
Instinct
In this speculative tale, we hear the frustrated murmurs of a distant, galaxy‑spanning bureaucracy as they grapple with the relentless rise of a curious species called Terrans. Through brisk dialogue between the weary chief and his aide Huvane, the story paints humanity’s history as a series of daring, sometimes reckless, forays into space—each wave of ambition echoing old myths and stirring fresh anxieties among older civilizations. The narrative’s voice is sharp and observant, hinting at a long‑standing rivalry that has made the Terrans both a nuisance and an oddly irresistible puzzle.
The opening sets a tense, almost bureaucratic stage, where the alien officials weigh the cost of containment against the inevitable pull of human ingenuity. Their perspective casts familiar milestones—orbital flights, Moon landings, and the naming of planets—into a broader, almost mythic pattern that feels both alien and eerily familiar. As the conversation deepens, listeners are drawn into a world where cosmic politics and the stubbornness of one species collide, promising a thought‑provoking exploration of cause, consequence, and the stubborn spark of discovery.
Language
en
Duration
~26 minutes (25K characters)
Publisher of text edition
Project Gutenberg
Release date
Dec 20, 2007
Rights
Public domain in the USA.
Subjects

1911–1981
A pioneering Golden Age science fiction writer, George O. Smith combined an electronics engineer’s knowledge with stories about communication, invention, and life in space. He is best remembered for the inventive Venus Equilateral series, which began with his 1942 debut in Astounding Science-Fiction.
View all books
by George O. (George Oliver) Smith

by George O. (George Oliver) Smith

by George O. (George Oliver) Smith

by George O. (George Oliver) Smith

by George O. (George Oliver) Smith

by George O. (George Oliver) Smith

by George O. (George Oliver) Smith

by George O. (George Oliver) Smith