Title: The Pi Man
Title Record # 41066
Author: Alfred Bester
Date: 1959-10-00
Type: SHORTFICTION
Length: short story
Language: English
Current Tags: Merril05 (1), contemporary (1), only humans (1), OCD (1), romance (1), cosmic balance (1), first person point of view (1), science fiction (1), New York City (1) Add Tags
Author: Alfred Bester
Date: 1959-10-00
Type: SHORTFICTION
Length: short story
Language: English
Note: First published in The Magazine of Fantasy and Science Fiction, October 1959 and later revised for Star Light, Star Bright, Berkley/Putnam, 1976.
Synopsis: A man has the rare talent of sensing balance and imbalance in the universe, but with it comes the compulsion to correct any imbalance, no matter at what cost.
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Current Tags: Merril05 (1), contemporary (1), only humans (1), OCD (1), romance (1), cosmic balance (1), first person point of view (1), science fiction (1), New York City (1) Add Tags
Other Titles
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Awards
| Place | Year and Award | Category |
|---|---|---|
| Finalists | 1960 Hugo | Best Short Fiction |
Publications
Displaying all variants and translations • Do not display translations • Do not display variants or translations
| Title | Date | Author/Editor | Publisher/Pub. Series | ISBN/Catalog ID | Price | Pages | Format | Type | Cover Artist | Verif |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| The Magazine of Fantasy and Science Fiction, October 1959 | 1959-10-00 | ed. Robert P. Mills | Mercury Press, Inc. | $0.50?$: US dollar. ISO code: USD |
164 | digest?Digest-size magazine, including both standard digest size, at about 7" by 4.5", and also large digest, such as recent issues of Asimov's, which are about 8.25" by 5.125". |
mag | Emsh |  |
|
| The Best from Fantasy and Science Fiction: Ninth Series | 1960-02-00 | ed. Robert P. Mills | Doubleday | $3.95?$: US dollar. ISO code: USD |
264 | hc?Hardcover. Used for all hardbacks of any size. |
anth | Herb Mott | ||
| The Best from Fantasy and Science Fiction: Ninth Series | 1960-05-00 | ed. Robert P. Mills | Doubleday / SFBC | $1.20?$: US dollar. ISO code: USD |
264 | hc?Hardcover. Used for all hardbacks of any size. |
anth | Herb Mott | |
|
| The Best from Fantasy and Science Fiction: Ninth Series | 1962-00-00 | ed. Robert P. Mills | Gollancz | 18/-?Prior to decimilisation (1968-1971), UK books were priced
in shillings, or shillings and pence, where 20 shillings
equals one pound and 12 old pence equals one shilling.
Shillings were indicated with a variety of suffixes, e.g.
3s, 3', 3", 3/ all mean 3 shillings. Any number after that
is additional pence, usually 6 (half a shilling) but
sometimes 3 or 9 (a quarter of a shilling or three-quarters
of a shilling). |
5+ 260 |
hc?Hardcover. Used for all hardbacks of any size. |
anth | |||
| Fantasia e Fantascienza #3 | 1963-02-00 | ed. G. Jori | Editrice Minerva | 3 | Lit 250?Lit: Italian lira. ISO code: ITL in 1861-1999 |
136 | digest?Digest-size magazine, including both standard digest size, at about 7" by 4.5", and also large digest, such as recent issues of Asimov's, which are about 8.25" by 5.125". |
mag | Ed Emsh | |
| Venture Science Fiction [UK], September 1963 | 1963-09-00 | ed. uncredited | Atlas Publishing and Distribution Co. Ltd | 2/6?Prior to decimilisation (1968-1971), UK books were priced
in shillings, or shillings and pence, where 20 shillings
equals one pound and 12 old pence equals one shilling.
Shillings were indicated with a variety of suffixes, e.g.
3s, 3', 3", 3/ all mean 3 shillings. Any number after that
is additional pence, usually 6 (half a shilling) but
sometimes 3 or 9 (a quarter of a shilling or three-quarters
of a shilling). |
132 | digest?Digest-size magazine, including both standard digest size, at about 7" by 4.5", and also large digest, such as recent issues of Asimov's, which are about 8.25" by 5.125". |
mag | |||
| The Best from Fantasy and Science Fiction: Ninth Series | 1963-10-00 | ed. Robert P. Mills | The Science Fiction Book Club (UK) | 78 | 6/-?Prior to decimilisation (1968-1971), UK books were priced
in shillings, or shillings and pence, where 20 shillings
equals one pound and 12 old pence equals one shilling.
Shillings were indicated with a variety of suffixes, e.g.
3s, 3', 3", 3/ all mean 3 shillings. Any number after that
is additional pence, usually 6 (half a shilling) but
sometimes 3 or 9 (a quarter of a shilling or three-quarters
of a shilling). |
5+ 260 |
hc?Hardcover. Used for all hardbacks of any size. |
anth | John Griffiths | |
| 16 Science Fiction-Stories | 1964-00-00 | ed. Anthony Boucher | Heyne (Heyne-Anthologien #5) | HA05 | DM 4.80?DM: German (Deutsche) mark. ISO code: DEM in 1948-1999 |
283 | 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. |
anth | Heinrichs & Piloty | |
| The Best from Fantasy and Science Fiction: 9th Series | 1964-00-00 | ed. Robert P. Mills | Ace Books | F-267 | $0.40?$: US dollar. ISO code: USD |
255 | 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 | Emsh | |
| The Dark Side of the Earth | 1964-05-00 | Alfred Bester | Signet / New American Library | D2474 | $0.50?$: US dollar. ISO code: USD |
160 | 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 | |
|
| The Dark Side of the Earth | 1964-05-00 | Alfred Bester | Signet / New American Library of Canada | D2474 | C$0.50?C$: Canadian dollar. ISO code: CAD |
160 | 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 | |
|
| The Best from Fantasy and Science Fiction: 9th Series | 1964-09-00 | ed. Robert P. Mills | Panther | 1738 | 3/6?Prior to decimilisation (1968-1971), UK books were priced
in shillings, or shillings and pence, where 20 shillings
equals one pound and 12 old pence equals one shilling.
Shillings were indicated with a variety of suffixes, e.g.
3s, 3', 3", 3/ all mean 3 shillings. Any number after that
is additional pence, usually 6 (half a shilling) but
sometimes 3 or 9 (a quarter of a shilling or three-quarters
of a shilling). |
207 | 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 | |
|
| An Alfred Bester Omnibus | 1967-00-00 | Alfred Bester | Sidgwick & Jackson | 102199 | 30/-?Prior to decimilisation (1968-1971), UK books were priced
in shillings, or shillings and pence, where 20 shillings
equals one pound and 12 old pence equals one shilling.
Shillings were indicated with a variety of suffixes, e.g.
3s, 3', 3", 3/ all mean 3 shillings. Any number after that
is additional pence, usually 6 (half a shilling) but
sometimes 3 or 9 (a quarter of a shilling or three-quarters
of a shilling). |
710 | hc?Hardcover. Used for all hardbacks of any size. |
omni | ||
| Fiction, #160 | 1967-03-00 |
ed.
Alain Dorémieux?Alain Doremieux |
OPTA | F3.00?F: French frank. ISO code: FRF in 1960-1999 |
164 | digest?Digest-size magazine, including both standard digest size, at about 7" by 4.5", and also large digest, such as recent issues of Asimov's, which are about 8.25" by 5.125". |
mag | Mario Sarchielli | ||
| Urania #469 | 1967-08-27 | ed. Carlo Fruttero, Franco Lucentini | Mondadori | 469 | Lit 250?Lit: Italian lira. ISO code: ITL in 1861-1999 |
168 | digest?Digest-size magazine, including both standard digest size, at about 7" by 4.5", and also large digest, such as recent issues of Asimov's, which are about 8.25" by 5.125". |
mag | Karel Thole | |
| The Dark Side of the Earth | 1969-11-00 | Alfred Bester | Pan Books | 0-330-02393-4 | £0.25?£: UK pound. ISO code: GBP |
171 | 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 | W. F. Phillipps | |
| Alpha One | 1970-09-00 | ed. Robert Silverberg | Ballantine Books | 0-345-02014-6 | $0.95?$: US dollar. ISO code: USD |
vii+ 278 |
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 Lindner | |
| The Dark Side of the Earth | 1970-10-00 | Alfred Bester | Signet / New American Library of Canada | T4402 | C$0.75?C$: Canadian dollar. ISO code: CAD |
160 | 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 | Bob Pepper | |
| Alpha One | 1971-12-00 | ed. Robert Silverberg | Ballantine Books | 0-345-02014-6 | £0.35?£: UK pound. ISO code: GBP |
vii+ 278 |
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 | |
| Star Light, Star Bright | 1976-07-00 | Alfred Bester | Berkley/Putnam | 0-399-11816-0 | $7.95?$: US dollar. ISO code: USD |
248 | hc?Hardcover. Used for all hardbacks of any size. |
coll | Richard Powers | |
| Starlight: The Great Short Fiction of Alfred Bester | 1976-12-00 | Alfred Bester | Nelson Doubleday / SFBC | 3140 | $3.98?$: US dollar. ISO code: USD |
409 | hc?Hardcover. Used for all hardbacks of any size. |
omni | Jack Woolhiser | |
| The Dark Side of the Earth | 1977-00-00 | Alfred Bester | Pan Books | 0-330-02393-4 | £0.60?£: UK pound. ISO code: GBP |
171 | 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 | Gino D'Achille | |
| Verrukkelijk Fahrenheit | 1977-00-00 | Alfred Bester | Meulenhoff (M=SF #123) | 90-290-0516-5 | 349 | 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 | Paul Lehr | |
|
| Starlight: The Great Short Fiction of Alfred Bester | 1977-07-00 | Alfred Bester | Berkley Medallion | 0-425-03451-8 | $1.95?$: US dollar. ISO code: USD |
452 | 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. |
omni | Richard Powers | |
| Star Light, Star Bright | 1978-02-00 | Alfred Bester | Gollancz | 0-575-02320-1 | £4.50?£: UK pound. ISO code: GBP |
248 | hc?Hardcover. Used for all hardbacks of any size. |
coll | ||
| Star Light, Star Bright | 1979-00-00 | Alfred Bester | Fontana | 0-00-615406-9 | £0.95?£: UK pound. ISO code: GBP |
220 | 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 | Tim White | |
| The Future I | 1981-01-00 | ed. Isaac Asimov, Martin Harry Greenberg, Joseph D. Olander | Fawcett Crest | 0-449-24366-4 | $2.50?$: US dollar. ISO code: USD |
381 | 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 | Richard Courtney | |
| What If? Volume 2 | 1981-02-00 | ed. Richard A. Lupoff | Pocket Books | 0-671-83190-9 | $2.50?$: US dollar. ISO code: USD |
239 | 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 | Richard Powers | |
| What If? Volume 2 | 1981-02-00 | ed. Richard A. Lupoff | Pocket Books | 0-671-83190-9 | C$2.95?C$: Canadian dollar. ISO code: CAD |
239 | 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 | Richard Powers | |
| Oh, luminosa y brillante estrella | 1985-00-00 | Alfred Bester | Teorema (Visión Arcadia) | 84-7604-042-3 | 281 | 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 | Tim White | ||
| Le livre d'or de la science-fiction: Alfred Bester | 1986-04-28 | Alfred Bester | Presses Pocket (Presses Pocket - Science Fiction #5234) | 2-266-01736-5 | 312 | 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 | Marcel Laverdet | ||
| The Great SF Stories #21 (1959) | 1990-06-00 | ed. Isaac Asimov, Martin H. Greenberg | DAW Books (DAW Collectors #823) | 0-88677-428-4 / UE2428 | $4.95?$: US dollar. ISO code: USD |
347 | 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 | Robin Hidden | |
| The Great SF Stories #21 (1959) | 1990-06-00 | ed. Isaac Asimov, Martin H. Greenberg | DAW Books | 0-88677-428-4 | C$5.95?C$: Canadian dollar. ISO code: CAD |
347 | 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 | Robin Hidden | |
| Die Hölle ist ewig | 1993-00-00 | Alfred Bester | Suhrkamp (Phantastische Bibliothek #293) | 3-518-38657-3 | DM 14.00?DM: German (Deutsche) mark. ISO code: DEM in 1948-1999 |
191 | 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 | Michael van Ofen | |
| The Ascent of Wonder: The Evolution of Hard SF | 1994-07-00 | ed. Kathryn Cramer, David G. Hartwell | Tor | 0-312-85062-X | $35.00?$: US dollar. ISO code: USD |
990+ [2] |
hc?Hardcover. Used for all hardbacks of any size. |
anth | John Berkey | |
| The Ascent of Wonder: The Evolution of Hard SF | 1994-10-00 | ed. Kathryn Cramer, David G. Hartwell | Orbit | 1-85723-271-2 | £25.00?£: UK pound. ISO code: GBP |
990 | hc?Hardcover. Used for all hardbacks of any size. |
anth | John Berkey | |
| The Ascent of Wonder: The Evolution of Hard SF | 1994-10-00 | ed. Kathryn Cramer, David G. Hartwell | Tor / SFBC | 05435 | $17.98?$: US dollar. ISO code: USD |
990 | hc?Hardcover. Used for all hardbacks of any size. |
anth | John Berkey | |
| The Ascent of Wonder: The Evolution of Hard SF | 1997-09-00 | ed. Kathryn Cramer, David G. Hartwell | Orb | 0-312-85509-5 | $27.95?$: US dollar. ISO code: USD |
990 | 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. |
anth | |
|
| Virtual Unrealities: The Short Fiction of Alfred Bester | 1997-11-00 | Alfred Bester | Vintage Books | 0-679-76783-5 | $14.00?$: US dollar. ISO code: USD |
xiii+ 366 |
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 | Evan Gaffney | |
| Virtual Unrealities: The Short Fiction of Alfred Bester | 1997-11-00 | Alfred Bester | Topeka Bindery | 1-4177-1932-X | $17.92?$: US dollar. ISO code: USD |
hc?Hardcover. Used for all hardbacks of any size. |
coll | |||
| Virtual Unrealities: The Short Fiction of Alfred Bester | 1998-08-00 | Alfred Bester | Vintage Books / SFBC | 1-56865-805-2 / 17770 | $10.98?$: US dollar. ISO code: USD |
366 | hc?Hardcover. Used for all hardbacks of any size. |
coll | ||
| Irrealidades virtuais, 2º volume | 1999-06-00 | Alfred Bester | Publicações Europa-América?Publicacoes Europa-America (Livros de Bolso, série Ficção Científica #242) |
972-1-04624-8 | 192 | 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 | Estúdios PEA | ||
| Irrealidades virtuales | 2003-03-00 | Alfred Bester | Minotauro | 84-450-7307-9 | 420 | hc?Hardcover. Used for all hardbacks of any size. |
coll | |||
| Virtual Unrealities: The Short Fiction of Alfred Bester | 2013-05-30 | Alfred Bester | Byron Preiss Visual Publications | 0-679-76783-5 | $16.95?$: US dollar. ISO code: USD |
ebook?Used for all electronic formats, including but not limited to EPUB, eReader, HTML, iBook, Mobipocket, and PDF. |
coll | Evan Gaffney | ||
| Alpha 1 | 2022-05-17 | ed. Robert Silverberg | ReAnimus Press | 978-1-005-02459-8 | $3.99?$: US dollar. ISO code: USD |
ebook?Used for all electronic formats, including but not limited to EPUB, eReader, HTML, iBook, Mobipocket, and PDF. |
anth | John Lindner | ||
| Alpha 1 | 2022-05-18 | ed. Robert Silverberg | ReAnimus Press | 979-8-8293-5377-3 | $26.99?$: US dollar. ISO code: USD |
342 | hc?Hardcover. Used for all hardbacks of any size. |
anth | John Lindner | |
| Alpha 1 | 2022-05-18 | ed. Robert Silverberg | ReAnimus Press | 979-8-8293-5125-0 | $16.99?$: US dollar. ISO code: USD |
342 | 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. |
anth | John Lindner | |
| Starlight: The Great Short Fiction of Alfred Bester | date unknown | Alfred Bester | Berkley Medallion | 0-425-03451-8 | $1.95?$: US dollar. ISO code: USD |
452 | 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. |
omni | Richard Powers | |
| The Best from Fantasy and Science Fiction: 9th Series | date unknown | ed. Robert P. Mills | Ace Books | 05448 | $0.60?$: US dollar. ISO code: USD |
255 | 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 | |
|
| The Dark Side of the Earth | date unknown | Alfred Bester | Signet / New American Library | T4402 | $0.75?$: US dollar. ISO code: USD |
160 | 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 | Bob Pepper | |
| Virtual Unrealities: The Short Fiction of Alfred Bester | date unknown | Alfred Bester | Vintage Books | 0-679-76783-5 | $14.00?$: US dollar. ISO code: USD |
xiii+ 366 |
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 | Evan Gaffney | |
| Virtual Unrealities: The Short Fiction of Alfred Bester | date unknown | Alfred Bester | Vintage Books | 978-0-679-76783-1 | $16.95?$: US dollar. ISO code: USD |
xiii+ 366 |
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 | Evan Gaffney | |