The Seeder

"The Seeder" by Max Williams is a science fiction tale from the early 1960s that explores the ethics of influencing the lives of other planets. The story centers around the pursuit of a man called "Pop," who is secretly planting life on different worlds. This leads to questions about the extent to which curiosity should be regulated by authority. Williams uses a central plot point, the protagonist's search for Pop, to reveal Pop’s growing regret as he witnesses his planted ecosystems failing on a desolate planet. Their conversation reveals Pop's disappointment and challenges the bureaucratic system that governs their actions. The reflection of the beauty of the desolate planet prompts questions about the value of even the harshest worlds and the significance of our role in the universe and the stewardship of life, finishing with a sense that creation and existence are complicated and a deep sense of uncertainty.