Project Gutenberg
2016-03-24
Public domain in the USA.
160
Sheckley, Robert
1928
2005
Barbee, Phillips
Lang, Ned
O'Donnevan, Finn
Barbee, Phillip
Goodman
The Sweeper of Loray
Produced from Galaxy Magazine April 1959
Produced by Greg Weeks, Mary Meehan and the Online
Distributed Proofreading Team at http://www.pgdp.net
"The Sweeper of Loray" by Robert Sheckley is a science fiction novella published in the late 1950s. The story takes place on the primitive planet Loray, where the narrative follows Professor Carver and his assistant, Fred, as they explore the intriguing and dangerous customs of the native inhabitants and their mysterious healing substance known as sersee juice. The novella delves into themes of colonialism, scientific ethics, and the nature of intelligence across species. The plot unfolds as the Earthmen witness startling healing powers attributed to sersee juice, a sacred substance critical to the survival of the Lorayan people. Initially aiming to obtain the juice for scientific examination, tensions rise when Fred resort to violence to acquire it, resulting in devastating consequences for their relationship with the locals. As the story progresses, it becomes evident that the sersee juice has transformative effects, changing Fred into a Lorayan, ultimately leading to a confrontation between scientific ambition and moral responsibility. In a poignant conclusion, Professor Carver chooses to protect his academic reputation over his assistant's humanity, revealing the darker undertones of his character and the implications of his beliefs regarding racial superiority. (This is an automatically generated summary.)
Reading ease score: 78.1 (7th grade). Fairly easy to read.
en
Science fiction
Short stories
Scientists -- Fiction
Human-alien encounters -- Fiction
Extrasolar planets -- Fiction
PS
Text
Science Fiction
Category: Science-Fiction & Fantasy
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