Problem

by Alan E. Nourse

Alan Edward Nourse, an American science fiction author and physician, also writing under the names of Dr. X and Al Edwards, wrote both juvenile and adult science fiction, as well as nonfiction works about medicine and science. Nourse helped pay for his medical education by writing science fiction for magazines and continued after retiring from medicine.

Genres: Short Stories, Science Fiction, Fiction

15 pages, Kindle Edition

First published March 23, 2011

About the author

Alan Edward Nourse was an American science fiction (SF) author and physician. He also wrote under the name Dr. X
He wrote both juvenile and adult science fiction, as well as nonfiction works about medicine and science.
Alan Nourse was born to Benjamin and Grace (Ogg) Nourse. He attended high school in Long Island, New York. He served in the U.S. Navy after World War II. He earned a Bachelor of Science degree in 1951 from Rutgers University, New Brunswick, New Jersey. He married Ann Morton on June 11, 1952 in Lynden, New Jersey. He received a Doctor of Medicine (M.D.) degree in 1955 from the University of Pennsylvania. He served his one year internship at Virginia Mason Hospital in Seattle, Washington. He practiced medicine in North Bend, Washington from 1958 to 1963 and also pursued his writing career.
He had helped pay for his medical education by writing science fiction for magazines. After retiring from medicine, he continued writing. His regular column in Good Housekeeping magazine earned him the nickname "Family Doctor".
He was a friend of fellow author Avram Davidson. Robert A. Heinlein dedicated his 1964 novel Farnham's Freehold to Nourse. Heinlein in part dedicated his 1982 novel Friday to Nourse's wife Ann.

His novel The Bladerunner lent its name to the Blade Runner movie, but no other aspects of its plot or characters, which were taken from Philip K. Dick's Do Androids Dream of Electric Sheep? In the late 1970s an attempt to adapt The Bladerunner for the screen was made, with Beat Generation author William S. Burroughs commissioned to write a story treatment; no film was ever developed but the story treatment was later published as the novella, Blade Runner (a movie).
His novel Star Surgeon has been recorded as a public domain audio book at LibriVox
His pen names included "Al Edwards" and "Doctor X".

He died in Thorp, Washington.

Reviews

[Zen · Rating 3 out of 5]

Not a bad story.

Written in 1956 but the PR stuff that goes on sounds so 2025, which is when I listened to this audio book. Except for all the piles of paper on the floor of the Analysis office. After all, in 2025 we live in a paperless world where everything is done electronically.......

Hmm...maybe I need a few more elipses there.....

Funny thing though. Just before Pete came up with the idea to sell Grdznth Motherhood to the people, I (jokingly) came up with the idea of Grdznth Pornography.
Lol! How like 1956 is A.E. Nourse's idea, and how like 2025 was my (joking) suggestion.

Though, if you think about it a little, just how different are they really...

Anyways, I liked the story and I might say the ending was actually predictable. Except something in the back of my mind tells me I might have read this story, somewhere, sometime long, long ago in the 1970's.

Oh..and it's the first time I think I have ever encountered the word "parturiate" in a story. I thought it was some kind of cooking term.

[Chris Aldridge · Rating 5 out of 5]

Part of LibriVox Short Science Fiction Collection 008. Well read by Joseph Kellogg. Loved it when a croc like alien materialized in the airplane seat next to mine and then politely apologies for having got lost. When it transpires that that it is our protagonists Job to act as PR spokesperson for the aliens I was sold. Too short.

[Tony Ciak · Rating 4 out of 5]

Science fiction story

[Susan Molloy · Rating 3 out of 5]

In one sense, this short science fiction story can be compared to our government of today – their incessant pushing its agenda, and the public relations problem it has with an educated citizenry who can, and do, think for themselves. In this story, Earth agrees to allow the Grdnzth aliens to come to Earth to use it as a stopping point before going on to another planet. Why? Because their own planet is set to be destroyed, and they need a watering hole. These aliens, the Grdnzths, are horribly ugly in a reptilian form, and they can appear anywhere and pop in on people without notice. Earth people are not amused.

And what happens?

Well, it becomes the challenging job of Public Relations men Pete Greenwood and Tommy Heinz to convince the public to accept the Grdnzth and accept the inconvenience put upon them.

Oh, yes, Tommy [Heinz] “was a good PR-man, as PR-men go. He just didn't know his own depth. PRoblem in a beady Grdznth eye! . . . the Grdznth were mammals—"docile, peace-loving mammals"

Without giving the story nor the ending away, I will state that to me, the dénouement is shocking and therefore, helps to make this story one of my favorites by Alan Edward Nourse.

Published in Galaxy, October 1956.

🟤 Project Gutenberg

[Denise · Rating 2 out of 5]

In exchange for the promise of an almost limitless fuel, earth agrees to allow the alien Grdnzth people to gather on earth for transit to a planet as their is going to be destroyed. The Grdnzth are ugly, looking rather like reptiles. They also pop in anywhere, anytime unannounced.

It's the job of PR men Pete Greenwood and Tommy Heinz to get the public to accept the Grdnzth and the inconvenience...

Please read the full review here.

[Matt · Rating 3 out of 5]

Short, to the point, not bad.