Beware the Star Gods

"Beware the Star Gods" by S. J. Byrne is a science fiction story set in a time when primitive societies encounter advanced extraterrestrial life. From the perspective of Kuru, a hunter of a simple tribe, the story examines what happens when they observe a starship crash and mistake its crew for gods. Kuru bravely approaches the downed starship and finds himself caught between celebrating the visitors and defending his people. The story shows both Kuru's world and the world of the starship crew, while showing the clashing of cultures and what might happen because of these interations. As Kuru's sister, Derla, tries to understand the sadness of one of the "gods," it questions sacrifice, finding yourself, and what happens when technology meets simpler ways of life.