The Message (Asimov)

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The Message
Author Isaac Asimov
Country Flag of United States USA
Language English
Genre(s) science fiction short story
Released in The Magazine of Fantasy and Science Fiction
Publisher Fantasy House
Media Type Magazine
Released February 1956

The Message is a science fiction short story by Isaac Asimov. It was first published in the February 1956 issue of The Magazine of Fantasy and Science Fiction and reprinted in the 1957 collection Earth is Room Enough. "The Message" tells the story of how the expression Kilroy was here came to be. A very short story, it runs to 1.5 pages in paperback.


Spoiler warning: Plot and/or ending details follow.


George Kilroy, a thirtieth century historian, briefly travels in time to the twentieth century to research the life of the WW2 foot soldier. He arrives in North Africa as soldiers are landing on the beaches of Oran, and before leaving, he makes his mark on the wall of a hut.



Earth Is Room Enough
The Dead Past | The Foundation of S.F. Success | Franchise | Gimmicks Three | Kid Stuff | The Watery Place | Living Space | The Message | Satisfaction Guaranteed | Hell-Fire | The Last Trump | The Fun They Had | Jokester | The Immortal Bard | Someday | The Author's Ordeal | Dreaming Is a Private Thing