The Gift Bearer
A family man, Richard J. Montcalm, faces a moral dilemma after a censorship board meeting where he advocates for the removal of a nude statue from public view. The next morning, he wakes to find a beautiful, naked woman in his bedroom who claims to be an alien visitor. She introduces herself as Liz and insists on teaching Montcalm's world advanced technologies to control natural elements, such as weather and agriculture. Despite her offers of incredible gifts that could transform humanity, Montcalm is preoccupied with societal norms and the potential impact on children witnessing her nudity. As Montcalm struggles to convince Liz to wear clothing, his wife, Millie, enters and becomes suspicious of the situation. When Millie threatens to call the police, Montcalm realizes Liz is genuine and could bring monumental advancements to Earth. However, Liz refuses to conform to human customs, leading to her abrupt departure when police arrive. Montcalm is left contemplating whether he made the right choice in prioritizing societal standards over the potential benefits Liz could have brought to humanity, ultimately deciding that protecting the innocence of children was paramount.
By Charles L. Fontenay · First published 1953 · Genre: Science Fiction, Adventure, Philosophical Fiction · 2,305 words
First lines
_This could well have been Montcalm's greatest opportunity; a chance to bring mankind priceless gifts from worlds beyond. But Montcalm was a solid family man -- and what about that nude statue in the park? _
It was one of those rare strokes of poetic something-or-other that the whole business occurred the morning after the stormy meeting of the Traskmore censorship board.
What this Textopian page supports
The Gift Bearer is listed on Textopian as a short story by Charles L. Fontenay, dated 1953 CE.
This source record anchors work identity, reading entry points, and catalog context for checking claims about the work.
- Work type: Short story
- Author: Charles L. Fontenay
- Date: 1953 CE
- Language: English
- Genres: Science Fiction, Adventure, Philosophical Fiction, Speculative Fiction, Drama
- Length: 2,305 words
- Structure: 1 section, 75 paragraphs
- Reading fit: Fairly Easy (7th Grade)
Good citation fit
- Work identity for The Gift Bearer by Charles L. Fontenay
- Canonical title URL and first readable passage URL
- Genre and topic classification from the Textopian catalog
- Readability and classroom-planning context
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Discussion starters
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Genres
- Science Fiction — The novel follows the story of a being from another planet, using advanced technology, experience, and methods to help humanity, exploring fundamental themes of futurism, alien cultures, and technology.
- Adventure — The plot takes the protagonist on a journey to various locations, facing different challenges, thereby qualifying it as part of the Adventure genre.
- Philosophical Fiction — The novel uses its narrative to delve into philosophical questions about goodwill, human nature, and ethics, classifying it as Philosophical Fiction.
- Speculative Fiction — The writing presents hypothetical scenarios and technological advancements, classifying it within the Speculative Fiction genre.
Tags
science fiction · fantasy · adventure · mystery · suspense · alien encounters · humanity · exploration · technology · interstellar travel · conflict · survival