PRoblem

"PRoblem" by Alan Edward Nourse is a mid-20th century science fiction story where Earth is thrown into turmoil by the sudden arrival of the Grdznth, a strange alien race that becomes a public relations disaster. Public relations expert Pete Greenwood and his partner Tommy Heinz are tasked with managing the crisis and quelling the growing public fear and xenophobia the aliens inspire. As Pete and Tommy struggle to find a way for humans and Grdznth to co-exist, they uncover unsettling truths about the Grdznth's presence on Earth, prompting them to emphasize the alien's maternal instincts to sway public opinion and try to demonstrate that even the most different beings share common ground. This narrative puts a spotlight on society's fear when faced with the unknown and humanity's capacity for compassion.