The Sentimentalists

"The Sentimentalists" by Murray Leinster is a science fiction story that blends the experiences of two alien newlyweds, Rhadampsicus and Nodalictha, with the hardships of human colonist Lon Simpson on the distant planet Cetis Gamma Two. The narrative explores themes of affection, inventiveness, and societal conflict against the backdrop of space colonization. As the alien couple witnesses peculiar solar flares from their sun, Lon battles a greedy trading company exploiting his new farm and creating serious conflicts with the love of his life, Cathy. Faced with failing equipment and financial despair, his ingenuity brings a unique device for power and a technique to create new crops from local plants. The story shows how love motivates technological advancement, as Lon's actions lead to a solution that protects the inhabitants from the rising solar flares, and that the intertwining of affection and technology becomes a force for positive change between species.