TY - BOOK AU - Galouye,Daniel F. AU - Wood,Wallace TI - Gravy Train T2 - Produced from Worlds of If Science Fiction, March 1960 AV - PS PY - 2019/// CY - Salt Lake City, UT PB - Project Gutenberg KW - Science fiction KW - Human-alien encounters -- Fiction KW - Miscommunication -- Fiction KW - Asteroids -- Fiction KW - Diplomacy -- Fiction N1 - Release date is 2019-11-29; Produced by Greg Weeks, Mary Meehan and the Online Distributed Proofreading Team at http://www.pgdp.net; Original publication data not identified N2 - "Gravy Train" by Daniel F. Galouye is a science fiction novel written in the early 1960s. The story revolves around Titus McWorther, a retired potentate living in relative isolation on a small planetoid, who inadvertently finds himself at the center of a cosmic mix-up that leads to both chaos and comedic misfortune. The book explores themes of miscommunication and the unintended consequences of good intentions, particularly in the face of political maneuvering and international relations. In the narrative, McWorther’s simple request for a household item—a luxury automatic bather—sets off a series of comedic disasters due to a mix-up of messages at a relay station. This results in massive shipments of equipment and supplies meant for a foreign government pouring into his secluded estate instead. The political ramifications escalate as both the Western and Eastern Clusters, represented by their leaders, converge on McWorther's World, now overrun with theatrical performers, politicians, and unwanted aid. As gravity grows unstable under the overwhelming cargo, Titus and his wife Edna must deal with an increasing number of visitors as well as the impending collapse of their home. The story culminates in a chaotic escape, leaving the couple to ponder the absurdity of their situation and the burdens of miscommunication. (This is an automatically generated summary.) UR - https://www.gutenberg.org/ebooks/60809 ER -