Desertion by Clifford D. Simak

By Jove!

Clifford D. Simak often gets lumped in with the stereotype of stuffy, old-school science fiction writers, but so far that really hasn’t been my experience with his work. Desertion initially feels like a familiar space-exploration setup: a group of scientists trying and repeatedly failing to land on Jupiter. The planet’s gravity, atmosphere, and brutal climate make it a one-way trip for humans. No one who’s gone down has ever come back to tell the story.

To get around this, humanity develops a fascinating piece of technology that allows people to temporarily transform into “lopers,” a life form better suited to survive on Jupiter’s surface. It’s classic sci-fi in the best sense. It's imaginative without being overly complicated. Fowler, the man overseeing the project, is basically a corporate middle manager: a pencil pusher stuck in the machinery of a terraforming company, signing off on missions that send men to their deaths. Eventually, the guilt catches up with him and he decides it’s his turn to go down to Jupiter rather than hiding behind a desk.

What really gives the story its heart, though, is that Fowler brings his dog named Towser along for the journey. This choice doesn’t feel like a gimmick; rather, it feels deeply human. The relationship between Fowler and his dog adds warmth, humor, and emotional weight to what could have been a cold, technical story. The dog is his companion but also a grounding presence, a reminder of loyalty, trust, and unconditional attachment in the middle of an alien and hostile world. As events unfold, Simak uses that bond to challenge our assumptions about intelligence, communication, and even what it means to be “human.”

I won’t spoil what happens next, but there are a few unexpected turns that give the story a refreshing twist on an otherwise well-worn genre trope. Desertion isn’t trying to blow your mind with grand cosmic ideas or dense world-building. Instead, it’s thoughtful, smoothly written and gently philosophical. The idea of dogs being “man’s best friend” is taken to a surprisingly literal and oddly moving new level here. Clifford D. Simak might not be an author that I'll often turn to when looking to scratch that science-fiction short-story itch, but he's worth reading if you are interested in checking out some solid pre new-wave SF goodness.