Alpha Ralpha Boulevard
| "Alpha Ralpha Boulevard" | |
|---|---|
| Author | Cordwainer Smith |
| Country |
 USA
|
| Language | English |
| Series | Instrumentality of Mankind |
| Genre(s) | Science fiction short story |
| Published in | The Magazine of Fantasy and Science Fiction |
| Publication type | Print (Magazine, Hardback & Paperback) |
| Publisher | Mercury Press |
| Publication date | June 1961 |
| Preceded by | "Mother Hitton's Littul Kittons" |
| Followed by | "A Planet Named Shayol" |
"Alpha Ralpha Boulevard" is a science fiction story by Cordwainer Smith, set in his Instrumentality of Mankind universe, concerning the opening days of a sudden radical shift from a controlling, benevolent, but sterile society, to one with individuality, danger and excitement. The story has been reprinted a number of times, including in The Rediscovery of Man collection.
In an interview about it, Ursula K. Le Guin said, "To me encountering his works was like a door opening. There is one story of his called 'Alpha Ralpha Boulevard' that was as important to me as reading Pasternak for the first time."
"Alpha Ralpha Boulevard" was inspired in part by a painting from his childhood, The Storm by Pierre-Auguste Cot, of two young lovers fleeing along a darkening path. Additionally, the names of the two principal characters, together with the conscious attempt to revive a French culture, recall the 18th century French novel Paul et Virginie. According to his widow and second wife, it was also partly about his first wife's attraction to another man. The name of the story is likely derived from that of Ralph Alpher, who himself was convinced of the connection.
The ancient computer in the story is called the Abba-dingo, which may mean "Father of Lies". If so, the name is ironic in light of the stunning (to the character Paul) accuracy of its predictions. Another interpretation is "the French phrase 'l’abbé dingo', or 'mad priest'".
The all-powerful Instrumentality government, which in its overprotectiveness has driven the purpose from human existence, decides to turn back the clock to a less sheltered historical human era of 14,000 years before (i.e., our time). Virginia and Paul are enjoying the first moments of the recreations of the old human language, French, reading their first newspapers, and going to their first cafe, where the bugs in process are not resolved to the point of understanding how to use money.
With the restoration of cultural differences and new individuality, old friends Paul and Virginia fall in love. Not everything from the Instrumentality era has vanished, especially the underpeople, a subclass of people bred from animals such as dogs, cats, and bulls to provide manual labor. Paul is accosted by a provocative dog-girl, then by a drunken bull-man, who attacks them. A cat-girl, C'mell, rescues them from physical danger. She directs them to a cafe where Virginia begins to have qualms about the artificial aspects of the personality she's been given, and wonders whether her love for Paul is real or synthesized. She then meets another man she also finds attractive, Macht (a member of the Vomacht family prominent in Smith's future history). Macht tells her of a computer, the Abba-dingo, never understood by the Instrumentality, which has reached the status of a god, able to foretell the future. It can only be reached walking a ruined processional highway leading into the clouds: Alpha Ralpha Boulevard.
...
Wikipedia