"A Bad Day for Vermin" by Keith Laumer, is a science fiction story from the early 1960s that drops into a small town grappling with big questions when an alien lands. Initially welcomed by Judge Carter Gates, the alien's arrival takes a dark turn when a local named Cecil Stump shoots it, igniting a town-wide conflict. The people of the town find themselves in a fiery argument at a community meeting, redefining what it means to be a person, leading them to a new definition: harmless creatures are "persons," while those who do bad things are now "vermin". The story ends with a twist when a new exterminator shows up, leaving the town's new values to sink in. The author uses this outer-space situation to explore themes of prejudice and what makes us human.
A Bad Day for Vermin
By Keith Laumer
When a friendly alien unexpectedly arrives, a small town’s definition of humanity is questioned.
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2016-02-21
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About the AuthorJohn Keith Laumer was an American science fiction author. Prior to becoming a full-time writer, he was an officer in the United States Air Force and a diplomat in the United States Foreign Service. His older brother March Laumer was also a writer, known for his adult reinterpretations of the Land of Oz. Frank Laumer, their youngest brother, is a historian and writer.
John Keith Laumer was an American science fiction author. Prior to becoming a full-time writer, he was an officer in the United States Air Force and a diplomat in the United States Foreign Service. His older brother March Laumer was also a writer, known for his adult reinterpretations of the Land of Oz. Frank Laumer, their youngest brother, is a historian and writer.
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