
In this breezy space‑opera, a lone trader known as a “sears‑monkey” pilots his ship, the Krylla, into the orbit of the seemingly tranquil world called Delight. The moment he contacts the planetary control tower, the narrative unfolds with a wry mix of interstellar bureaucracy and quirky dialogue that instantly sets a satirical tone. Listeners are drawn into Herl Hofner’s routine yet oddly complex mission: deliver a mountain of micro‑film catalogues to a remote colony while navigating a maze of permits, visas, and local customs.
As he prepares to land, the story paints a vivid picture of a planet recovering from a strange water‑borne mutation, its townsfolk still rebuilding after a decades‑long odor problem that earned the world the nickname ‘Geescow.’ The protagonist’s dry humor and dry‑witted banter with the control officer reveal a universe where trade, politics, and everyday red‑tape intertwine in unexpected ways. The opening promises a light‑hearted adventure that will whisk listeners through interplanetary commerce, cultural misunderstandings, and the quiet heroism of a man whose only weapon is a catalog of goods.
Language
en
Duration
~1 hours (107K characters)
Publisher of text edition
Project Gutenberg
Credits
Greg Weeks, Mary Meehan and the Online Distributed Proofreading Team at http://www.pgdp.net
Release date
2021-02-10
Rights
Public domain in the USA.
1917–2002
Best known for smart, often witty science fiction short stories, this American writer published widely in magazines during the genre’s mid-20th-century boom. Her work is remembered for combining imaginative ideas with a clear, approachable style.
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