Traders Risk

by Roger Dee

Of the ship's social quartet, Chafis One and Two were asleep at the moment, dreaming wistful dreams of conical Ciriimian cities spearing up to a soft and plum-colored sky. The Zid raged into their communal rest cell, smashed them down from their gimbaled sleeping perches and, with the ravening blood-hunger of its kind, devoured them before they could wake enough to teleport to safety. Terrible creatures, the Canthorian Zid -- and that was just the start!

Genres: Science Fiction

26 pages, Paperback

First published February 1, 1958

About the author

Roger D. Aycock was an American author who wrote under the pseudonym Roger Dee. He primarily wrote science fiction.

Reviews

[Ralph McEwen]

Shipping accident causes first contact. The story is told in a conversational and narrative style.
The narrator is well spoken and her voice is clear.
The recording quality is clean with some breathing, but has plenty of volume. The editing is seamless.

[Sam]

This is one of those really, really predictable stories of science fiction where the one who's really unlikely to succeed in what he sets out to do actually succeeds. Right from the start you know he'll make it through the galaxy, you know he'll get revenge on first contact, and you know the form of trade is going to result in civilization in space. It's not helped by the promotions either, if you've seen read the advertising and promotions, you've read the story. It showed everything, even parts of the 2nd last that gave away how they all succeed. But I guess since it's one of those predictable stories they figured it didn't matter. Sounds like I didn't like this story so far doesn't it? Well actually I did...well, sort of, I suppose. If you forget about how predictable it is it's actually a fun science fiction tale with a couple clever laughs. So don't let me put you off. It's worth reading. Just try and act surprised when Roger Dee's character wins in the end.

[Scott Harris]

This early otherworldly encounter blends some interesting themes, including the long term psychological impact of violence and war, the colonization of the planets, the evolution of trade and development and encounters with advanced races. These are all just a backdrop to a brief story with a fast plot.