The Pacifists

"The Pacifists" by Charles E. Fritch is a science fiction story centered on a group of Earth explorers who land on a strange, seemingly empty world inhabited by beings living in a dream-like state, cut off from reality. The explorers, Hinckley, Compton, and Parker, struggle to understand this odd society, but Parker’s selfish actions lead him to underestimate the seemingly harmless people. His choices reveal the peril of dropping your guard, demonstrating that even in a world that looks peaceful, danger can arise when the ability to defend oneself is lost. The story asks questions about humanity, war, and what happens to a civilization that removes violence but loses the ability to protect itself.