Drawing a blank on a short story

[Orrex]

The gist is that the narrator is talking to (I believe) a bartender who reveals that he's been banished to this time from the distant future due to mostly political crimes that he committed there (then?).

I can't reveal much more without spoiling it, but I also can't remember its title or author. I'm thinking Larry Niven, but that's a complete guess.

I read it in anthology, so I'm thinking that it's at least 25 years old.


Ringing any bells?

Thanks!

[sfwriter]

1. Draco Tavern?

The bartender is Rick Schumann and the bar is at a Siberian spaceport?

I haven't read it in years.

[Orrex]

2. No, but that sounds interesting

I suppose I should have mentioned that this one takes place on present-day Earth.


Thanks!

[Tanuki]

3. All you Zombies by Robert Heinlein?

https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/All_You_Zombies

[Orrex]

4. No, but that's an AMAZING story

It was given a surprisingly credible film adaptation, too.


Thanks for the suggestion!

[More_Cowbell]

5. The Fourth Profession?

By Larry Niven? It's been a long time since I read it, but there is a bartender and an alien.

[Orrex]

7. I'll check on that--thanks.

[hermetic]

6. Spider Robinson maybe?

He's written a bunch of stories about Callahan's Crosstime Saloon where time travelers meet and share stories. I've just started reading them myself.

[Orrex]

8. Those aren't the story I'm thinking of, but they're pretty cool too.

Thanks for the suggestions!

[PoindexterOglethorpe]

9. Haven't a clue

but it sounds interesting. If you find it, let us know.

I've done a bit of a Google search based on how you described it, and the only thing that comes up is "All You Zombies". Which isn't quite the same, as there's no banishment, no political crimes.

Sometimes I can locate a story with a quick Google search, but this time it didn't work. Darn. My guess is that this story has not been well-anthologized.

[Orrex]

10. I'll definitely post when I find it.

Honestly I'm being lazy. I know that it was in a hardcopy anthology that I own, but I haven't done the brute force work of paging through them to confirm.

Maybe tonight...

[Dr. Strange]

11. Was there a mentat in the story? Maybe it was Dune?

[Orrex]

12. I keep asking Skinner to PPR you and it keeps not happening

Clearly I don't have the clout that I used to have.

[Dr. Strange]

16. You haven't had that kind of clout...

since you started that penicillin regimen.

[Orrex]

18. I got it from a doorknob. Honest!

[Orrex]

13. Got it!

The story is "My Object All Sublime" by Poul Anderson.

It's a quick read--check it out if you can find it!

[PoindexterOglethorpe]

14. Here's a link to the story:

ttps://books.google.com/books?id=bHA6M4b1XK0C&pg=PA1&lpg=PA1&dq=my+object+all+sublime+poul+anderson&source=bl&ots=DF1SMY2TJm&sig=4ydBpEfhAmspy-GvkeryTF1UBRw&hl=en&sa=X&ved=0ahUKEwiP-p6yoMbSAhXEz4MKHSOwCvIQ6AEIMDAE#v=onepage&q=my object all sublime poul anderson&f=false

Looks like you'll have to do a copy and paste, but it's worth it.

[Orrex]

15. Thanks!

I haven't read much of Anderson's work, but I really liked the setup on this one as well as the rather poignant final line from the main character.

[FSogol]

20. Read Poul Anderson's "A Broken Sword" next. n/t

[Dr. Strange]

17. Okay, that was a cool story!

Of course, one can't help but wonder what his crime was.

Perhaps not appreciating the music of Rush enough?

[Orrex]

19. Well here's a weird little tidbit...

According to Wiki, My Object All Sublime was also the name of an unrelated science fiction short story published in 1942 by Lyle Monroe, better known as Robert Heinlein.

Anderson's story was published in 1961. I'm annoyed that I didn't think to wiki the title before now, so this should have surprised me weeks ago.