A Matter of Traces

Lore & Background

The story takes place in the distant future on the planet Aspidiske VII. A meeting of the "Special Subcommittee on Intergalactic Culture" is called to investigate possible excessive wastefulness by the "Historical Preservation Teams of the Bureau of Cultural Affairs." Secretary Hablar presents a sample of the team's work: an interview with Hilmot Gustin, one of the few surviving pioneers of Gomeisa III. During the interview, it is learned that Hilmot invented the rollitor, a plow harness for an alien life form, and discovered what swamp cream does for the complexion. The meeting is adjourned until the following day.

Characters include Senator Jorj C. Zolam (chairman), Senator Arden B Pingle, Mergis Wl Ledder (counsel), Jorj X. McKie (saboteur extraordinary), Glibbis Hablar (Secretary of the Special Subcommittee on Intergalactic Culture), interviewer Simsu Yaggata, Mr. Presby Kilkau, Mrs. Kilkau (Gustin's niece), and Hilmot Gustin. Although the Bureau of Sabotage is not explicitly referenced, McKie appears for the first time as saboteur extraordinary. To prevent the committee from seeing the film and thus avoid a lengthy debate, McKie sabotaged Secretary Hablar's projector and arranged for the Assistant Secretary for Cultural Affairs to be sent to another meeting, preventing his testimony.

Reader's Guide

"A Matter of Traces" is significant as the foundational story of Frank Herbert's ConSentiency universe, a setting he revisited in later works. It introduces Jorj X. McKie, a saboteur extraordinary who appears in subsequent stories and novels, including "The Tactful Saboteur" (1964), Whipping Star (1970), and The Dosadi Experiment (1977). While none of these are exact sequels, they share the same imaginary universe and the character McKie. The story explores themes of bureaucracy and historical preservation through a subcommittee investigating wastefulness. Its publication in 1958 marks an early expansion of Herbert's fictional worlds beyond the Duniverse and the Pandora Sequence. The tale's focus on a pioneer's interview and McKie's subtle sabotage establishes the tone and character dynamics that would recur in later ConSentiency works.

Did You Know?

• The story was first published in November 1958 in Fantastic Universe magazine.
• It is the first story in Frank Herbert's ConSentiency universe.
• Jorj X. McKie appears for the first time in this story as saboteur extraordinary.
• McKie sabotaged Secretary Hablar's projector to keep the meeting from going too long.