Mr. Meek Plays Polo

"Mr. Meek Plays Polo" by Clifford D. Simak is a science fiction story about a mild-mannered bookkeeper named Oliver Meek, who gets swept up into a bizarre space adventure centered around a polo match. The tale explores ideas about who we think we are versus who we can become when faced with strange circumstances and touches on the random nature of life in space. Meek finds himself coaching a team of oddballs in a high-stakes polo game that is part of an ongoing conflict between groups called "ring rats." On a strange rock, Meek finds bugs that can do math as they play games. Through the chaos and absurdity, Meek rises to the occasion, turning into an unlikely leader and proving that anyone can be extraordinary.