"The Stoker and the Stars" by Algis Budrys is a science fiction story set on a post-war Earth, where humanity seeks its place among alien civilizations. The story is told through the eyes of a character recounting their time on the interstellar freighter "Serenus" and their disquieting interactions with the stoker, a reticent man with a history defined by war. As the crew engages in trade with various alien races, tensions rise as they become suspicious of the stoker's motives due to his military past spent opposing a common foe. However, the story reveals the stoker's evolution as he pioneers a new era of understanding, fostering connections between humanity and the aliens they once considered enemies. Ultimately, the crew learns about devotion, selflessness, and the value of individuals in a vast universe, earning them the respect of the aliens they once fought.
The Stoker and the Stars
By Algis Budrys
Amidst interstellar trade and lingering war, a mysterious stoker’s past casts shadows on a freighter crew, only to reveal an unexpected path to peace with their former alien adversaries.
Summary
About the AuthorAlgirdas Jonas "Algis" Budrys was a Lithuanian-American science fiction author, editor and critic. He was also known under the pen names Frank Mason, Alger Rome in collaboration with Jerome Bixby, John A. Sentry, William Scarff and Paul Janvier. In 1960 he wrote Rogue Moon, a novel. In the 1990s he was the publisher and editor of the science-fiction magazine Tomorrow Speculative Fiction.
Algirdas Jonas "Algis" Budrys was a Lithuanian-American science fiction author, editor and critic. He was also known under the pen names Frank Mason, Alger Rome in collaboration with Jerome Bixby, John A. Sentry, William Scarff and Paul Janvier. In 1960 he wrote Rogue Moon, a novel. In the 1990s he was the publisher and editor of the science-fiction magazine Tomorrow Speculative Fiction.
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