Profession (short story)

Infobox Short story |
name = Profession
author = Isaac Asimov
country = United States
language = English
genre = Science fiction short story
publication_type = Periodical
published_in = "Astounding Science Fiction"
publisher = Street & Smith
media_type = Print (Magazine, Hardback & Paperback)
pub_date = July 1957 "Profession" is a novella by Isaac Asimov. The story first appeared in the July 1957 issue of "Astounding Science Fiction" and was the lead story in the 1959 collection "Nine Tomorrows".

Plot summary

The author presents a centralized Earth society of the sixty-fifth century, in which children are educated by almost instantaneous direct computer/brain interface, a process known as "taping". This system is similar to the BrainCap, a concept later explored by Arthur C Clarke.

They are taught to read at the age of eight and then Educated at the age of eighteen. The choice of professional speciality is dictated by the analysis of the brain, with no choices allowed to the recipient. The best of the Educated people compete in "Olympics", in the hope of being "bought" by an advanced Outworld. To stay on Earth is almost an admission of failure.

George Platen is determined to be a computer programmer, a profession in demand, and he hopes to qualify for "export" to an Outworld. On Reading Day, concerns are raised about George's ability to be Educated. On Education Day, he is told that his brain is unfit for any form of Education. He is drugged and sent to a House for the Feeble Minded.

Although not under physical guard, he stays for a year. He then determines to leave to seek out the doctor who told him he was feeble-minded, and have it out with him. He falls in with a stranger who introduces himself as a Registered Historian, and discusses history and society with him. He demands and obtains an interview with an Outworlder, who doesn't understand George's contention that people can learn in ways other than being Taped, such as by reading books and discussion with those who already hold the desired knowledge. The Outworlder expresses anger at the Registered Historian over Earth continually introducing very minor changes to the Tapes — such as the recent addition of the Beeman spectrographer for metallurgists — necessitating the Outworlds to spend money keeping up to date.

George is returned to the House and the reality is revealed: the House is really an Institute of Higher Studies. Here the cream of the population, who have the urge to create even though they have been told they cannot, are sent to support the advancement of science and civilization. George realizes a man named Beeman would have been the inventor of the Beeman spectrographer. Beeman couldn't have been Tape educated or he couldn't have created the new device; someone has to program the Tapes that program the Educated, "Somewhere there must be men and women with capacity for original thought." George has been under permanent observation at all times, and it was deliberately suggested that he leave and seek out the doctor who sent him there.

External links

* [http://www.abelard.org/asimov.htm abelard.org - includes the text of "Profession"] .