Unwelcomed Visitor

audiobook

Unwelcomed Visitor

by Joseph Samachson

EN·~18 minutes

Chapters

Description

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.

Details

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.

About the author

Joseph Samachson

Joseph Samachson

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.

View all books