By Proxy

"By Proxy" by Randall Garrett is a science fiction story about a news reporter named Terrence Elshawe who gets tangled up with a man named Malcom Porter. Porter, who has a complicated history, says he's invented a spacecraft that works using totally new science. Elshawe investigates Porter’s attempt to use his creation, discovering that it's not just about the invention itself. The story looks at ideas like how new ideas are received, who gets to be in charge, and what the truth really is. As Porter pushes forward despite doubters and government obstacles, Elshawe is drawn deeper into Porter's quest, which eventually ends in a climactic moment that forces everyone to consider the risks and costs of scientific advancement.