The Command

"The Command" is a science fiction story by American writer L. Sprague de Camp. An early treatment of the concept of uplift, it was the first in his Johnny Black series. It was first published in the magazine Astounding Science-Fiction for October, 1938, and first appeared in book form in the hardcover anthology Modern Masterpieces of Science Fiction. It later appeared in the paperback anthology Doorway Into Time and the subsequent de Camp collection The Best of L. Sprague de Camp. The story has also been translated into German.