TY - BOOK AU - Fontenay,Charles L. AU - Emshwiller,Ed TI - Beauty interrupted T2 - Produced from Infinity August 1958 AV - PS PY - 2023/// CY - Salt Lake City, UT PB - Project Gutenberg KW - Science fiction KW - Short stories KW - Life on other planets -- Fiction N1 - Release date is 2023-11-07; Greg Weeks, Mary Meehan and the Online Distributed Proofreading Team at http://www.pgdp.net; Originally published; New York, NY: Royal Publications, Inc., 1958 N2 - "Beauty Interrupted" by Charles L. Fontenay is a science fiction novella written during the mid-20th century. The story takes place on the planet Orcti, where the inhabitants are envious of the advanced Earthmen who live among them. It explores themes of progress, beauty, and the consequences of ambition, particularly in a context where knowledge and power can lead to both enlightenment and destruction. The narrative follows Birkala, a young Orctian scientist who is bitter towards the Earthman Erik, who has integrated himself into Orcti society and is adored for his talents and longevity. Driven by jealousy and ambition, Birkala seeks to uncover the secrets of Erik's advanced technology, particularly a forbidden beam transmitter. When Birkala's actions inadvertently lead to the abduction of his sister Spira into a dangerous realm beyond comprehension, both he and Erik must confront the limitations of their understanding. Ultimately, the story serves as a cautionary tale about the dangers of unchecked ambition and the need for emotional and moral maturity to accompany scientific advancement. (This is an automatically generated summary.) UR - https://www.gutenberg.org/ebooks/72059 ER -