Roger MacBride Allen is widely recognized as a science fiction novelist. He has written

Star Wars novels; he has crafted narratives into the worlds formed by famed science fiction

writer, Isaac Asimov, and he has created his own unique stories of robots, aliens, and wormhole

space travel. While mainly known for his novels, Allen has also written several short stories that

are just as compelling as his most notable works. One such short story was published in the

March 1990 issue of Analog with the title, Side Effect.

Side Effect is a story about a proposed miracle drug called Trimalicine-3. The narrator is

a part of one of the largest pharmaceutical companies, which is responsible for handling the

research and production of the new drug. News of the cure-all have been leaked by every form of

print and broadcast medium. Everyone, including stockholders and the board of directors are

eager to make billions of dollars. Unfortunately, researchers have contacted the narrator about

the drug being an unviable product for reasons that will be revealed by story’s end.

With the passage of time science fiction has become comprised of a series of subgenres.

Allen’s Side Effect falls under the category of Hard Science Fiction. This subgenre puts science

and technology at the forefront of its’ narratives, and it often favors concepts over plot and

character development. Allen’s story follows the parameters of this subgenre precisely. The

narrator is never named, nor are readers able to gain much insight into who he is as an individual.

The researcher and research assistant do get some development, as readers glimpse their value in

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ethics and morality. In terms of plot, it is both compact and focused. As is expected, science is

the primary emphasis in this tale. Allen spends a lot of time having the researchers explain the

process of their experimentation and how their research led them to their stance on the miracle

drug. Allen tries to maintain a level of authenticity when the researchers discuss their findings.

This science driven method of storytelling achieves a sense of realism that solidifies Allen’s

short story as a part of the hard science fiction canon.

Although Side Effect is short and the plot is seemingly simple, the narrative actually

proves to be a rich source of literary analysis. The story is critical of the medical and

pharmaceutical industries; it depicts instances of ethics and morality, and it casts a negative light

on corporate greed. The fact that the title of Allen’s story is Side Effect, illustrates that he has

something to say with this piece. His narrative is a solid introduction into science fiction as it is

brief, concise, and has an element of realism. This realism keeps new readers grounded in reality,

but open to the wondrous possibilities of science fiction.

Ultimately Allen’s short story is the perfect example of why science fiction should not be

considered frivolous. The genre is capable of commenting on the fears, thoughts, and dreams

about the future of humankind and the vast expanses of space.