''The Outpost'' is a

science fiction Science fiction (sometimes shortened to Sci-Fi or SF) is a genre of speculative fiction which typically deals with imaginative and futuristic concepts such as advanced science and technology, space exploration, time travel, parallel unive ...

novel by American writer

Mike Resnick Michael Diamond Resnick (; March 5, 1942 – January 9, 2020) was an American science fiction writer and editor. He won five Hugo awards and a Nebula award, and was the guest of honor at Chicon 7. He was the executive editor of the defunct ...

, first published as

hardback A hardcover, hard cover, or hardback (also known as hardbound, and sometimes as case-bound) book is one bound with rigid protective covers (typically of binder's board or heavy paperboard covered with buckram or other cloth, heavy paper, or occas ...

Tor Books Tor Books is the primary imprint of Tor Publishing Group (previously Tom Doherty Associates), a publishing company based in New York City. It primarily publishes science fiction and fantasy titles, and is the largest publisher of Chinese scien ...

in May 2001, followed by

paperback A paperback (softcover, softback) book is one with a thick paper or paperboard cover, and often held together with adhesive, glue rather than stitch (textile arts), stitches or Staple (fastener), staples. In contrast, hardcover (hardback) book ...

edition in August 2002. It is a satirical anthology centered on a tavern called ''the Outpost'' on the planet ''Henry II'' at the edge of the galaxy, in the neutral territory known as the Inner Frontier where fighting is forbidden. It attracts legendary characters who, while drinking and relaxing, share stories of their lives.

Summary

The novel is divided into 3 sections: ''Legend'', ''Fact'', and ''History''. In ''Legend'', the characters tell stories of what they were doing before they arrived and about people they met and things they did. The storytelling is interrupted by an alien invasion of the system, to which the heroes react. The ''History'' section sees everyone gathered back at the Outpost to share their stories and find out the fates of the others.

Major themes

Tall tales A tall tale is a story with unbelievable elements, related as if it were true and factual. Some tall tales are exaggerations of actual events, for example fish stories ("the fish that got away") such as, "That fish was so big, why I tell ya', it n ...

in the nature of

Paul Bunyan Paul Bunyan is a giant lumberjack and folk hero in American and Canadian folklore. His exploits revolve around the tall tales of his superhuman labors, and he is customarily accompanied by Babe the Blue Ox. The character originated in the or ...

and

Pecos Bill Pecos Bill is a fictional cowboy and folk hero in stories set during American Expansionism, westward expansion into the Southwest of Texas, New Mexico, Southern California, and Arizona. These narratives were invented as short stories in a book b ...

, but set in the Wild West of the future. *Religion in the form of monotheism and polytheism. *Discussion of history as a set of facts vs. perceptions.

Stories told

*Catastrophe Baker and the Dragon Queen *The Last Landship (Hellfire Carson) *The Greatest Painting of All Time (Little Mike) *The Short, Star-Crossed Career of Magic Adbul-Jordan (Big Red) *When Iron-Arm McPherson Took the Mound (Big Red) *The Night Bet-a-World O'Grady Met High-Stakes Eddie *Catastrophe Baker and the Siren of Silverstrike

Characters

*Tomahawk (Thomas Aloysius Hawke) - Owner of The Outpost *Reggie - Robot bartender *Catastrophe Baker - Living legend *Hurricane Smith - hero with a weakness for alien females *Three-Gun Max - Mutant gunfighter with 3 arms *Big Red - Former professional star athlete (basketball, baseball, murderball) *Nicodemus Mayflower - *Bet-a-World O'Grady - Infamous gambler *Sinderella - *Little Mike Picasso (Michelangelo Gauguin Rembrandt van Gogh Rockwell Picasso (formerly Montgomery Quiggle))- Famous unknown artist *Sahara Del Rio - Alien (Borovite) *Reverend Billy Karma - *Einstein - Deaf, blind, mute supragenius *Argyle - Alien with color-changing skin, former

accountant An accountant is a practitioner of accounting or accountancy. Accountants who have demonstrated competency through their professional associations' certification exams are certified to use titles such as Chartered Accountant, Chartered Certifi ...

*Gravedigger Gaines - Retired

bounty hunter A bounty hunter is a private agent working for bail bonds who captures fugitives or criminals for a commission or bounty. The occupation, officially known as bail enforcement agent, or fugitive recovery agent, has traditionally operated outsid ...

*Willie the Bard - Historian and record-keeper for the Outpost *Hellfire Van Winkle - (formerly Hellfire Carson) 5,000 year old former big-game hunter and safari guide *Achmed of Alphar - *Earth Mother - Retired madam *Sitting Horse & Crazy Bull- Aliens (Velitas IV) who become members of the Great Sioux Nation

Notes and references

{{DEFAULTSORT:Outpost 2001 American novels 2001 science fiction novels American science fiction novels Tor Books books