The Hero

"The Hero" by Elaine Wilber is a science fiction story from the 1950s that follows the crew aboard the Earth ship UXB-69311 as they arrive on the planet Engraham and meet its people, exploring ideas concerning heroism, human drive, and how silly human customs can seem. In the adventure, the crew, which is made up of unexcited and antsy men, struggles with the bizarre situation they find themselves in, most notably their interactions with the attractive but emotionally detached women of Engraham. Dick Blunt, the main character, makes an effort to win over Catataphinaria, a local woman, while the rest of the crew works to control their own impatience and longings. As the story unfolds, it becomes clear that the crew's simple assumptions about the Engrahamites are proven spectacularly wrong when Catataphinaria shares her wisdom and the social structures of her people. This peaks in a surprise that tests the crew's expectations and idea of heroism, making them face the truth about their trip and their role in it. The story gives a funny but thoughtful look at human nature, desire, and the effects of taking a controlling and selfish approach to exploring new worlds.