Buy Jupiter
Encyclopedia
"Buy Jupiter!" is a humorous science fiction
short story
by American writer Isaac Asimov
. It was first published in the May 1958 issue of Venture Science Fiction Magazine
, and reprinted in the 1975 collection Buy Jupiter and Other Stories
. The original title of the story was "It Pays'", though it was never published under this name.
's atmosphere to an energy-based alien race. The beings refuse to reveal their plans for its use and whether or not they are at war with other similar beings. Eventually, the aliens reveal that the markings they wish to suspend in Jupiter's atmosphere are an advertising slogan, to be seen by passing spacecraft. The main Earth negotiator reveals to his colleagues that he has outsmarted the aliens, clearly not experienced dealers, as they failed to seek options on the atmospheres of the other planets. So when rival beings come to do business, the other planets can be sold for a much higher price.
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...
short story
Short story
A short story is a work of fiction that is usually written in prose, often in narrative format. This format tends to be more pointed than longer works of fiction, such as novellas and novels. Short story definitions based on length differ somewhat, even among professional writers, in part because...
by American writer Isaac Asimov
Isaac Asimov
Isaac Asimov was an American author and professor of biochemistry at Boston University, best known for his works of science fiction and for his popular science books. Asimov was one of the most prolific writers of all time, having written or edited more than 500 books and an estimated 90,000...
. It was first published in the May 1958 issue of Venture Science Fiction Magazine
Venture Science Fiction Magazine
Venture Science Fiction was an American digest-size science fiction magazine, first published from 1957 to 1958, and revived for a brief run in 1969 and 1970. Ten issues were published of the 1950s version, with another six in the second run. It was founded in both instances as a companion to The...
, and reprinted in the 1975 collection Buy Jupiter and Other Stories
Buy Jupiter and Other Stories
Buy Jupiter and Other Stories is a 1975 collection of short stories by American writer Isaac Asimov.It includes the following stories:*"Darwinian Pool Room"* "Day of the Hunters" * "Shah Guido G." * "Button, Button"...
. The original title of the story was "It Pays'", though it was never published under this name.
Plot summary
Government officials of the Terrestrial Federation negotiate to sell the use of JupiterJupiter
Jupiter is the fifth planet from the Sun and the largest planet within the Solar System. It is a gas giant with mass one-thousandth that of the Sun but is two and a half times the mass of all the other planets in our Solar System combined. Jupiter is classified as a gas giant along with Saturn,...
's atmosphere to an energy-based alien race. The beings refuse to reveal their plans for its use and whether or not they are at war with other similar beings. Eventually, the aliens reveal that the markings they wish to suspend in Jupiter's atmosphere are an advertising slogan, to be seen by passing spacecraft. The main Earth negotiator reveals to his colleagues that he has outsmarted the aliens, clearly not experienced dealers, as they failed to seek options on the atmospheres of the other planets. So when rival beings come to do business, the other planets can be sold for a much higher price.