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Space-Time for Springers
This short story is unusual in that its protagonist is actually a kitten. Admittedly Gummitch is an unusual kitten, with powers and abilities far beyond those commonly attributed to ordinary cats. (from review by William H. Stoddard, March 2009)
This is available on the UCA website.
This is available on the UCA website.
First published January 1, 1958
About the author
Fritz Leiber
1,150 books975 followersFritz Reuter Leiber Jr. was one of the more interesting of the young writers who came into HP Lovecraft's orbit, and some of his best early short fiction is horror rather than sf or fantasy. He found his mature voice early in the first of the sword-and-sorcery adventures featuring the large sensitive barbarian Fafhrd and the small street-smart-ish Gray Mouser; he returned to this series at various points in his career, using it sometimes for farce and sometimes for gloomy mood pieces--The Swords of Lankhmar is perhaps the best single volume of their adventures. Leiber's science fiction includes the planet-smashing The Wanderer in which a large cast mostly survive flood, fire, and the sexual attentions of feline aliens, and the satirical A Spectre is Haunting Texas in which a gangling, exo-skeleton-clad actor from the Moon leads a revolution and finds his true love. Leiber's late short fiction, and the fine horror novel Our Lady of Darkness, combine autobiographical issues like his struggle with depression and alcoholism with meditations on the emotional content of the fantastic genres. Leiber's capacity for endless self-reinvention and productive self-examination kept him, until his death, one of the most modern of his sf generation.
Used These Alternate Names: Maurice Breçon, Fric Lajber, Fritz Leiber, Jr., Fritz R. Leiber, Fritz Leiber Jun., Фриц Лейбер, F. Lieber, フリッツ・ライバー
Used These Alternate Names: Maurice Breçon, Fric Lajber, Fritz Leiber, Jr., Fritz R. Leiber, Fritz Leiber Jun., Фриц Лейбер, F. Lieber, フリッツ・ライバー
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Displaying 1 - 21 of 21 reviews
February 9, 2023
One of my 100 (or so) Best Stories Ever, and one specially for kitten-lovers. "Gummitch was a superkitten, as he knew very well, with an I. Q. of about 160. ..."
Short and sweet. Enjoy!
Times read, over the years: many.
An online copy of this wonderful story, from 1958!
https://docplayer.net/36218564-Space-...
Don't miss this one. A true classic, and by far my favorite Leiber.
Short and sweet. Enjoy!
Times read, over the years: many.
An online copy of this wonderful story, from 1958!
https://docplayer.net/36218564-Space-...
Don't miss this one. A true classic, and by far my favorite Leiber.
February 16, 2023
Cute and somewhat dark view of the world from the inside of a too clever yet naive kitten's mind. A great cat story indeed, and I don't even particularly like cats :p
September 12, 2016
One of the best cat stories ever written. I recommend reading it before reading much about it.
Available http://faculty.uca.edu/rnovy/Leiber--...
You're welcome
Available http://faculty.uca.edu/rnovy/Leiber--...
You're welcome
December 29, 2012
I am guessing at the read date here, I know I read it when I was in high school, Fritz Leiber being one of my favorite writers at the time. This is the perfect short story. A truly moving explanation of a strange chain of events involving a brilliant kitten, an envious child and a newborn. If I had to pick one story to introduce someone to 'speculative' fiction, this would be it.
August 3, 2011
Without a doubt the greatest short story ever!
Gummitch is the greatest fuzzy hero EVER!
Gummitch is the greatest fuzzy hero EVER!
March 2, 2016
Wow! Fantastically written fantasy with the element of sci-fi but it is as normal and cute as it gets. Probably the BEST cat/kitten story ever, laudable is how Fritz Leiber has envisioned this entire story. I loved the little nuances of a kitten's vision of its own life..its imagination..simply beautiful!
May 19, 2020
Wonderful story, especially if you "understand" cats.
June 5, 2022
This was a wonderful short story, typically quirky Fritz Leiber, it's about a cat, can't write anymore without revealing too much.
June 19, 2022
Lieber, Fritz. “Space-Time for Springers.” Star Science Fiction Stories No. 4. Edited by Frederik Pohl. Ballantine, 1958.
Danger, Will Robinson. There is a kitten with a high IQ in this one. Gummitch is even smarter than Heinlein’s Cat That Walked Through Walls. Seriously, Lieber writes a well-crafted story that manages to be funny and touching in less than ten pages. 5 stars for a classic.
Danger, Will Robinson. There is a kitten with a high IQ in this one. Gummitch is even smarter than Heinlein’s Cat That Walked Through Walls. Seriously, Lieber writes a well-crafted story that manages to be funny and touching in less than ten pages. 5 stars for a classic.
February 13, 2021
Absolute must read for cat lovers. Reveals details about their long suspected teleportation secret.
For a spacetime physics treatment, See "Spacetime for Springers Redux" on Pinterest:
https://www.pinterest.com/pin/2975191...
For a spacetime physics treatment, See "Spacetime for Springers Redux" on Pinterest:
https://www.pinterest.com/pin/2975191...
January 12, 2024
We have just adopted a beautiful tiger-striped kitten, who reminded me of this story. Finley is charming and playful; only an incorrigible sceptic would refuse to believe that he is also highly intelligent with a range of superpowers (telepathy, teleportation, psychokinesis, mind control, I could go on). But as Fritz Lieber persuasively argues, his extraordinary kitten soul may soon be swapped with that of a dull, inert human baby, and then he'll just be another adult cat.
I'm desperately hoping the late Mr Lieber was wrong. Though if he was right, some frazzled parents in the vicinity will be receiving a pleasant surprise.
I'm desperately hoping the late Mr Lieber was wrong. Though if he was right, some frazzled parents in the vicinity will be receiving a pleasant surprise.
June 16, 2024
Imagine how smart Gummitch would have been if he'd been educated
March 17, 2010
This short story is also unusual in that its protagonist is actually a cat, or rather a kitten. Admittedly Gummitch is an unusual kitten, with powers and abilities far beyond those commonly attributed to ordinary cats. But there's no scientific explanation for these. Gummitch knows that he's brighter than average, but considers such abilities as soul projection and teleportation no more than the common heritage of his kind.
In addition, Gummitch has the courage to do the right thing, at any cost. Repeatedly, in the course of "Space-Time for Springers", the reader is shown his sense of responsibility for his human household. At the story's climax, he responds to a crisis, without hesitation, making dramatic use of his feline superpowers ... with an outcome that ingeniously leaves the truth or falsity of Gummitch's theory of himself in perfect suspense.
(from review by William H. Stoddard, March 2009)
http://www.troynovant.com/Stoddard/Le...
http://faculty.uca.edu/rnovy/Leiber--...
In addition, Gummitch has the courage to do the right thing, at any cost. Repeatedly, in the course of "Space-Time for Springers", the reader is shown his sense of responsibility for his human household. At the story's climax, he responds to a crisis, without hesitation, making dramatic use of his feline superpowers ... with an outcome that ingeniously leaves the truth or falsity of Gummitch's theory of himself in perfect suspense.
(from review by William H. Stoddard, March 2009)
http://www.troynovant.com/Stoddard/Le...
http://faculty.uca.edu/rnovy/Leiber--...
January 5, 2019
I love cat stories, especially the ones that have more of a plot than that of a cat and its (usually a child) owner going on adventures.
“Space-Time for Springers” is an interesting look into the mind of a supposed ‘superkitten’ and his view of his surroundings. That might sound boring, but I was hooked from the start and, well, I cried.
“Space-Time for Springers” is an interesting look into the mind of a supposed ‘superkitten’ and his view of his surroundings. That might sound boring, but I was hooked from the start and, well, I cried.
January 31, 2017
A bit wordy, but probably a good representation of the time that it was written. I loved the protagonist and his view on the world. I have a cat, so understood it completely. Wasn't completely happy with the outcome, but that's life, isn't it. A most excellent literary kitty.
May 25, 2011
Fun story of a genius kitten.
February 17, 2013
This is one of my all-time favorite stories. A must read for all cat lovers in addition to being truly excellent science fiction.
January 11, 2015
Unique, touching tale of a kitten who believes he will grow up to be a man, and how he views those around him and what little he knows of the world.
March 2, 2016
Story from the perspective of a highly intelligent cat, or is it?
Or did author mean something related to Einstein's Mouse, either way needed my friend to explain the ending to me
Or did author mean something related to Einstein's Mouse, either way needed my friend to explain the ending to me
December 29, 2016
I love the imaginative way Leiber explores the housecat's world, positing how a kitten might think of himself and those around him. A truly unique story.
April 26, 2017
A brilliant short story about a super-intelligent cat, who draws some seriously mistaken conclusions about the world around him, but eventually does the right thing for the wrong reason. That, at least, was my interpretation of the somewhat ambiguous ending.
Displaying 1 - 21 of 21 reviews