The Scamperers by Charles A. Stearns
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"The Scamperers" by Charles A. Stearns is a science fiction novella published during the mid-20th century. Set on the alien planet Ophir, the story revolves around Lieutenant Wellesley, a member of the Rift constabulary tasked with investigating potential genetic deviations within a small, isolated colony. The primary topic delves into themes of genetic inheritance, the implications of inbreeding, and the existence of mutants as Wellesley uncovers the unsettling truths of the community
he is sent to examine. The narrative follows Wellesley's arrival at Aidennsport, where he confronts the hostile environment and the peculiar inhabitants. As he conducts his census, he encounters a mysterious girl who warns him of the dangers lurking in the village. After battling poison from hist stingbats and becoming blind, Wellesley is aided by this girl, ultimately discovering that she is a mutant. Tension escalates as Wellesley learns about the complexities of the Ophirian society, which includes a boy named Joseph and his peculiar family connections. The climax unfolds with Wellesley's forced decision to take the girl away for her protection, leading to an impactful resolution that exposes the darker undercurrents of Aidennsport while raising questions about identity and belonging. The story ultimately examines the balance between law and justice in a world where survival and ethics become inextricably linked. (This is an automatically generated summary.)
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About this eBook
| Author | Stearns, Charles A. |
|---|---|
| Illustrator | Orban, Paul, 1896-1974 |
| Title | The Scamperers |
| Series Title | Produced from Worlds of If Science Fiction, June 1956 |
| Credits |
Produced by Greg Weeks, Mary Meehan and the Online Distributed Proofreading Team at www.pgdp.net |
| Reading Level | Reading ease score: 85.2 (6th grade). Easy to read. |
| Language | English |
| LoC Class | PS: Language and Literatures: American and Canadian literature |
| Subject | Science fiction |
| Subject | Short stories |
| Subject | Police -- Fiction |
| Subject | Space colonies -- Fiction |
| Subject | Extrasolar planets -- Fiction |
| Subject | Mutation (Biology) -- Fiction |
| Category | Text |
| eBook-No. | 59516 |
| Release Date | May 15, 2019 |
| Copyright | Public domain in the USA. |
| Downloads | 306 downloads in the last 30 days. |
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