The question of what does and does not qualify as art resulted in one of the only science fiction stories that has ever genuinely angered me. Gordon R. Dickson is certainly one of my favourite authors, however he actually pissed me off with “Black Charlie.” It took place on a planet whose natives were otter-like and never almost as advanced as people. The narrator was a human art skilled who was approached by another human, a prospector who had befriended one of the aliens, Black Charlie. Charlie fancied himself an artist and had produced some very crude rock sculptures. He … Read More