Alien by George O. Smith
"Alien" by George O. Smith is a science fiction novel written in the mid-20th century, specifically in the post-World War II era. The narrative kicks off with the peculiar occurrence of a man with feathers instead of hair, setting the stage for a blend of mystery and humor as the characters navigate the implications of his existence. The book explores themes of alien life and the unusual through a lens of urban
police procedural, as Lieutenant Timothy McDowell and others try to make sense of an extraordinary situation. The story follows Lieutenant McDowell as he responds to a riot instigated by a man sporting feathers on his head. Upon investigation, he discovers that the feathers are not merely a costume but rather are growing from the man's scalp, leading to questions about human biology and the possibility of extraterrestrial life. As McDowell and his colleagues delve deeper, they encounter various theories ranging from mutant phenomena due to atomic radiation to actual aliens from outer space. The plot takes an amusing turn as the "feathered man" seeks the help of a follicologist in an attempt to create a publicity stunt revolving around his unique condition. Ultimately, the story combines elements of wit and whimsy with a touch of societal commentary on the nature of fame and identity. (This is an automatically generated summary.)
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About this eBook
| Author | Smith, George O. (George Oliver), 1911-1981 |
|---|---|
| Illustrator | Swenson |
| Title | Alien |
| Original Publication | United States: Street & Smith Publications, Incorporated,1946. |
| Series Title | Produced from Astounding Science-Fiction, October 1946 |
| Credits | Greg Weeks, Mary Meehan and the Online Distributed Proofreading Team at www.pgdp.net |
| Reading Level | Reading ease score: 77.1 (7th grade). Fairly easy to read. |
| Language | English |
| LoC Class | PS: Language and Literatures: American and Canadian literature |
| Subject | Science fiction |
| Subject | Short stories |
| Subject | Police -- Fiction |
| Category | Text |
| eBook-No. | 68196 |
| Release Date | May 29, 2022 |
| Last Update | Oct 18, 2024 |
| Copyright | Public domain in the USA. |
| Downloads | 271 downloads in the last 30 days. |
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