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