A Matter of Importance
The narrative follows Sergeant Madden, a seasoned police officer nearing retirement, as he responds to a distress signal from the _Cerberus_, a ship carrying his son Timmy's fiancée. The _Cerberus_ has suffered a breakdown and is limping towards Procyron III, a designated refuge planet. Madden, feeling the weight of impending grandfatherhood and the urgency of the situation, takes a squad ship to assist. As Madden and his partner, Patrolman Willis, travel through space, they discuss the history of the Huks, an alien race that once posed a significant threat to humanity. The Huks had been subdued and expelled from human territories, but their legacy lingers in the minds of the younger officers. The journey is routine until they arrive at Procyron III, where they find no trace of the _Cerberus_ despite clear signs of its landing. The absence of the ship raises alarms, leading Madden to suspect foul play. They discover evidence of another ship's presence, indicating that the _Cerberus_ was taken after landing. The narrative shifts to a tense investigation as Madden and Willis search for clues, leading them to a mine where uranium is extracted, suggesting that the Huks may have returned to reclaim their territory. Madden theorizes that the _Cerberus_ was taken by the Huks, who are now hiding from human authorities. He decides to pursue the Huks to a nearby unsurveyed solar system, Sirene 1432, where they might have established a new base. The narrative explores themes of authority, the nature of importance, and the complexities of interspecies relations. Upon reaching Sirene IV, the Huk home planet, Madden employs a clever ruse to create the illusion of a formidable fleet, convincing the Huks of a greater threat. This psychological maneuver leads to negotiations where Madden proposes an alliance against a common enemy, hinting at a potential resurgence of the Huks as a military force. The story culminates in a tense standoff where Madden's diplomatic approach prevails. The Huks agree to assist in the recovery of the _Cerberus_ and its passengers, revealing that they had brought the ship to their planet after its breakdown. The narrative concludes with the successful retrieval of the _Cerberus_ and a newfound understanding between humans and Huks, suggesting a future of cooperation rather than conflict. Overall, the work examines the nature of authority, the significance of perception in conflict resolution, and the potential for reconciliation between different races, all framed within a science fiction context.
By Murray Leinster · First published 1941 · Genre: Science Fiction, Adventure, Mystery · 19,198 words
First lines
_The importance of a matter is almost entirely a matter of your attitude. And whether you call something "a riot" or "a war". well, there is a difference, but what is it? _
Nobody ever saw the message-torp. It wasn't to be expected. It came in on a course that extended backward to somewhere near the Rift -- where there used to be Huks -- and for a very, very long way it had traveled as only message-torps do travel. It hopped half a light-year in overdrive, and came back to normality long enough for its photocells to inspect the star-filled universe all about. Then it hopped another half light-year, and so on. For a long, long time it traveled in this jerky fashion.
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A Matter of Importance is listed on Textopian as a novel by Murray Leinster, dated 1941 CE.
This source record anchors work identity, reading entry points, and catalog context for checking claims about the work.
- Work type: Novel
- Author: Murray Leinster
- Date: 1941 CE
- Language: English
- Genres: Science Fiction, Adventure, Mystery, Speculative Fiction, Drama
- Length: 19,198 words
- Structure: 1 section, 321 paragraphs
- Reading fit: Fairly Easy (7th Grade)
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- Work identity for A Matter of Importance by Murray Leinster
- Canonical title URL and first readable passage URL
- Genre and topic classification from the Textopian catalog
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Discussion starters
- What should a reader notice first when entering A Matter of Importance?
- How does this novel by Murray Leinster fit its genre, period, or classroom use?
- Where does Science Fiction first become important in the reading?
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Genres
- Science Fiction — The book explores futuristic concepts and technology, typical of the science fiction genre.
- Adventure — The plot involves exploration and challenges, characteristic of adventure narratives.
- Mystery — Elements of intrigue and problem-solving are present, aligning with mystery themes.
- Speculative Fiction — The story speculates on possible futures and societal implications, fitting the speculative fiction category.
Tags
Science Fiction · Space Opera · Adventure · Action · Thriller · Mystery · Alien Invasion · Human Evolution · Social Commentary · Politics · Power Struggle · Government Corruption