Scanners live in vain

"Scanners Live in Vain" by Cordwainer Smith is a science fiction story set in a time where humans journey through space, but at a serious cost. It centers on Scanners, people modified to endure the harshness of space, focusing on Martel, a Scanner torn between his duties and his desire for a normal life with his wife. The story unfolds as Martel is pulled away from his personal life to confront a conspiracy against Adam Stone, a scientist who may have solved the problem of space travel pain, where the central conflict explores sacrifice, the emotional toll of space travel, and personal responsibility. He questions the values and restrictions of his kind and takes meaningful risks, including turning his back on his people, in order to prevent a great wrong against a fellow human, uncovering truths about identity and humanity's place in the stars.