A Song for Leah

Description

I have been studying their religion for six years. It is unlike anything in history, unparalleled on the ancient Earth, and unlike any other race we have encountered. The union… it is a mistake to compare it to human sacrifices. The religions of the ancient Earth offered one or two victims by force. As a sacrifice to appease their gods, a few were killed to gain mercy for millions, a practice usually met with resistance from the few. But the Ashkin do not do that. The Grishka takes everyone, and they go to it of their own free will, heading to the caves to be eaten alive by those parasites.

In the distant future, in a time when humanity has spread throughout the galaxy, journeyed among the stars, and encountered various beings from other worlds, a human settlement is established on a newly discovered planet. It is inhabited by simple, peaceful people who have lived in their primitive era for thousands of years, and they all believe in one religion. The Ashkin welcome humans and allow them to live among them, but they soon discover that their religion involves a very strange form of suicide, which they embrace willingly and gladly at the end of their lives. This prompts humanity’s leadership to summon the highly skilled psychic detectives Rob and Leia to answer a crucial question: Why have humans, in turn, begun to embrace this mysterious alien religion?

This is George R.R. Martin’s first song, written in 1973 and published the following year. At the time, it was his longest work and the one he considered closest to his heart. “For Leia” won the Hugo Award for Best Short Story and came in second place in the Lux Award poll. It was also shortlisted for the Polly and Gorter Awards.