The Outpost (Mike Resnick novel)

Infobox Book |
name = The Outpost


image_caption = First edition cover
author = Mike Resnick
cover_artist = Bob Warner (artist) (Jacket artist)
country = United States
language = English
series = "Birthright" Universe
genre = Science fiction novel
publisher = Tor Books
release_date = May 2001
media_type = Print (Hardcover)
pages = 383 pp (first edition, hardback)
isbn = ISBN 0-312-85485-4 (first edition, hardback)

"The Outpost" is a science fiction novel by Mike Resnick.

Plot introduction

The Outpost is a bar at the edge of the galaxy, in the area known as the Inner Frontier. It attracts the exceptional and extraordinary who, while drinking and relaxing, share stories of their lives.

Plot summary

The novel is divided into 3 sections: Legend, Fact, and History. In Legend, the characters tell stories of what they were doing before they arrived and about people they met and things they did. The storytelling is interrupted by an alien invasion of the system, which the heroes react to. The History section sees everyone gathered back at the Outpost to share their stories and find out the fates of the others.

tories Told

*Catastrophe Baker and the Dragon Queen
*The Last Landship (Hellfire Carson)
*The Greatest Painting of All Time (Little Mike)
*The Short, Star-Crossed Career of Magic Adbul-Jordan (Big Red)
*When Iron-Arm McPherson Took the Mound (Big Red)
*The Night Bet-a-World O'Grady Met High-Stakes Eddie
*Catastrophe Baker and the Siren of Silverstrike

Characters in "The Outpost"

*Tomahawk (Thomas Aloysius Hawke) - Owner of The Outpost
*Reggie - Robot bartender
*Catastrophe Baker - Living legend
*Hurricane Smith - hero with a weakness for alien females
*Three-Gun Max - Mutant gunfighter with 3 arms
*Big Red - Former professional star athlete (basketball, baseball, murderball)
*Nicodemus Mayflower -
*Bet-a-World O'Grady - Infamous gambler
*Sinderella -
*Little Mike Picasso (Michelangelo Gauguin Rembrandt van Gogh Rockwell Picasso (formerly Montgomery Quiggle))- Famous unknown artist
*Sahara Del Rio - Alien (Borovite)
*Reverend Billy Karma -
*Einstein - Deaf, blind, mute supragenius
*Argyle - Alien with color-changing skin, former accountant
*Gravedigger Gaines - Retired bounty hunter
*Willie the Bard - Historian and record-keeper for the Outpost
*Hellfire Van Winkle - (formerly Hellfire Carson) 5,000 year old former big-game hunter and safari guide
*Achmed of Alphar -
*Earth Mother - Retired madam
*Sitting Horse & Crazy Bull- Aliens (Velitas IV) who become members the Great Sioux Nation

Major themes

*Tall tales in the nature of Paul Bunyan and Pecos Bill, but set in the Wild West of the future.
*Religion in the form of monotheism and polytheism.
*Discussion of history as a set of facts vs. perceptions.

Release details

*2001, U.S., Tor Books ISBN 0-312-85485-4, Pub date May 2001, Hardcover