Project Gutenberg
2010-04-17
Public domain in the USA.
127
Simak, Clifford D.
1904
1988
Simak, Clifford Donald
Gaughan, Jack
1930
1985
Gaughan, John Brian Francis
Gaughan
The World That Couldn't Be
Produced from Galaxy Science Fiction January 1958.
Produced by Sankar Viswanathan, Greg Weeks, and the Online
Distributed Proofreading Team at http://www.pgdp.net
"The World That Couldn't Be" by Clifford D. Simak is a science fiction novella published in the mid-20th century. Set on the alien planet Layard, the story explores themes of survival, the relationship between humans and extraterrestrial life, and the complex dynamics of non-verbal communication in environments where traditional social structures do not exist. The narrative focuses on the challenges faced by the protagonist, Gavin Duncan, as he seeks to protect his crop from a dangerous creature known as the Cytha. In this tale, Duncan, a planter on Layard, becomes embroiled in a hunt for the elusive Cytha after it threatens his valuable "vua" crops, which are crucial for the health of the native inhabitants. As he pursues the creature, he is accompanied by a native tracker named Sipar, but their journey quickly turns perilous. Throughout the chase, Duncan confronts supernatural aspects of the Cytha, including its unexpected ability to communicate and manipulate its surroundings. Following a series of dangerous encounters and Sipar's tragic suicide, Duncan ultimately learns that the Cytha is not only an intelligent predator but also a maternal figure for the diverse fauna of Layard. The novella culminates in a precarious bargain between Duncan and the Cytha, where they agree to coexist while maintaining a delicate balance between their respective roles within the ecosystem. (This is an automatically generated summary.)
http://book.klll.cc/files/32026/32026-h/images/cover.jpg
Reading ease score: 83.7 (6th grade). Easy to read.
en
Science fiction
Hunting stories
Human-alien encounters -- Fiction
Farmers -- Fiction
PS
Text
Science Fiction
Category: Science-Fiction & Fantasy
Category: Novels
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