The Conquistadors Come

"The Conquistadors Come" by Mary Elizabeth Counselman is an early science fiction story that highlights the pitfalls of first contact. It follows a crew of Earth explorers landing on S'zetnu, a planet inhabited by the S'zetnurs. Once a proud civilization, the S'zetnurs now struggle with disfigurement and illness, and are nothing like what the Earthmen were expecting. Blinded by the prospect of the planet's valuable resources, especially solaranium, the humans initially offer aid but their ignorance of S'zetnur customs and taboos leads to rising tensions. This cultural clash quickly spirals into violence and misunderstanding, forcing the Earthmen make a hard decision. The story ends with the humans retreating from S'zetnu with no real cooperation, as the initial hopes for a peaceful alliance dissolving into a bitter disappointment for both sides.