The Rag and Bone Men

"The Rag and Bone Men" by Algis Budrys is a science fiction story occurring in a future time, focuses on two people, Maurer and Charpantier, who meet the Veld, an alien trying to build a way back to his home world. The story looks at big ideas like trying to find yourself, what it means to be alive, and how little humans might know when facing the unknown. As the Veld struggles to recreate advanced technology with the resources on Earth, Maurer worries about the possible risks and the creation of technology that should be impossible. The story looks at the fine line between making something new and destroying what exists, and how hard it can be to chase dreams in a world that doesn't seem to care.