Farewell message

"Farewell Message" by David Mason is a science fiction story set in the late 1950s about an alien visitor named V'gu, who comes to Earth to observe humanity, a species he initially views as underdeveloped and war-prone compared to his own peaceful society. The story examines concepts of advanced cultures observing less advanced societies. Central to the story is V'gu's changed perspective, starting with curiosity and evolving into concern, especially when a distant nova reveals the self-destruction of another civilization through warfare. This event causes him to re-evaluate his own sense of superiority and makes him realize how delicate Earth's future may be because of its human population. Ultimately, V'gu makes the surprising choice to stay on Earth longer, showing a connection to the planet and a shift in attitude from a detached observer to a concerned inhabitant.