Garrett, Randall 1927-1987 creator Kluga, Richard text utu 2023 monographic en 1 online resource : multiple file formats "Beyond Our Control" by Randall Garrett is a science fiction novel written in the late 1950s. The story explores the consequences of a technological mishap involving artificial satellites that control global communication. The plot centers around Satellite Number Four, which is rendered inoperable after an encounter with an unidentified object, leading to a crisis that could affect the entire Earth. In the narrative, James Fitzpatrick MacIlheny, the Operational Vice-President of Circum-Global Communications, grapples with the sudden loss of the satellite. As he and his team scramble to regain control, they discover the satellite has altered its orbit after the incident. Ultimately, they confront an extraterrestrial spacecraft that seems to have caused the satellite's malfunction. The alien, through a series of misunderstood gestures, exchanges an H-bomb for one of their weapons, suggesting complex interstellar diplomacy. The book weaves themes of technological reliance and the potential for unexpected contact with alien life, ending on an optimistic note regarding mutual understanding and trade rather than conflict. (This is an automatically generated summary.) Release date is 2023-10-06 Greg Weeks, Mary Meehan and the Online Distributed Proofreading Team at http://www.pgdp.net Originally published: New York, NY: Royal Publications, Inc., 1957 Science fiction Short stories Human-alien encounters -- Fiction Satellites -- Fiction PS New York, NY: Royal Publications, Inc., 1957 https://www.gutenberg.org/ebooks/71821 https://www.gutenberg.org/ebooks/71821 UtSlPG 260607 20260610134648.0 71821