Project Gutenberg
2016-03-02
Public domain in the USA.
191
Shaara, Michael
1928
1988
Francis, Dick
Francis, Richard D.
Citizen Jell
Produced from Galaxy Magazine August 1959
Produced by Greg Weeks, Mary Meehan and the Online
Distributed Proofreading Team at http://www.pgdp.net
"Citizen Jell" by Michael Shaara is a science fiction novella written during the mid-20th century. The story revolves around Mr. Jell, an elderly man with a mysterious background, who is actually a retired spaceman from an advanced civilization. Unable to reveal his true identity due to the non-intervention laws of his people, Mr. Jell enjoys a peaceful life on Earth, but grapples with the ethical dilemmas that arise from his unique abilities and knowledge. The narrative follows Mr. Jell as he experiences both the joys and challenges of his secluded life by the riverbank, developing connections with local children while keeping his extraordinary powers a secret. He possesses a remarkable device known as the Box, capable of duplicating materials and items. As he faces various temptations to intervene in the lives of those around him—such as curing a sick child or eradicating pests—Mr. Jell struggles with the implications of his actions, knowing they could expose him to the authorities of his home planet. Ultimately, when faced with a choice to save a young girl’s life, he decides to use the Box, fully aware that this will reveal his existence to his own people, leading to his inevitable capture. The story contemplates themes of morality, isolation, and the responsibilities that come with power. (This is an automatically generated summary.)
Reading ease score: 80.1 (6th grade). Easy to read.
en
Science fiction
Short stories
Extraterrestrial beings -- Fiction
Florida -- Fiction
Older men -- Fiction
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Science Fiction
Browsing: Science-Fiction & Fantasy
Browsing: Fiction
Category: Science-Fiction & Fantasy
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