Visit to a Small Planet

by Gore Vidal

The story, as told by the New York News, "is an imaginative affair in which an alien comes from another planet to do a bit of sightseeing and to see or start a war. He thinks he has arrived just in time for the Civil War, which he expects will be jolly, but he has misjudged his landing and gets here in 1957. He tries to make the best of it. 'Isn't hydrogen fun?' he gurgles, as he hears about modern warfare. Where he comes from, civilization has gone way beyond what we have here. They don't don't have babies anymore, for instance, he explains. This interplanetary visitor, who can read human minds, and even has an enchanting conversation with a Siamese cat, plops himself into an average community whose population includes an average general, an average boy and girl in love, and an average TV newscaster." Since he missed the Civil War, the visitor from Outer Space decides to start his own. One his world, emotions were given up to make room for intellectual development, and he cannot understand why his hosts aren't willing to die for his amusement.

Genres: Plays, Humor, Fiction, Science Fiction, Satire, Drama, War

127 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 1956

About the author

Works of American writer Eugene Luther Gore Vidal, noted for his cynical humor and his numerous accounts of society in decline, include the play The Best Man (1960) and the novel Myra Breckinridge (1968) .

People know his essays, screenplays, and Broadway.
They also knew his patrician manner, transatlantic accent, and witty aphorisms. Vidal came from a distinguished political lineage; his grandfather was the senator Thomas Gore, and he later became a relation (through marriage) to Jacqueline Kennedy.

Vidal, a longtime political critic, ran twice for political office. He was a lifelong isolationist Democrat. The Nation, The New Yorker, Vanity Fair, The New York Review of Books, and Esquire published his essays.

Essays and media appearances long criticized foreign policy. In addition, he from the 1980s onwards characterized the United States as a decaying empire. Additionally, he was known for his well publicized spats with such figures as Norman Mailer, William F. Buckley, Jr., and Truman Capote.

They fell into distinct social and historical camps. Alongside his social, his best known historical include Julian, Burr, and Lincoln. His third novel, The City and the Pillar (1948), outraged conservative critics as the first major feature of unambiguous homosexuality.

At the time of his death he was the last of a generation of American writers who had served during World War II, including J.D. Salinger, Kurt Vonnegut, Norman Mailer and Joseph Heller. Perhaps best remembered for his caustic wit, he referred to himself as a "gentleman bitch" and has been described as the 20th century's answer to Oscar Wilde

Also used the pseudonym Edgar Box.

+++++++++++++++++++++++
Gore Vidal é um dos nomes centrais na história da literatura americana pós-Segunda Guerra Mundial.

Nascido em 1925, em Nova Iorque, estudou na Academia de Phillips Exeter (Estado de New Hampshire). O seu primeiro romance, Williwaw (1946), era uma história da guerra claramente influenciada pelo estilo de Hemingway. Embora grande parte da sua obra tenha a ver com o século XX americano, Vidal debruçou-se várias vezes sobre épocas recuadas, como, por exemplo, em A Search for the King (1950), Juliano (1964) e Creation (1981).

Entre os seus temas de eleição está o mundo do cinema e, mais concretamente, os bastidores de Hollywood, que ele desmonta de forma satírica e implacável em títulos como Myra Breckinridge (1968), Myron (1975) e Duluth (1983).

Senhor de um estilo exuberante, multifacetado e sempre surpreendente, publicou, em 1995, a autobiografia Palimpsest: A Memoir. As obras 'O Instituto Smithsonian' e 'A Idade do Ouro' encontram-se traduzidas em português.

Neto do senador Thomas Gore, enteado do padrasto de Jacqueline Kennedy Onassis, primo distante de Al Gore, Gore Vidal sempre se revelou um espelho crítico das grandezas e misérias dos EUA.

Faleceu a 31 de julho de 2012, aos 86 anos, na sua casa em Hollywood, vítima de pneumonia.

Reviews

[Claire · Rating 5 out of 5]

there is no possible way this was written in the late 50s. the satire is so damn biting, it's like a 1950s parody written last year. the sexual subplot between art appreciation major, farmboy fiancé, and young soldier, all stirred together through a semi-psychotic alien with strikingly human cold war sensibilities, was by far my favorite part, and hilarious, too. absolutely hilarious!!

really itching to put on this play, and I wouldn't mind playing the aforementioned art appreciation major while we're at it.

[Jim · Rating 2 out of 5]

Gore Vidal's satire on 1950s militarism and presumptive American superiority is pretty dated. It still has things to say that are worth attention, but it's hard to imagine a modern-day staging of this play that wouldn't require some serious reframing. The story of an ...alien from space named Kreton who seems to be less a cretin than the earthlings he visits, the play has little of the spectacular verve of language associated with its writer, one of the great wordsmiths of his time. As a play it's somewhat more serious than the film version, which was restructured as a Jerry Lewis vehicle. But not by much. After years of things like 3rd Rock from the Sun, it's hard to imagine a modern audience finding the wide-eyed gullible alien here much of a comedic revelation. I wonder what Vidal thinks of it now, fifty years after he wrote it. Not much, I bet.

[Basim Mahmoud · Rating 2 out of 5]

خراء

[David Haws · Rating 3 out of 5]

This seems pretty typical for 1950s’ comedy teleplays. Gore Vidal only occasionally shines through, mostly in the stage directions.

[H. R. · Rating 2 out of 5]

Gore Vidal and....Jerry Lewis? Very early Vidal, either an eclectic experiment or Gore bringing home the milk money.

[Jason · Rating 5 out of 5]

I've always loved Gore Vidal's writing and this play is no exception. A sci-fi, comedy/satire that is as charming as it is bizarre. And despite it's subject matter, or maybe because of it-this seemingly innocuous piece is actually thought-provoking.

[Justin Clark · Rating 4 out of 5]

Visit to a Small Planet (1957) is Gore Vidal’s classic satirical play on the dangers of war and militarism. The setup comes straight from science fiction: an alien named Kreton comes to earth in the hopes of witnessing the American Civil War, only to find out that he came 100 years too late, at the height of the nuclear age. While Kreton is disappointed to miss the war between the blue and the gray, he nevertheless enjoys his interactions with members of an American political family and a high-ranking general. Kreton goes to work developing an elaborate scheme to get the Soviet United and the United States to go to nuclear war, as he’s bound and determined to see humanity destroy itself. Fortunately for us humans, he is thwarted in his attempt by others from his home world who then take him home. It is relayed to the Americans that Kreton is essentially a child, with immature desires who should never be left on his own.

This play is one of Vidal’s best, showing his talents for character, dark humor, and allegorical storytelling. Kreton, played in the original stage production by Cyril Richard, is an excellent character to satirize the national security state and the constant march for war. In effect, he shows the humans the absurdity of nuclear brinkmanship and the costs of excessive militarism. While some of the jokes are dated for today’s audiences, especially in their references to the cold war, its overall message is timelier than ever. Of all of his theatrical works, this is one of Vidal’s best.

[Beverly · Rating 3 out of 5]

Kind of silly and predictable. And as the earlier commenter said, a bit dated. But there was one line that was still up to date as of last November (p. 97). "Kreton: You're supposed to respond violently to certain combinations of words and music. All primitives can be lashed to fever pitch by selected major chords."

[Denise K. · Rating 4 out of 5]

Very funny - but I'm annoyed that the version in Preston's literature book is the rewrite of the script that they did for the big screen, and they changed a few things around! INCLUDING the name of Conrad Mayberry, one of my favorite characters, who is now John Randolph. Go figure.

But all in all this was a hoot. And let's face it, reading a drama on a page isn't always fun.

[Eric · Rating 1 out of 5]

I thought I would like this but it's too dated and dull. The jokes about the alien view of our world is not funny enough to last the whole play, which it does. I kept hoping for something to hit, but it's just a play that hasn't aged well at all.

[James · Rating 1 out of 5]

I was once hired to write freelance essays on this awful play and had to fake my enthusiasm with every syllable. Utterly awful.

[John Cooke · Rating 5 out of 5]

Oh how I wish someone would revive this on Broadway or the West End. In 2017, the time is right or ripe!

[Kevin · Rating 3 out of 5]

i kept thinking “wow, this must have been really racy back in 1956”! talk of unwed couples going to motels under pseudonyms, “making love” to random person while someone observes, listening in to raunchy private thoughts, and even insinuated thrupling. i can imagine delicate housewives and hard-starched gentlemen from the period going red-faced, clenching backsides and pearls, then fainting; if these types went to the theatre at all.

in some ways, this play represents the best of science fiction because it manages to satirize and parody the military/war-mongering, gender roles, journalism, belief in conspiracies, sexual norms, privacy, and a few other societal elements in a dense tangle of dialogue, characters, and plot points. immediately, i saw the shadow of The day the Earth stood still, War of the worlds, Dr. Strangelove, and Star Trek. of course, the latter did not yet exist when Vidal wrote the play but i opine that certain characters and a specific species from that show-to-come (who, like Kreton, also live in a “continuum”) might have had their genesis here. and, of course, all of these pieces do a fair job of sending up our culture and society on their own, but without the farcical nature of this “vaudeville,” as Vidal styles it.

even though many of the cultural references Vidal mocks belong to the 1950s, i think the humor still resonates and makes sense today; funny stuff with barbs.

[Ray · Rating 2 out of 5]

Quite a curiosity. Of course, nothing Gore Vidal writes is worthless, and even though dated, this little play has some genuinely funny moments. But nothing thought provoking. Perhaps this is the first example of the trope that a visitor has to point out how dull we are, but I'm not sure that's true. Suffice to say that overall, this is a readable, enjoyable, eye rolling night at the theater.

On a different matter, this play, like many, seems so rooted in its time that it has aged poorly. I suspect that in a generation, only the most devoted scholars will be interested in Visit to a Small Planet.

[Mark · Rating 4 out of 5]

I liked it. This is a good one-act play about an alien that has visited our small planet to study our violent ways. It sounds a little silly but when you buy into the premise it was quite well done. Although it was written a while ago it still reads very well and tight today. Most of the characters aren't that deep or complex but it's the story itself that carries this one. It's a little humorous with everyone else carrying on in such a professional straight manner during the very strange situation that makes this story kind of cute.

[Rosaux · Rating 3 out of 5]

Visit to a Small Planet was written by the playwright Gore Vidal in 1956. One must review a theater piece thoroughly before fully understanding what message the author tried to get across. Gore Vidal’s life must be explored to understand why he wrote his plays. Criticisms play a very significant in part in considering these masterpieces. After considering Gore Vidal’s past, understanding his plays, and reviewing the criticisms, we can understand Visit to a Small Planet to the fullest.

[Riaz Laghari · Rating 5 out of 5]

It is a wonderful piece of fiction. I enjoyed reading it. It introduces a new dimension to the way we communicate as Kreton can read/hear our minds. Kreton, as an alien, possesses very extraordinary powers. Immortality is another fascinating feature in this piece of fiction.

[ᎪᎦᎪᎠ ᏒᎥᎪᏃ · Rating 4 out of 5]

This Is Awesome

[Sam Seifeldin · Rating 3 out of 5]

The Arabic Audiobook is indeed amusing :-)

[Lydia Newman · Rating 2 out of 5]

Pretty outdated, but a fast and fun read.

[Al Duran · Rating 3 out of 5]

Gore Vidal’s contribution to the “invasion from outer space” genre popular in the 1950s reflecting the anti-communist and anti-Soviet hysteria of the time. But, Vidal’s theme is anti-war, and he ridicules those puerile warmongers who think military conflict is just a game.

[Karin · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was hilarious. Maybe just because I'd never heard of the play so had no idea what was coming, but it cracked me up. I'd love to see it some day, or be in it. Very fun.

[Yo Yas]

like

[Jack Burnham]

Loved it! Brisk and funny