Thursday 11 November 2010

Does anyone remember this story?

Sometime back in the 1980's I subscribed for a year or so to the Magazine of Fantasy and Science Fiction. During that period of time I read a short-story (probably in this magazine, but possibly elsewhere) which involved a person who was able to see a different landscape than the one which is currently present—able to see different plants and animals than are currently living. I think that the people in the story worked out which geologic period (s?)he was seeing by comparing the descriptions of what was seen with a geologic map. Alas, I read that story before taking my first geology class. Now that I am a geologist, I would love to go back and read it again. However, I have no idea what it was called, who wrote it, or even if the geology part was a minor interesting side part of the story, or the overriding plot device. Do any of you remember reading this story?

3 comments:

Lessons From a student said...

Having been born in the 90's i dare say no, But it sounds like an awesome story. Post if you find it? :)

A Life Long Scholar said...

I also asked on a forum for the magazine, and someone there suggested that "That sounds a lot like "The Secret Place" by Richard McKenna, but that was published elsewhere in 1966". The summary for that story I found on line does sound much like what I remember reading, but I haven't been able to find the story itself to be certain. Also, I have no idea where I would have found it to read if it were this one, given its publication date...

Rockdawg said...

My brother used to subscribe to the same magazine in the early 80's, and I read them all. The story you describe does not ring a bell and it probably would have with me since, I was working on my masters in geology at the time.
It does remind me of the type of stuff Ray Bradbury might have written during that time.
If you ever figure it out let us know I would love to read the story.