Once a Greech by Evelyn E. Smith
QR code
"Once a Greech" by Evelyn E. Smith is a science fiction novella written in the mid-20th century, which reflects the imaginative explorations typical of that era. The story revolves around the accidental discovery of intelligent life on the moon Flimbot, found amidst a routine interstellar exploration, leading to unexpected adventures and philosophical ponderings about life, identity, and connection across species. Captain Iversen and his crew aboard the spaceship "Herringbone" encounter Lieutenant Harkaway,
who has ingrained himself amongst the Flimbotzik, a friendly extraterrestrial race. Harkaway’s enthusiasm for the Flimbotzik's gentleness and his belief in their cultural simplicity clash with Iversen’s skepticism. As interactions unfold, the crew learns that Harkaway's perceptions lead to significant misunderstandings, including the kidnapping of a Flimbotzik child, which escalates tensions. Transformations occur on multiple levels: the cute creature Harkaway adopts, known as a greech, eventually morphs into a young humanoid that represents a culmination of the interconnectedness between their two species. With the ship facing dire circumstances, an unexpected twist reveals that the child is now an advanced being, eliminating boundaries of life and identity and establishing a new order where existence may transcend physical forms. The narrative deftly weaves in themes of friendship, the nature of the soul, and the exploration of cultural misunderstandings. (This is an automatically generated summary.)
Download for free
For your e-reader or reading app — Kindle, Kobo, Apple Books, Calibre etc.
Kindle → Use Send-to-Kindle
- Download the EPUB3 file above
- Upload it on the Amazon site your Kindle is registered with: amazon.com/sendtokindle for the US, amazon.co.uk/sendtokindle for the UK etc.
- It appears on your Kindle and in the Kindle app
Kobo, Nook etc. → Transfer via USB
- Download the EPUB3 file on your computer
- Connect your e-reader by USB and tap "Connect" on its screen
- Drag the file onto the e-reader drive
Phone, Tablet or Computer → Online or Reading App
Easiest: read online in your browser. Nothing to install.
Or use a reading app:
- Find and install one you like, for example Apple Books, ReadEra or Thorium Reader
- Download the EPUB3 file above
- Open it in the app
More help: iPhone / iPad · Android · Computer
Other formats & older devices
There may be more files related to this item.
About this eBook
| Author | Smith, Evelyn E., 1922-2000 |
|---|---|
| Illustrator | Dillon, Diane, 1933- |
| Illustrator | Dillon, Leo, 1933-2012 |
| Title | Once a Greech |
| Series Title | Produced from Galaxy Science Fiction April 1957. |
| Credits |
Produced by Greg Weeks, Mary Meehan and the Online Distributed Proofreading Team at www.pgdp.net |
| Reading Level | Reading ease score: 73.9 (7th grade). Fairly easy to read. |
| Language | English |
| LoC Class | PS: Language and Literatures: American and Canadian literature |
| Subject | Science fiction |
| Subject | Space flight -- Fiction |
| Subject | Human-alien encounters -- Fiction |
| Subject | Metamorphosis -- Fiction |
| Category | Text |
| eBook-No. | 31664 |
| ISBN (HTML) | 979-8-238-31664-2 |
| Release Date | Mar 16, 2010 |
| Last Update | Jan 6, 2021 |
| Copyright | Public domain in the USA. |
| Downloads | 532 downloads in the last 30 days. |
Project Gutenberg eBooks are always free!