The Pilot and the Bushman

"The Pilot and the Bushman" by Sylvia Jacobs is a science fiction tale set in the 1950s that untangles the moral and societal implications of a game-changing technology gifted from an alien civilization. At the heart of the conflict is the "Matter Repositor," a device capable of making material goods obsolete, threatening to plunge Earth's economy into disarray. The story follows Jerry Jergins, an Earth salesman, as this alien technology stirs unrest among buyers. Jerry cleverly crafts a plan to quell the widespread panic, convincing the public that the Matter Repositor is nothing more than a tall tale. His marketing strategy not only aims to diffuse the economic crisis but also examines important themes about ethics, consumer culture, and the basic aspects of human wants. In the end, the narrative warns against the destructive potential of advanced technologies landing in the hands of an unprepared population, shining a light on the conflict between basic human nature and higher ethical behavior.