Boarding Party by Robert F. Young
A greenship captain, tasked with transporting yumquat trees, encounters a soil deficiency during a space run. To remedy this, he diverts to an out-of-bounds system to replenish the soil solution. The planet he chooses is inhabited by primitive civilizations. While extracting nutrients, a small boy from the planet boards the ship, stealing a snirk bird, a toy, and trading disks. The captain pursues the boy, who escapes by climbing down the ship's capillary tube. The boy's mother aids him by providing a tool to sever the tube, forcing the captain to retreat. Despite the interference with the planet's culture, the captain rationalizes that such cultures adapt by mythologizing unfamiliar events.
By Robert F. Young · First published 1957 · Genre: Science Fiction, Adventure, Satire · 3,388 words
First lines
_The fey Mr. Young continues his scholarly researches in the scientific origins of our myth and legend with this tale of an agile -- and avaricious -- one-man_
TO: Interstellar Nurseries, Frimm 4
What this Textopian page supports
Boarding Party is listed on Textopian as a short story by Robert F. Young, dated 1957 CE.
This source record anchors work identity, reading entry points, and catalog context for checking claims about the work.
- Work type: Short story
- Author: Robert F. Young
- Date: 1957 CE
- Language: English
- Genres: Science Fiction, Adventure, Satire, Humorous Fiction
- Length: 3,388 words
- Structure: 1 section, 28 paragraphs
- Reading fit: Fairly Difficult (10th-12th Grade)
Good citation fit
- Work identity for Boarding Party by Robert F. Young
- 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 Boarding Party?
- How does this short story by Robert F. Young fit its genre, period, or classroom use?
- Where does Science Fiction first become important in the reading?
Genres
- Science Fiction — The narrative focuses on futuristic technology, interstellar travel, and advanced machinery, establishing its basis in science fiction.
- Adventure — The storyline involves dynamic pursuits, unexpected escapades, and encounters in alien environments that contribute to an adventurous spirit.
- Satire — The text satirizes bureaucratic and corporate elements through ironic commentary and humorous depictions of interstellar procedures.
- Humorous Fiction — The playful tone and witty narrative devices infuse the work with humor, making it distinctive in its lighthearted approach.
Tags
science fiction · space opera · military science fiction · space combat · tactical warfare · interstellar conflict · spaceship battle · adventure · thriller · action · strategy · crew dynamics