Rediscovery by Gideon Marcus

Author:Gideon Marcus [Marcus, Gideon]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Tags: Science Fiction
ISBN: 978-1-951320-01-0
Publisher: Journey Press
Published: 2022-07-18T00:00:00+00:00

The Deer Park

by Maria Russell

(Originally appeared in the January 1962 issue of Fantasy & Science Fiction)

“The Deer Park” is Maria Russell’s only published short story, appearing in the January 1962 edition of The Magazine of Fantasy & Science Fiction. Unfortunately, the editor’s intro makes no mention of her background, nor does it provide any commentary of her beautifully-written tale. I am grateful for the opportunity to finally rectify that oversight.

Maria Russell’s real name was Mary Russell Standard. Born in 1926 in Orange, Texas, she worked as a senior computer systems analyst in Connecticut for several decades, eventually being promoted to Vice President of Software Engineering. Clearly, she was a smart, steadfast and determined woman.

I can only speculate what inspired her to write this tale, but it seems likely that “The Deer Park” was influenced by her experiences as an intelligent woman working in a male-dominated environment. Through her skillfully-woven tale, Russell establishes a futuristic world in which a network of planets is protected by a highly advanced technological system—protected from what, exactly, is left ambiguous.

Our protagonist, a Minister of one of these planets, is adamant that the overly-protective systems are a wondrous marvel, even if means his world is insufferably predictable and sedate. The Minister’s senses have become so dulled by the safety of his world that he doesn’t even realize it, until an Envoy from a distant planet (one that does not rely on the same protections as his) arrives and challenges his point of view. The Envoy, a quietly powerful woman completely unlike anyone the Minister has ever met, questions his sense of safety when she posits, “Security is not a joy. Security is a disease.”

Through the tale, Russell’s astute perception of the human psyche shines. The more insecure we are, the more we try to control; the tighter our control, the more insecure we are that our grip will fail. She suggests that insecurity and self-doubt will forever endure despite the scientific advancements of humanity—and, in fact, our scientific advancements will end up enhancing our insecurities. In today’s world, where self-worth can be rated by how many likes one’s social media post achieves, it seems that Russell’s theory has been proven correct.

The Envoy in the story makes a compelling argument that ultimate and absolute control over one’s environment, one’s companions and oneself is self-limiting. Freedom lies in the possibility of the unknown, even if it might lead to a disastrous outcome; unhindered liberty, she asserts, is always preferable over the uninspiring staleness of a predictably controlled environment.

“The Deer Park” is a beautifully haunting feminist tale of a self-assured woman cleverly needling at a man’s insecurities to achieve her goals, pacing out for the reader an astute insight into the human mind and a prescient point of view. Russell demonstrates a mastery of prose that belies her short tenure as an author and leaves us yearning to read more from her.

—Claire Weaver

The day was a tender joy of green and gold, shot with flecks of blue that twinkled among the leaves of the tall old trees.

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