02639cam a22003493u 450000100060000000300070000600500170001300600020003000700050003200800410003704000110007804100170008905000070010610000360011324500250014926400510017430000470022533600260027233700260029833800360032449000770036050000310043750800960046852014170056453400760198165300200205765300380207765300230211565300310213883000770216985600430224670403UtSlPG20260610134628.0mcr n260607r20231950utu|||||o|||||||||||||| d  aUtSlPG 7aen2iso639-1 4aPS1 aLong, Frank Belknap,d1903-199414aThe miniature menace 1aSalt Lake City, UT :bProject Gutenberg,c2023  a1 online resource :bmultiple file formats  atextbtxt2rdacontent  acomputerbc2rdamedia  aonline resourcebcr2rdacarrier1 aProduced from Future combined with Science Fiction Stories May-June 1950  aRelease date is 2023-03-29  aGreg Weeks, Mary Meehan and the Online Distributed Proofreading Team at http://www.pgdp.net  a"The Miniature Menace" by Frank Belknap Long is a thrilling novelet written in the early 20th century, specifically during the 1950s. This science fiction work explores themes of alien encounters and the complexities of interstellar relations. The story follows Captain Ralph Langford as he grapples with the consequences of not engaging an alien craft that poses a potential threat, leading him into a series of intense and dramatic events.  As the narrative unfolds, Langford finds himself under arrest for defying orders to fire on the alien spacecraft. While under suspicion, he discovers a miniature, metallic insect that seems to possess extraordinary qualities. In a twist of fate, Langford's empathic and clairvoyant wife, Joan, becomes pivotal in their quest to locate the stranded alien ship, which has crash-landed on Earth. As their journey leads them to discover mysterious creatures with the ability to multiply and a telepathic alien hidden within a mental projection, the couple confronts themes of trust, the fear of the unknown, and the moral implications of violence. Ultimately, Langford's moral stance and Joan's psychic abilities combine their efforts to avert a significant interstellar conflict, culminating in a profound connection with the alien life form and a resolution that underscores the importance of understanding beyond aggression. (This is an automatically generated summary.)  pOriginally published:cUnited States: Columbia Publications, Inc., 1950  aScience fiction  aHuman-alien encounters -- Fiction  aSpouses -- Fiction  aPsychic ability -- Fiction 0aProduced from Future combined with Science Fiction Stories May-June 195040uhttps://www.gutenberg.org/ebooks/70403