| Publication date: | 1947.05 |
|---|---|
| Genre: | Science fiction short story |
| Preceded by: | Space Jockey |
| Followed by: | They Do It with Mirrors |
| Wikipedia page |
“Columbus Was a Dope” is a science fiction short story by Robert A. Heinlein. It was first published in May 1947 issue of “Startling Stories.”
Exposition
In the story, bar patrons and a bartender debate building a starship. One favors outer space exploration as an obvious analogy of Columbus’s voyages, the other insists that Columbus was a dope and should have stayed home. The punch line is that the debate takes place on the moon.