
A solitary Saturnian scholar has been chosen as the first exchange professor to teach on Earth, a role that promises a hefty salary and the chance to retire early. He’s more interested in completing his monumental history of the Solar System than in mingling with humans, and his introverted nature makes the prospect of interplanetary socializing feel like a punishment.
When his colleague insists he attend a farewell celebration hosted by the Perzils, the alien’s dry humor and cultural bewilderment come to the fore. He wrestles with the expectation to win over a skeptical human audience while grappling with his own discomfort at the idea of a party, all set against the backdrop of quirky alien customs and a stubbornly stubborn nut‑snacking ritual.
Listeners will be treated to witty banter, a gentle satire of academic ambition, and a charming glimpse into the uneasy bridge between two very different worlds—without giving away what happens after the party’s invitation is accepted.
Language
en
Duration
~21 minutes (20K characters)
Publisher of text edition
Project Gutenberg
Credits
Produced by Greg Weeks, Mary Meehan and the Online Distributed Proofreading Team at http://www.pgdp.net
Release date
2010-03-13
Rights
Public domain in the USA.

1922–2000
A sharp, witty voice in mid-century science fiction, she also wrote mysteries and created crossword puzzles. Her stories often mix everyday life with sly humor and imaginative twists.
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