Unlike some other reproductions of classic texts (1) We have not used OCR(Optical Character Recognition), as this leads to bad quality books with introduced typos. (2) In books where there are images such as portraits, maps, sketches etc We have endeavoured to keep the quality of these images, so they represent accurately the original artefact. Although occasionally there may be certain imperfections with these old texts, we feel they deserve to be made available for future generations to enjoy.
2019 Popsugar Reading Challenge - Your favorite prompt from a past POPSUGAR reading challenge (2018 PSC - A book set on a different planet): Short book about the role of science in society. In the future, earth has a chance to gain the knowledge of a race that is significantly advanced in technology and science. However, one scientist is skeptical and wonders what the catch is and convinces the government to send a delegation to the alien planet. The philosophical argument centers around being given all the answers and taking a narrow and direct path vs exploring all the options and making mistakes and getting there slower. Entertaining and thought-provoking story about the role of teachers and pupils and how all people should be scientists on some level in discovering their place in the universe.
This is in many ways a book about cultural diversity. It's hard to believe that an entire culture could be as limited as the rykes and still have so much wealth. I wonder that they want anything from surrounding cultures.
Some mildly interesting points but nothing really jelled for me. It's built around the simple idea that sometimes you should "look a gift horse in the mouth". It followed the typical 50's trope of humanity having some special talent that made them equal to or better than the aliens we encountered. This follows the general trope started by John W. Campbell who refused to publish any stories in which aliens were shown as equal or superior to humans. I was then surprised to find out that this story was published in "If" magazine in 1954 and not in Campbell's Astounding magazine.
The author takes a pretty dry subject - the politics of convincing others to see your point of view - and creates a fairly interesting story out of it. Pretty well written as sci-fi goes.