Tydore's Gift

"Tydore's Gift" by Alfred Coppel is a science fiction short story written in the early 1950s. The narrative is set on Mars, exploring themes of greed, cultural misunderstanding, and the consequences of seeking power at all costs. The book delves into the relationship between Marley, a human spy, and Tydore, a Martian elder who possesses a mysterious and powerful weapon that Marley covets. The story follows Marley as he struggles with his feelings of alienation on Mars and his desperate desire to obtain Tydore's weapon, which he believes could make him and his nation invincible. Marley’s encounters with Tydore reveal a complex interplay of mockery and contempt, highlighting the cultural divide between the two characters. As Marley pushes for the weapon, his impatience leads to a violent confrontation where he finally points the gun at Tydore, revealing a shocking twist: the weapon is designed to backfire, resulting in Marley's self-inflicted demise. This dark conclusion emphasizes the futility of his quest and serves as a metaphor for the destructive nature of greed and imperialism. (This is an automatically generated summary.)

Alfred Coppel, Alfredo Jose de Arana-Marini Coppel was an American author. Born in Oakland, he served as a fighter pilot in the United States Army Air Forces during World War II. After his discharge, he started his career as a writer. He became one of the most prolific pulp magazine authors of the 1950s and 1960s, adopting the pseudonyms Robert Cham Gilman and A.C. Marin and writing for a variety of pulp magazines and later "slick" publishers. Though writing in a variety of genres, including action thrillers, he is known for his science fiction stories which comprise both short stories and novels.