
Xhanph, an accredited envoy from the distant world of Gfun, finally reaches Earth after a lonely voyage across the stars. He envisions crowds, applause, and dignitaries eager to shake his many‑tentacled hands, convinced his landing will become a historic celebration. Instead, his sleek craft touches down in a bustling square where the locals barely glance his way.
Undeterred, the alien repeats polite greetings, hoping a simple message of friendship will spark curiosity. The people rush past, muttering incomprehensible words, their indifference striking him like a physical blow. As Xhanph wrestles with bewilderment and mounting frustration, the story offers a witty, outsider’s view of human routine and the gap between expectation and reality.
The narrative balances humor with a subtle critique, inviting listeners to reflect on how easily extraordinary events can be brushed aside in everyday life. As Xhanph searches for a place where his message might be heard, the story hints at larger questions about communication, empathy, and what it means to be truly noticed.
Language
en
Duration
~18 minutes (18K 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
2019-01-19
Rights
Public domain in the USA.

1906–1980
A scientist by training and a storyteller by instinct, this mid-20th-century writer moved easily between science fiction magazines, comic books, and popular science. His work blended brisk adventure with a real curiosity about science, helping him build a career that stretched across several corners of American pulp culture.
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