Specimen by Charles V. De Vet
"Specimen" by Charles V. De Vet is a science fiction novella written in the late 1950s. The narrative revolves around an alien species known as the Zades, who capture a human, John Wilson, from Earth and study him to understand his kind better. The themes focus on survival, the nature of strength and justice, and the contrasts between human and alien values. The story unfolds as John Wilson is evaluated by the
Zades, who initially perceive him as weak and insignificant. However, through a series of brutal tests known as the Big Run, Wilson's unexpected resilience and cunning allow him to navigate the hostile environment of the Zades' world. Despite being subjected to cruel treatment and facing overwhelming odds, he fights for his survival with remarkable ingenuity. Ultimately, his strength and determination lead the Zades to reconsider their initial intent of extermination, opting instead to establish peaceful relations with Earth, showcasing a profound exploration of character and moral philosophy in the face of adversity. (This is an automatically generated summary.)
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About this eBook
| Author | De Vet, Charles V., 1911-1997 |
|---|---|
| Illustrator | Finlay, Virgil, 1914-1971 |
| Title | Specimen |
| Series Title | Produced from Worlds of If Science Fiction, August 1958 |
| Credits |
Produced by Greg Weeks, Mary Meehan and the Online Distributed Proofreading Team at www.pgdp.net |
| Reading Level | Reading ease score: 84.6 (6th grade). Easy to read. |
| Language | English |
| LoC Class | PS: Language and Literatures: American and Canadian literature |
| Subject | Science fiction |
| Subject | Short stories |
| Subject | Extraterrestrial beings -- Fiction |
| Subject | Human-alien encounters -- Fiction |
| Category | Text |
| eBook-No. | 60548 |
| Release Date | Oct 21, 2019 |
| Last Update | Oct 17, 2024 |
| Copyright | Public domain in the USA. |
| Downloads | 271 downloads in the last 30 days. |
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