In a Good Cause-
Encyclopedia
"In a Good Cause—" is a science fiction
short story
by Isaac Asimov
. The story first appeared in a 1951 edition of the anthology New Tales of Space and Time and was reprinted in the collection Nightfall and Other Stories
(1969).
Altmayer and his friend Geoffrey Stock have opposing positions when conscripted into military service for a war between human-occupied star system
s. Stock willingly reports for military duty, whilst Altmayer protests, believing that the various interstellar nations of humanity should be united and at peace.
Over a 45 year period, Stock reaches high military rank and then political office, whilst Altmayer is imprisoned and kept under house arrest
several times. He starts political parties
and protest
movements, all of which fail to achieve their objectives of uniting humanity.
Ultimately, Altmayer's desire for a united humanity is achieved after a war against the Diaboli, an intelligent non-human race
that also occupies several planetary systems in the galaxy. This unity, however, has been realised only through Stock's political manipulations rather than Altmayer's idealistic actions. Stock asks his one-time friend to be one of the delegates from Earth to a peace conference, but realizes that history will not record his own participation in the unification of humanity.
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 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...
. The story first appeared in a 1951 edition of the anthology New Tales of Space and Time and was reprinted in the collection Nightfall and Other Stories
Nightfall and Other Stories
Nightfall and Other Stories is a book collecting previously published science fiction short stories by Isaac Asimov. Asimov added a brief introduction to each story, explaining some aspect of the story's history and/or how it came to be written. The main criteria for inclusion were that they had...
(1969).
Plot summary
The story commences in the year 2755 of the "Atomic Era" (corresponding to 4700 C.E. in Asimovean chronology) and opens with a description of a statue on the grounds of the United Worlds organisation raised to Richard "Dick" Altmayer.Altmayer and his friend Geoffrey Stock have opposing positions when conscripted into military service for a war between human-occupied star system
Star system
A star system or stellar system is a small number of stars which orbit each other, bound by gravitational attraction. A large number of stars bound by gravitation is generally called a star cluster or galaxy, although, broadly speaking, they are also star systems.-Binary star systems:A stellar...
s. Stock willingly reports for military duty, whilst Altmayer protests, believing that the various interstellar nations of humanity should be united and at peace.
Over a 45 year period, Stock reaches high military rank and then political office, whilst Altmayer is imprisoned and kept under house arrest
House arrest
In justice and law, house arrest is a measure by which a person is confined by the authorities to his or her residence. Travel is usually restricted, if allowed at all...
several times. He starts political parties
Political party
A political party is a political organization that typically seeks to influence government policy, usually by nominating their own candidates and trying to seat them in political office. Parties participate in electoral campaigns, educational outreach or protest actions...
and protest
Protest
A protest is an expression of objection, by words or by actions, to particular events, policies or situations. Protests can take many different forms, from individual statements to mass demonstrations...
movements, all of which fail to achieve their objectives of uniting humanity.
Ultimately, Altmayer's desire for a united humanity is achieved after a war against the Diaboli, an intelligent non-human race
Extraterrestrial life
Extraterrestrial life is defined as life that does not originate from Earth...
that also occupies several planetary systems in the galaxy. This unity, however, has been realised only through Stock's political manipulations rather than Altmayer's idealistic actions. Stock asks his one-time friend to be one of the delegates from Earth to a peace conference, but realizes that history will not record his own participation in the unification of humanity.