The Calm Man

"The Calm Man" by Frank Belknap Long is a science fiction short story written in the early 1950s. The narrative delves into themes of emotional detachment and alien identity, exploring the complexities of domestic life through the eyes of a woman named Sally. The story unfolds as she grapples with her unresponsive husband's true nature, ultimately leading to revelations about both her family and her own feelings of isolation. In this tale, Sally Anders bears the burden of her husband's emotional coldness, which becomes increasingly troubling as they raise their son, Tommy. Despite the joy of motherhood, Sally's life with her husband, Jim, feels hollow and lacking warmth. As the story progresses, a shocking truth is revealed: Jim is not human but an alien who has been using a stand-in to maintain his life on Earth while preparing to return to Mars. This revelation not only shatters Sally's world but also reveals the deeper impacts of her husband's calm demeanor. The climax builds towards the realization that Tommy, too, is drawn to his father's world, culminating in an emotional goodbye as the two entities leave Earth behind, illuminating the profound sorrow of a mother who is losing her child to another realm. (This is an automatically generated summary.)

Frank Belknap Long Jr. was an American writer of horror fiction, fantasy, science fiction, poetry, gothic romance, comic books, and non-fiction. Though his writing career spanned seven decades, he is best known for his horror and science fiction short stories, including contributions to the Cthulhu Mythos alongside his friend, H. P. Lovecraft. During his life, Long received the World Fantasy Award for Life Achievement, the Bram Stoker Award for Lifetime Achievement, and the First Fandom Hall of Fame Award (1977).