Subject
Morgues -- Fiction Books
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Ray Bradbury
Morgue Ship
"Morgue Ship" by Ray Bradbury is a science fiction short story written during the mid-20th century. Set in the vastness of space amidst the backdrop of an ongoing war, the narrative centers around the grim duty of retrieving the bodies of fallen warriors and preserving them for burial. It explores themes of loss, the futility of war, and the human desire to escape from a cycle of violence. The story follows Sam Burnett, a weary coroner aboard the morgue ship "Constellation", who has spent ten years collecting the bodies of dead soldiers in the aftermath of galactic battles. During a final mission, Burnett discovers that among the bodies is Lethla, the assistant to a powerful enemy commander, Kriere. As the story unfolds, Lethla reveals that Kriere is still alive but in danger, prompting a tense standoff aboard the ship. The climax arrives as Burnett must navigate the dichotomy of his grim duties against the weight of his burgeoning morality. In a decisive moment, he captures Kriere using the ship's retrieval claws, symbolically completing his duty but also shedding light on the impact of the war on humanity and the cycle of death it perpetuates. Ultimately, Burnett's journey ends in a poignant reflection on the cost of war and what it means to survive in its wake.
Ray Bradbury
Lazarus Come Forth
"Lazarus Come Forth" by Ray Bradbury is a science fiction short story written in the early to mid-20th century. The narrative explores themes of war, resurrection, and the moral dilemmas surrounding the use of advanced technology as it follows a character named Brandon aboard a Morgue Ship in space, tasked with recovering bodies after battles in an ongoing war with Mars. The core premise revolves around the discovery and revival of a three-century-old scientist who may hold the key to ending the conflict. The story begins with Brandon searching for his son among the bodies aboard the Morgue Ship and soon becomes intertwined with the revival of a dead scientist linked to old myths of advanced weaponry. As Brandon fights against his unscrupulous shipmate Logan, who seeks to sell the scientist to the Martians for personal gain, the tale escalates into a struggle for the future of humanity. Ultimately, Brandon revives the scientist—dubbed Lazarus—and, rather than handing him over to the Martians, he chooses to return to Earth, emphasizing the value of human life over military might. The story culminates with Lazarus awakening, only to identify himself as Brandon, leaving readers to ponder the implications of identity, sacrifice, and the consequences of war.
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