Walter M Miller Jr
	Command Performance   (aka Anybody Else Like Me)

First published in Galaxy Science Fiction Vol 5 No 2, 1952 November. Anthologised in Best Science Fiction Stories 1953, Second Galaxy Reader of Science Fiction, Best Science Fiction Stories Fourth Series, Penguin Science Fiction, Penguin Science Fiction Omnbibus (comprising Penguin Science Fiction, More Penguin Science Fiction and Yet More Penguin Science Fiction), Wall Around The World and other Science Fiction stories, The View From The Stars, Best Of Walter M Miller Jr.

As might be deduced from looking at the number of times this story has been anthologised, Walter M Miller Jr was a popular with both editors and readers. This was despite his very small total output, comprising just a handful of short stories and the highly-regarded novel A Canticle For Leibowitz. The latter was the first SF book I bought new, way back in 1969. (Note that the novel Saint Leibowitz and the Horse Woman, although published under Miller's name, was put together after his death by editing and extending collections of manuscript papers and notes. It may not even represent Miller's concept of the complete novel, and is not well-regarded.)

Having found a reference to this story in a Webpage about nudity in science fiction, I immediately remembered the tale. Like all of Miller's authentic work, I find it excellent. Although not really naturist, the description of a woman enjoying the feeling of a light shower on her naked body after a sweltering hot day, captures very well the freedom a naturist feels on discarding their clothes. It's perhaps worth noting that authors are very adept at providing their characters with completely private back gardens - Helen Dunmore does the same in With Your Crooked Heart.

Ratings:

Nudity	Naturist nudity	A good read?

Last updated 2004 February 28.
 
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