Goat Song

"Goat Song" is a science fiction novella by Poul Anderson. This story has strong parallels to the Greek myth of Orpheus and Eurydice In a future world humanity is dominated by a massive computer, SUM, which claims to record the soul, and promises a resurrection at an indefinite future date. A harper—who alone remembers the old songs—mourns for the loss of his love, and desires nothing but her resurrection. SUM so far has only used that power to k... more

"Goat Song" is a science fiction novella by Poul Anderson. This story has strong parallels to the Greek myth of Orpheus and Eurydice In a future world humanity is dominated by a massive computer, SUM, which claims to record the soul, and promises a resurrection at an indefinite future date. A harper—who alone remembers the old songs—mourns for the loss of his love, and desires nothing but her resurrection. SUM so far has only used that power to keep its human representative, the Dark Queen, eternally young. The harper confronts the Dark Queen on a lonely road. Appealing to her lingering humanity, she agrees to take the Harper before SUM. In SUM's dark, underground fortress it agrees to return the harper's love, if the harper will teach humanity to worship SUM as a god. But there is one condition: a test of loyalty. The Harper must walk all the way to the outside, but not once look back to see if his love is following. The harper agrees. On the long walk back he is full of doubts, but... less