornbluth, originally published in Galaxy in April 1951. It was included in The Science Fiction Hall of Fame, Volume Two after being voted one of the best novellas up to 1965....
". It won the 2001 Retroactive Hugo Award for Best Novelette
Hugo Award for Best Novelette
The Hugo Awards are given every year by the World Science Fiction Society for the best science fiction or fantasy works and achievements of the previous year. The award is named after Hugo Gernsback, the founder of the pioneering science fiction magazine Amazing Stories, and was once officially...
(of 1951) and was also recognized as the 13th best all-time short science fiction story in a 1971 Analog Science Fact & Fiction poll, tied with "Microcosmic God
Microcosmic God
"Microcosmic God" is a science fiction novelette by Theodore Sturgeon. Originally published in April 1941 in the magazine Astounding Science Fiction, it was recognized as one of the best science fiction stories of all time by the Science Fiction Writers of America in 1970, and was named as one of...
" by Theodore Sturgeon
Theodore Sturgeon
Theodore Sturgeon was an American science fiction author.His most famous novel is More Than Human .-Biography:...
.
It was the basis of episodes (using the same title) in three television series: Tales of Tomorrow
Tales of Tomorrow
Tales of Tomorrow is an American anthology science fiction series that was performed and broadcast live on ABC from 1951 to 1953. The series covered such stories as Frankenstein, starring Lon Chaney, Jr., 20,000 Leagues Under the Sea starring Thomas Mitchell as Captain Nemo, and many others...
in 1952, Out of the Unknown
Out of the Unknown
Out of the Unknown is a British television science fiction anthology drama series, produced by the BBC and broadcast on BBC2 in four series between 1965 and 1971. Each episode was an independent dramatisation of a separate science fiction short story...
in 1969 and Night Gallery
Night Gallery
Night Gallery is an American anthology series that aired on NBC from 1970 to 1973, featuring stories of horror and the macabre. Rod Serling, who had gained fame from an earlier series, The Twilight Zone, served both as the on-air host of Night Gallery and as a major contributor of scripts, although...
in 1970.
Plot summary
In the future, humanity has split into a small minority of supergeniuses and those of normal intelligence, and a much larger group of dimwits, as described in "The Marching MoronsThe Marching Morons
"The Marching Morons" is a science fiction story written by Cyril M. Kornbluth, originally published in Galaxy in April 1951. It was included in The Science Fiction Hall of Fame, Volume Two after being voted one of the best novellas up to 1965....
". The geniuses masquerade as assistants to the morons, the better to covertly manage them and keep them out of trouble.
A "physicist" goads his minder into giving him specifications for a time machine. The faux physicist builds it, and uses it to send a "doctor" friend's highly-automated medical kit into the past (our present), where it is found by Dr. Full, a physician who has succumbed to alcoholism and fallen to the bottom level of society. At first attributing its advanced properties and unfamiliar components to medical advances made since he last practiced, he uses it to heal a seriously injured young child. However, the patient's cynical eighteen-year-old sister, Angie, discovers the patent application date on one of the instruments (2450) and is quick to grasp the financial opportunities. She blackmails Full into taking her on as a partner.
The responsibility helps Full recover from his alcoholism, and he is soon running a respectable clinic curing mankind's ills, although Angie wants to specialize in plastic surgery. When Angie learns that Full intends to turn the bag over to the medical establishment for the good of humanity, she grabs it and tries to leave. In the ensuing scuffle, the instruments spill out. Without thinking, Angie stabs Full with one of the scalpels, killing him. Initially shocked, she quickly recovers and disposes of the body using a small incinerating device used for tumors. Luckily, Full had taught her how to use the kit, so she sees no obstacle to continuing to treat rich patients.
Back in the future, the technician responsible for monitoring the bag notes that it has been used for murder and deactivates it. Previously, the patients had been blindfolded during their operations, but Angie's first client sees the sharp instruments and balks at another treatment. To reassure her, Angie demonstrates the safety of the scalpel by running it across her own throat, with fatal results.