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Title: The Fourth Profession

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Title: The Fourth Profession Title Record # 41386
Author: Larry Niven
Date: 1971-08-00
Type: SHORTFICTION
Length: novelette
Language: English
Synopsis: An alien salesman walks into a bar... and offers free samples of its wares; "memory" pills which implant within the consumer the training, knowledge, memories, etc. required for a given profession, whether terrestrial or alien.
User Rating: 7.83 (6 votes) Your vote: Not cast VOTE
Current Tags: science fiction (1), alien encounter (1), memory (1), tavern (1), education (1) Add Tags

Other Titles

Translations
Year Language Title
1973ⓘTranslated by Ana Gonzalez
 Portuguese A Quarta Profissão
1973ⓘTranslated by Heinz Zwack (as Heinz Nagel)
 German Der vierte Beruf
1975ⓘTranslated by Knut Azimuth
 Dutch Het vierde beroep
1976ⓘTranslated by Tony Westermayr
 German Der vierte Beruf
1981ⓘTranslated by Krsto Mažuranić
 Croatian
Četvrta vještina?Cetvrta vjestina
Chetvrta vjeshtina
1989ⓘTranslated by 酒井昭伸(Sakai Akinobu)
 Japanese
第四の専門知識?Daiyon no Senmon Chishiki
[as by
ラリイ・ニーヴン?Rarii Nīvun
Rarii Niivun
]

Awards

Place Year and Award Category
3 1972 Hugo Best Novella

Publications

Not displaying translations • Display all variants and translations • Do not display variants or translations

Title Date Author/Editor Publisher/Pub. Series ISBN/Catalog ID Price Pages Format Type Cover Artist Verif
Quark/4 1971-08-00 ed. Samuel R. Delany, Marilyn Hacker Paperback Library 66-658
$1.25?$: US dollar
 240
pb?Paperback. Typically 7" by 4.25" (18 cm by 11 cm) or smaller, though trimming errors can cause them to sometimes be slightly (less than 1/4 extra inch) taller or wider/deeper.
 anth Martin Last Checkmark
Quark/4 1971-08-00 ed. Samuel R. Delany, Marilyn Hacker Paperback Library 66-658
C$1.25?C$: Canadian dollar
 240
pb?Paperback. Typically 7" by 4.25" (18 cm by 11 cm) or smaller, though trimming errors can cause them to sometimes be slightly (less than 1/4 extra inch) taller or wider/deeper.
 anth Martin Last Checkmark
The 1972 Annual World's Best SF 1972-05-00 ed. Arthur W. Saha, Donald A. Wollheim DAW Books (DAW Collectors #5) 0-87997-005-7 / UQ1005
$0.95?$: US dollar
 302
pb?Paperback. Typically 7" by 4.25" (18 cm by 11 cm) or smaller, though trimming errors can cause them to sometimes be slightly (less than 1/4 extra inch) taller or wider/deeper.
 anth John Schoenherr Checkmark
The 1972 Annual World's Best SF 1972-05-00 ed. Arthur W. Saha, Donald A. Wollheim DAW Books UQ1005
C$0.95?C$: Canadian dollar
 302
pb?Paperback. Typically 7" by 4.25" (18 cm by 11 cm) or smaller, though trimming errors can cause them to sometimes be slightly (less than 1/4 extra inch) taller or wider/deeper.
 anth John Schoenherr Checkmark
The 1972 Annual World's Best SF 1972-07-00 ed. Arthur W. Saha, Donald A. Wollheim DAW Books / SFBC 3055
$1.98?$: US dollar
 x+
296
hc?Hardcover. Used for all hardbacks of any size.
 anth Frank Frazetta Checkmark
The Best Science Fiction of the Year 1972-07-00 ed. Terry Carr Ballantine Books 0-345-02671-3
$1.25?$: US dollar
 ix+
340
pb?Paperback. Typically 7" by 4.25" (18 cm by 11 cm) or smaller, though trimming errors can cause them to sometimes be slightly (less than 1/4 extra inch) taller or wider/deeper.
 anth Chris Foss Checkmark
The Best Science Fiction of the Year 1972-07-00 ed. Terry Carr Ballantine Books 0-345-02671-3
C$1.25?C$: Canadian dollar
 ix+
340
pb?Paperback. Typically 7" by 4.25" (18 cm by 11 cm) or smaller, though trimming errors can cause them to sometimes be slightly (less than 1/4 extra inch) taller or wider/deeper.
 anth Chris Foss Checkmark
The 1972 Annual World's Best SF 1973-00-00 ed. Arthur W. Saha, Donald A. Wollheim Book Club Associates     301
hc?Hardcover. Used for all hardbacks of any size.
 anth  
The 1972 Annual World's Best SF 1973-11-00 ed. Arthur W. Saha, Donald A. Wollheim DAW Books (DAW Collectors #5) UY1081
$1.25?$: US dollar
 302
pb?Paperback. Typically 7" by 4.25" (18 cm by 11 cm) or smaller, though trimming errors can cause them to sometimes be slightly (less than 1/4 extra inch) taller or wider/deeper.
 anth John Schoenherr Checkmark
A Hole in Space 1974-06-00 Larry Niven Ballantine Books 0-345-24011-1
$1.25?$: US dollar
 196
pb?Paperback. Typically 7" by 4.25" (18 cm by 11 cm) or smaller, though trimming errors can cause them to sometimes be slightly (less than 1/4 extra inch) taller or wider/deeper.
 coll Dean Ellis Checkmark
A Hole in Space 1974-06-00 Larry Niven Ballantine Books 0-345-24011-1
C$1.25?C$: Canadian dollar
 196
pb?Paperback. Typically 7" by 4.25" (18 cm by 11 cm) or smaller, though trimming errors can cause them to sometimes be slightly (less than 1/4 extra inch) taller or wider/deeper.
 coll Dean Ellis Checkmark
A Hole in Space 1974-11-00 Larry Niven Ballantine Books 0-345-24011-1
$1.25?$: US dollar
 196
pb?Paperback. Typically 7" by 4.25" (18 cm by 11 cm) or smaller, though trimming errors can cause them to sometimes be slightly (less than 1/4 extra inch) taller or wider/deeper.
 coll Dean Ellis Checkmark
A Hole in Space 1975-00-00 Larry Niven Orbit / Futura 0-86007-853-1
£0.50?£: UK pound
 196
pb?Paperback. Typically 7" by 4.25" (18 cm by 11 cm) or smaller, though trimming errors can cause them to sometimes be slightly (less than 1/4 extra inch) taller or wider/deeper.
 coll Tony Roberts (artist) Checkmark
A Hole in Space 1976-03-00 Larry Niven Ballantine Books 0-345-25287-X
$1.50?$: US dollar
 196
pb?Paperback. Typically 7" by 4.25" (18 cm by 11 cm) or smaller, though trimming errors can cause them to sometimes be slightly (less than 1/4 extra inch) taller or wider/deeper.
 coll Dean Ellis Checkmark
The Best Science Fiction of the Year #1 1976-04-00 ed. Terry Carr Ballantine Books 0-345-24922-4
$1.95?$: US dollar
 [ix]+
340
pb?Paperback. Typically 7" by 4.25" (18 cm by 11 cm) or smaller, though trimming errors can cause them to sometimes be slightly (less than 1/4 extra inch) taller or wider/deeper.
 anth Checkmark
A Hole in Space 1977-02-00 Larry Niven Del Rey / Ballantine 0-345-27137-8
$1.50?$: US dollar
 196
pb?Paperback. Typically 7" by 4.25" (18 cm by 11 cm) or smaller, though trimming errors can cause them to sometimes be slightly (less than 1/4 extra inch) taller or wider/deeper.
 coll Dean Ellis Checkmark
Wollheim's World's Best SF: Vol. I 1977-12-00 ed. Arthur W. Saha, Donald A. Wollheim DAW Books 0-87997-349-8 / UE1349
$1.75?$: US dollar
 302
pb?Paperback. Typically 7" by 4.25" (18 cm by 11 cm) or smaller, though trimming errors can cause them to sometimes be slightly (less than 1/4 extra inch) taller or wider/deeper.
 anth John Berkey Checkmark
Wollheim's World's Best SF: Vol. I 1977-12-00 ed. Arthur W. Saha, Donald A. Wollheim DAW Books 0-87997-349-8 / UE1349
C$1.75?C$: Canadian dollar
 302
pb?Paperback. Typically 7" by 4.25" (18 cm by 11 cm) or smaller, though trimming errors can cause them to sometimes be slightly (less than 1/4 extra inch) taller or wider/deeper.
 anth John Berkey Checkmark
A Hole in Space 1978-08-00 Larry Niven Del Rey / Ballantine 0-345-28040-7
$1.75?$: US dollar
 196
pb?Paperback. Typically 7" by 4.25" (18 cm by 11 cm) or smaller, though trimming errors can cause them to sometimes be slightly (less than 1/4 extra inch) taller or wider/deeper.
 coll Dean Ellis Checkmark
A Hole in Space 1980-00-00 Larry Niven Orbit / Futura 0-86007-853-1
£1.25?£: UK pound
 196
pb?Paperback. Typically 7" by 4.25" (18 cm by 11 cm) or smaller, though trimming errors can cause them to sometimes be slightly (less than 1/4 extra inch) taller or wider/deeper.
 coll Peter Jones Checkmark
A Hole in Space 1980-03-00 Larry Niven Del Rey / Ballantine 0-345-29225-1
$1.95?$: US dollar
 196
pb?Paperback. Typically 7" by 4.25" (18 cm by 11 cm) or smaller, though trimming errors can cause them to sometimes be slightly (less than 1/4 extra inch) taller or wider/deeper.
 coll Dean Ellis Checkmark
A Hole in Space 1981-03-00 Larry Niven Del Rey / Ballantine 0-345-30051-3
$2.25?$: US dollar
 196
pb?Paperback. Typically 7" by 4.25" (18 cm by 11 cm) or smaller, though trimming errors can cause them to sometimes be slightly (less than 1/4 extra inch) taller or wider/deeper.
 coll Dean Ellis Checkmark
A Hole in Space 1984-00-00 Larry Niven Orbit 0-86007-853-1
£2.25?£: UK pound
 196
pb?Paperback. Typically 7" by 4.25" (18 cm by 11 cm) or smaller, though trimming errors can cause them to sometimes be slightly (less than 1/4 extra inch) taller or wider/deeper.
 coll Peter Jones Checkmark
A Hole in Space 1986-00-00 Larry Niven Orbit / Futura 0-86007-853-1
£2.50?£: UK pound
 196
pb?Paperback. Typically 7" by 4.25" (18 cm by 11 cm) or smaller, though trimming errors can cause them to sometimes be slightly (less than 1/4 extra inch) taller or wider/deeper.
 coll Peter Jones Checkmark
A Hole in Space 1988-05-00 Larry Niven Del Rey / Ballantine 0-345-33777-8
$3.50?$: US dollar
 196
pb?Paperback. Typically 7" by 4.25" (18 cm by 11 cm) or smaller, though trimming errors can cause them to sometimes be slightly (less than 1/4 extra inch) taller or wider/deeper.
 coll Dean Ellis  
A Hole in Space 1990-00-00 Larry Niven Ballantine Books 0-345-33777-8
$4.95?$: US dollar
 196
pb?Paperback. Typically 7" by 4.25" (18 cm by 11 cm) or smaller, though trimming errors can cause them to sometimes be slightly (less than 1/4 extra inch) taller or wider/deeper.
 coll Dean Ellis  
Project Solar Sail 1990-04-00 ed. David Brin, Arthur C. Clarke Roc / Penguin 0-451-45002-7
$4.50?$: US dollar
 246
pb?Paperback. Typically 7" by 4.25" (18 cm by 11 cm) or smaller, though trimming errors can cause them to sometimes be slightly (less than 1/4 extra inch) taller or wider/deeper.
 anth Checkmark
N-Space 1990-09-00 Larry Niven Tor 0-312-85089-1
$19.95?$: US dollar
 529
hc?Hardcover. Used for all hardbacks of any size.
 coll Dave Archer Checkmark
N-Space 1991-02-00 Larry Niven Tor / SFBC 17755
$9.98?$: US dollar
 529
hc?Hardcover. Used for all hardbacks of any size.
 coll Dave Archer Checkmark
N-Space 1991-09-00 Larry Niven Tor 0-812-51001-1
$5.99?$: US dollar
 vi+
693
pb?Paperback. Typically 7" by 4.25" (18 cm by 11 cm) or smaller, though trimming errors can cause them to sometimes be slightly (less than 1/4 extra inch) taller or wider/deeper.
 coll Dave Archer Checkmark
A Hole in Space 1992-00-00 Larry Niven Orbit / Little, Brown UK 1-85723-147-3
£4.50?£: UK pound
 196
pb?Paperback. Typically 7" by 4.25" (18 cm by 11 cm) or smaller, though trimming errors can cause them to sometimes be slightly (less than 1/4 extra inch) taller or wider/deeper.
 coll Peter Elson Checkmark
N-Space 1992-01-00 Larry Niven Orbit 1-85723-003-5
£4.99?£: UK pound
 617
pb?Paperback. Typically 7" by 4.25" (18 cm by 11 cm) or smaller, though trimming errors can cause them to sometimes be slightly (less than 1/4 extra inch) taller or wider/deeper.
 coll Fred Gambino  
N-Space 1992-01-00 Larry Niven Orbit 0-356-20242-9
£14.99?£: UK pound
 vi+
617
hc?Hardcover. Used for all hardbacks of any size.
 coll Fred Gambino Checkmark
N-Space 1992-02-00 Larry Niven Orbit 1-85723-003-5
£4.99?£: UK pound
 617
pb?Paperback. Typically 7" by 4.25" (18 cm by 11 cm) or smaller, though trimming errors can cause them to sometimes be slightly (less than 1/4 extra inch) taller or wider/deeper.
 coll Fred Gambino Checkmark
N-Space 1997-05-00 Larry Niven Tor 0-812-51001-1
$6.99?$: US dollar
 vi+
693
pb?Paperback. Typically 7" by 4.25" (18 cm by 11 cm) or smaller, though trimming errors can cause them to sometimes be slightly (less than 1/4 extra inch) taller or wider/deeper.
 coll Dave Archer Checkmark
N-Space 1998-00-00 Larry Niven Orbit 1-85723-003-5
£6.99?£: UK pound
 617
pb?Paperback. Typically 7" by 4.25" (18 cm by 11 cm) or smaller, though trimming errors can cause them to sometimes be slightly (less than 1/4 extra inch) taller or wider/deeper.
 coll Fred Gambino Checkmark
N-Space 2007-08-00 Larry Niven Tor 0-765-31824-5
$15.95?$: US dollar
 vi+
534
tp?Trade paperback. Any softcover book which is at least 7.25" (or 19 cm) tall, or at least 4.5" (11.5 cm) wide/deep.
 coll Ray Massey  
The Best of Larry Niven 2010-12-00 Larry Niven Subterranean Press 978-1-59606-331-0
$40.00?$: US dollar
 618
hc?Hardcover. Used for all hardbacks of any size.
 coll Edward Miller Checkmark
The Best of Larry Niven 2010-12-00 Larry Niven Subterranean Press 978-1-59606-331-0
$60.00?$: US dollar
 618
hc?Hardcover. Used for all hardbacks of any size.
 coll Edward Miller  
A Hole in Space 2011-06-17 Larry Niven Spectrum Literary Agency  
$5.99?$: US dollar
 206
ebook?Used for all electronic formats, including but not limited to EPUB, eReader, HTML, iBook, Mobipocket, and PDF.
 coll  
The 1972 Annual World's Best SF date unknown ed. Arthur W. Saha, Donald A. Wollheim DAW Books (DAW Collectors #5) UQ1005
$0.95?$: US dollar
 302
pb?Paperback. Typically 7" by 4.25" (18 cm by 11 cm) or smaller, though trimming errors can cause them to sometimes be slightly (less than 1/4 extra inch) taller or wider/deeper.
 anth John Schoenherr  
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