INTRODUCTION

"Farewell to the Master" was originally published in the Oct. 1940 issue of Astounding, the story did not even rate a cover blurb, being overshadowed by A.E. Van Vogt's Slan.

Eventually, the story was made into the film The Day The Earth Stood Still, but the story only formed the basic premise of the film and was changed in many ways.

In the original story presented here, astute readers will notice that Gort does not appear, his name in the story is Gnut. The famous phrase, "Klaatu Barada Nikto" is also absent and there is no love interest for Klatuu; that sub-plot was an invention for the film.

What most will find revelatory is the ending of the story which, without giving anything away, is a wonderful twist by Bates on the science fiction conventions of the time. Now, over 60 years later, still reflects on the perceptions that are sometimes a shortcoming of our all too human condition.