The narrative details the challenges of a human colony establishing itself on a distant, Earth‐deserted world where a previously unknown intelligent species is discovered. Early on, colonists—led by the authoritarian and cautious Benson and observed by the psychologically perceptive narrator who also serves as the official scribe—are both amazed and unsettled by the appearance of small, golden, humanoid beings. These creatures, with unusual physical traits such as long digits without thumbs and silky covering, display humanlike intelligence and curiosity, causing initial wonder but quickly sparking tension concerning their potential impact on colony discipline and culture. As the colonists begin settling, they struggle with the dual pressures of organizing a new society under strict regulations and contending with unanticipated variables: the presence of these natives and the challenges of communal living in a hostile environment. Rigid security measures and social rules, including enforced separation of sexes and controlled interactions with the indigenous beings, are imposed to maintain order, but these attempts prove insufficient. While some colonists are charmed by the natives’ beauty and seemingly gentle nature, others—embodied by Benson—see them as a threat to the social order and a potential catalyst for the colony’s moral and physical decay. Matters become more complex as human colonists, who have endured prolonged isolation and strict continence during space travel, begin to relax their inhibitions. Private relationships, illicit liaisons, and the emergence of sexual tension disrupt the sterile routines aboard the colony’s ship. These personal rebellions are interwoven with the colonists’ interactions with the natives, who are not only culturally alien but also physically different. Trade and social exchange emerge when the colonists discover a fermented mango liquor, “tala,” which is eagerly coveted by the natives. This commodity soon becomes a medium of barter, a source of social pleasure for both groups, and an instrument that further blurs the boundaries between the colonists and the indigenous people. Amid growing chaos, the colony faces internal divisions. Benson’s strict management gives way to proposals for drastic measures—aimed at exterminating or sterilizing the natives—over fears that unchecked mixing and fraternization would erode the colonists’ work ethic and jeopardize their survival. A controversial plan is set in motion involving tours of the ship’s radiation facility to sterilize native males, employing methods that are both dehumanizing and morally fraught. The sterilization process, administered with clinical detachment, reveals the colony’s willingness to sacrifice ethical concerns in the name of order. Yet, even as these operations proceed, complications and unintended consequences arise, challenging the assumption that domination could be easily secured. Interpersonal conflicts intensify as human and alien lives become profoundly entangled. The colonists’ temperaments range from casual acceptance of native quirks to outright hostility, with some members embracing the cultural novelty the natives bring and others warning that their carefree behavior portends long-term disaster. Incidents of violence—both accidental and deliberate—follow during exchanges between the groups, such as when a native is injured during a misguided attempt by a colonist to control the native population, and when the natives themselves launch countermeasures inspired by their own cultural beliefs and superstitions. Over time, as the colony begins to build its physical infrastructure—from makeshift huts and communal kitchens to more permanent structures—the narrative exposes a fundamental clash between two forms of survival. On one side is the meticulously planned, regimented society of Earth-born colonists who cling to rigid order and control, and on the other, a fluid, emotionally driven native culture that values communal sharing, physical pleasure, and a more organic approach to life and death. The natives’ natural reproductive cycle, rapid maturation, and nonmonogamous behavior, combined with the colonists’ persistent interference through measures like sterilization and enforced social restrictions, set the stage for a persistent conflict over the future identity of the colony. Ultimately, the story examines how the stresses and unpredictability of establishing a new civilization in an alien environment expose the limits of human control and the dangers of dehumanizing “the other.” Faced with unexpected challenges—ranging from infectious diseases carried by native insects to moral dilemmas over interspecies relationships and the ethics of genocide—the colonists are forced to confront their own nature. The narrator, witnessing firsthand both the beauty and the brutality of their actions, grows increasingly disillusioned with the plans for complete eradication. His internal struggle reflects a broader commentary on the cost of imposing rigid order on a dynamic, living world. The narrative is a multifaceted exploration of colonial ambition, the clash of cultural values, and the moral compromises inherent in the pursuit of survival on a hostile, uncharted planet. It juxtaposes scientific observation and administrative control with the unpredictable forces of nature and the complexities of human (and nonhuman) relationship dynamics, ultimately questioning whether absolute control is both possible and desirable in the creation of a new society.
By Winston K. Marks · First published 1978 · Genre: Science Fiction, Dystopian, Political Thriller