Project Gutenberg 2022-06-05 Public domain in the USA. 94 Smith, George O. (George Oliver) 1911 1981 Smith, George Oliver Long, Wesley Williams, A. (Arthur) Williams, Arthur Vocation $aUnited States :$bStreet & Smith Publications, Incorporated,$c1945. Greg Weeks, Mary Meehan and the Online Distributed Proofreading Team at http://www.pgdp.net. "Vocation" by George O. Smith is a science fiction narrative likely written in the mid-20th century, specifically during the 1940s. The story revolves around themes of intellectual growth and the consequences of technological advancement, focusing on the interactions between humans and an advanced alien race that possesses interstellar travel capabilities and knowledge of a powerful energy source known as "directive power." The plot delves into the idea of readiness and understanding when it comes to harnessing such technologies and the implications they carry. The main storyline follows Andrew Tremaine, a determined journalist seeking answers about the mysterious alien Gerd Lel Rayne and his people, who possess knowledge beyond that of humanity. As Andrew grapples with feelings of inadequacy and curiosity, he learns that his race must earn the right to access the secrets of interstellar travel and energy manipulation, suggesting a philosophical journey of maturity and self-discovery. Throughout their conversations, Gerd expresses the need for humanity to evolve naturally rather than through the artificial enhancement of intellect. The tension builds as Andrew considers ways to break through mental barriers but ultimately realizes the inherent danger of potential misuse of such powers. The tale concludes with a poignant acknowledgment of human limitations and the necessary growth required to achieve true understanding, leaving readers to ponder the balance between knowledge and responsibility. (This is an automatically generated summary.) 20220306123708smith 1945 US Reading ease score: 76.7 (7th grade). Fairly easy to read. en Science fiction Human-alien encounters -- Fiction PS Text Category: Science-Fiction & Fantasy 73884 2025-06-27T06:15:37.873249 text/html 50654 2024-10-18T22:20:48 text/html 602774 2025-06-27T06:15:39.903269 application/epub+zip 602736 2025-06-27T06:15:38.346236 application/epub+zip 83313 2025-06-27T06:15:38.077231 application/epub+zip 643334 2025-06-27T06:15:41.215244 application/x-mobipocket-ebook 635775 2025-06-27T06:15:39.673278 application/x-mobipocket-ebook 116861 2022-09-30T17:58:32.203015 application/x-mobipocket-ebook 66299 2025-06-27T06:15:37.715251 text/plain; charset=us-ascii 46438 2024-10-18T22:20:48 text/plain; charset=us-ascii 17267 2025-06-27T06:15:41.349217 application/rdf+xml 26799 2025-06-27T06:15:38.181233 image/jpeg 4419 2025-06-27T06:15:38.128244 image/jpeg 603334 2025-06-27T06:15:37.895257 application/octet-stream application/zip Archives containing the RDF files for *all* our books can be downloaded at https://book.klll.cc/wiki/Gutenberg:Feeds#The_Complete_Project_Gutenberg_Catalog en.wikipedia