Survival Type

"Survival Type" by Jesse F. Bone is a science fiction story where an Earth agent named Arthur Lanceford fights for his life on the dangerous planet Niobe. He faces killer insects and brutal conditions while charting the alien world for the Bureau of Extraterrestrial Exploration. When a poisonous bite almost ends him, his Niobian guide, Kron, rescues him with local medicine. As they struggle through the jungle, Lanceford learns that the Niobians have unique wisdom and aren't as simple as he thought. He starts to appreciate their culture and realizes that true survival means working together and respecting other species equally. The story ends with Lanceford changing his mind about the Niobians and what it really means to be civilized, understanding that kindness and shared knowledge are key to survival.