Call Me Joe

"Call Me Joe" is a science fiction novelette by American writer Poul Anderson (1926–2001), first published in Astounding Science Fiction in April 1957. It has been frequently anthologized, including in The Science Fiction Hall of Fame, Volume Two (1973), a collection of unusually outstanding works selected by the Science Fiction Writers of America.

The story involves a future program by humans to explore and settle the surface of the planet Jupiter. (At the time of publication, it was considered plausible that the planet had a solid surface.) Because the Jovian environment is extreme (gravity, pressure, temperature, hydrogen/ammonia atmosphere, liquid methane)—and thus humans cannot descend to the surface—a prototype synthetic life-form is created and remote-controlled by technologically enhanced telepathy (psionics). This intelligent creature (which happens to resemble a centaur) is inserted among the native Jovian life-forms, none of which are sentient beyond a rudimentary level. The controller and operator of this artificial body is a severely disabled human.