02659cam a22003733u 4500 59174 UtSlPG 20260610134349.0 m cr n 260607r2019||||utu|||||o|||||||||||||| d UtSlPG en iso639-1 PS Holden, Fox B., 1923-1973 Task Mission Salt Lake City, UT : Project Gutenberg, 2019 1 online resource : multiple file formats text txt rdacontent computer c rdamedia online resource cr rdacarrier Produced from Worlds of If Science Fiction, April 1955 Release date is 2019-03-31 Produced by Greg Weeks, Mary Meehan and the Online Distributed Proofreading Team at http://www.pgdp.net "Task Mission" by Fox B. Holden is a science fiction novella written in the mid-20th century. The narrative follows Captain Nicholas Joel on a mission to the planet Arcturus IV, where the crew of the "White Whale" has discovered a rich supply of a rare and valuable resource called mneurium-4. As Joel and his crew engage with the planet's peaceful inhabitants, the story explores themes of ambition, morality, and cultural understanding against the backdrop of space exploration. In the story, Captain Joel, who has long harbored disdain for the endless grind of space exploration, finds himself conflicted about the ethical implications of exploiting the resources of Arcturus IV. His crew encounters the indigenous people, who, although technologically primitive, exhibit a deep sense of community and simplicity that captivates Joel. As he interacts with them, particularly a young woman he helps after an accident, he begins to question the values of his own civilization. Amidst the rich landscapes and the simple joys of life on Arcturus IV, Joel grapples with the emptiness of his former life and the true meaning of wealth, leading to profound realizations about civilization, greed, and personal fulfillment. Ultimately, his experience forces him to confront whether he truly wants to return to a life consumed by ambition and technological progress. (This is an automatically generated summary.) Original publication data not identified Science fiction Human-alien encounters -- Fiction Outer space -- Exploration -- Fiction Extrasolar planets -- Fiction Orban, Paul, 1896-1974 Produced from Worlds of If Science Fiction, April 1955 https://www.gutenberg.org/ebooks/59174 100000 100000