Short story about a cannibal

[hegg]

A customer has just asked me if I knew the name of a (great sounding) short story that she read a long time ago, but I'm stumped. Hopefully the collective Chron mind might be able to help...

I quote- "...it was a humorous tale about an alien (possibly called Radnor) who had previously been a cannibal, but was now reformed and who was invited to judge a baking competition. He awarded the prize to a beautiful young girl woman who looked 'good enough to eat'"

Haha, sounds wonderful! Does that ring any bells for anyone?

It may have been in an anthology alongside Isaac Asimov's It's a Beautiful Day.

 

[wwsierra]

I believe this is: The Model of a Judge, by WilliamMorrison.

I remembered this story, but had to look awhile to find it. I read it in the Third Galaxy Reader, which was a science fiction book club selection in 1958 (although the story apparently was written in 1953).

The “cannibal” was a carnivore from another world and a scientist/doctor had taken it and done psychological and physical changes so itcould be with humans (maybe make it into a vegetarian). The creature had exceptional sensory perception, especially in the taste buds, so it was asked to judge a baking/cookingcompetition. It took a very small sample of each entry as it really didn’t care for the taste of things it had to eat. One entrant said that the creaturecouldn’t possible judge the entry as it was taking such a small morsel and thedoctor told her that the creature had such amazing taste that it only needed a very small piece. When asked why one entry wasn’t one of the finalists, the creature said that it had sensed that one (or more) of the ingredients had been refrigerated. The lady upon hearing this said, “he swore to me that it was fresh”. To decide between the finalists the creature had to take another, larger sample. This was when it overheard the husband or boyfriend of one of the finalist saying something like “don’t worry about your entry, you are good enough to eat,” and upon hearing this, the creature decided . . . well, you know.
Hope this helps.
Walt

 

[psychotick]

Hi,

Would this alien actually be a cannibal? I mean if he's not eating his own kind?

Cheers, Greg.

 

[hegg]

wwsierra - thank you so much! That sounds exactly like what she was talking about, well, except for the slight misremembering of it being a cannibal/alien carnivore. Still, that must be it. I'll let her know now, she'll be thrilled.

Again, thanks so much for your help, and for all the detail.