Meeting of the Minds, Robert Sheckley

The "Meeting of the Minds" recently became available for free on Gutenberg.org.

This is a kind of pioneer story, I believe, of a certain sub-genre of science fiction made popular by Star Trek, the Next Generation. The Borg is a collection of individuals which function, essentially, as a single entity. They are connected by a hive consciousness. Earth and other civilizations are under dire threat from this technologically more advanced culture (is that the right word?).

Some elements of the story are hugely improbable. The story begins as an exploration of the planet Mars. While there, the explorers unwittingly take on a dangerous intelligence. I say intelligence because I am not entirely certain whether it is a kind of insect-like android or a biological entity. I believe it is robotic, as it is mentioned that it is programmed, but missing much of its memory. The entity calls itself the Quedak. It also identifies itself as an organism. Unlike the Borg of Star Trek, it has no problem assimilating animals to assist it in its mission to take over humankind.

The first of the improbabilities is the primitive technology of humans. While on the one hand humans are able to go to Mars (for the second time) to look for remnants of past civilizations. On the other hand, they still rely on technologies which are anachronistic considering the required technological achievements required for a Martian expedition.

The other improbability, although more easily accepted within the realm of suspended disbelief, is that such a creature would remain dormant during the entire return trip from Mars. Considering that this was the second visit to Mars, it stands to reason that the trip would be a lengthy one. Surely it would have become active during this trip. However, if that had been the case, surely the story would have been lost.

Socialism vs Individualism

This short story may be a commentary on the competing ideologies of socialism and individualism. This story was published in 1960. At that time, the USSR was the biggest competitor to the United States of America. The USSR's propaganda promoted a society which functioned together as one while the USA's propaganda supported freedom of the individual.

George Orwell's Animal Farm explored the ideas of socialism quite well. One of the ways in which Sheckley's "Meeting of the Minds" differs is in how the animals have become of a single mind. The political nature of this story becomes vividly clear:

"...the Quedak state is a federation in which the various member parts retain their idiosyncrasies, their individual needs and desires. They give their knowledge, their power, their special outlook to the Quedak whole. The Quedak is the coordinating and command center; but the individual parts supply the knowledge, the insights, the special skills. And together we form the Great Cooperation."

 Eventually, it's discovered that the Quedak communicates by using radio signals. A coming storm knocks the Quedak's means of communication out, and allows for the men to track and kill the Quedak. Doing so returns the individuals to themselves. They are no longer under the control of the Quedak.

It's a good story, and reminds me a lot of the essence that made up the Borg in Star Trek TNG and later.