The Moralist

"The Moralist" by Jack Taylor is a science fiction story from the 1950s that takes place on the planet Xenon, a new world for humans. The story explores the struggles between freedom and control when an expedition team of men face rules and regulations, and their own hilarious challenges when the botanist named Prunella joins them. The men struggle living on Xenon, and her strict rules lead to many comical conflicts. The men become more and more frustrated, and plot to get rid of Prunella by showing her the "powder puffs," a native life-form that causes itching. This odd showdown shows the conflict between rules and the human desire for freedom, offering an entertaining story.