Pastoral Affair

Format:

Book

Author/Creator:

Stearns, Chas. A. (Charles A.)

Contributor:

Francis, Dick

Series:

Produced from Galaxy Science Fiction February 1959.

Language:

English

Physical Description:

1 online resource : multiple file formats

Place of Publication:

To be supplied : Project Gutenberg, 2010.

Salt Lake City, UT : Project Gutenberg,

Summary:

"Pastoral Affair" by Charles A. Stearns is a science fiction novella written in the late 1950s. The story unfolds on a remote island and revolves around Colonel Glinka's pursuit of Dr. Stefanik, a disgraced geneticist who has abandoned his work and settled into a peaceful life. The narrative explores themes of human aspirations, genetic manipulation, and social dynamics amidst a backdrop of comedic absurdity and philosophical musings. The plot kicks off as Colonel Glinka, armed with a Malacca cane that doubles as a firearm, lands on the island seeking out his former colleague, Dr. Stefanik, whom he believes holds the key to a profound scientific breakthrough related to human development. His journey is punctuated by humorous interactions with Abdul Hakkim ben Salazar, a local who serves as Glinka's reluctant guide. As Glinka confronts Stefanik, he learns about the latter's disdain for his former life and refusal to experiment on human beings, despite pressures from the colonel. The narrative takes a comedic turn as Glinka becomes increasingly paranoid about the locals and their mysterious origins, leading to a chaotic climax where he realizes that his imposing presence has stirred a wild curiosity among the island's inhabitants. The concluding moments highlight a philosophical reflection on the nature of humanity, ownership, and curiosity, wrapped in a light-hearted tone as the characters navigate the absurdity of their circumstances. (This is an automatically generated summary.)

Credits:

Produced by Greg Weeks, Mary Meehan and the Online Distributed Proofreading Team at https://www.pgdp.net

Notes:

Reading ease score: 82.2 (6th grade). Easy to read.

Release date is 2010-05-09