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The old fun thing is when somebody typed up the first chapter of War and Peace. And then made a precis of the rest of it and sent it out and only one publisher recognized it.

—Jim Harrison
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The Ballad of Lost C'Mell

(1962)
Author: Cordwainer Smith
Publisher: Galaxy Publishing
Pages: 0
Personal Rating: 0/10
Amazon: 4.5/5
Goodreads: 4.5/5
Bindings:Compilation
Found in:The Science Fiction Hall of Fame: Volume II A [1974]
Classifications:SciFi
Synopsis:
The story revolves around Jestocost's ambition to help the oppressed underpeople gain rights without upsetting the established social order. While debating how to make contact, Jestocost telepathically accesses C'mell's thoughts during the funeral of her athlete father, and overhears her call for help to someone named E-telly-kelly. After awkwardly questioning her later (which she at first mistakes for a crude pass), he is permitted to make contact with the E'telekeli, an eagle-derived underperson unknown to the Instrumentality with immense telepathic powers, who may be the leader of the underpeople.