02760cam a22003493u 4500 24274 UtSlPG 20260610133545.0 m cr n 260607r2008||||utu|||||o|||||||||||||| d UtSlPG en iso639-1 PS Nourse, Alan Edward, 1928-1992 The Native Soil Salt Lake City, UT : Project Gutenberg, 2008 1 online resource : multiple file formats text txt rdacontent computer c rdamedia online resource cr rdacarrier Produced from "Tiger by the Tail and Other Science Fiction Stories by Alan E. Nourse" and was first published in Fantastic Universe July 1957. Release date is 2008-01-14 Produced by Greg Weeks, Stephen Blundell and the Online Distributed Proofreading Team at https://www.pgdp.net "The Native Soil" by Alan Edward Nourse is a science fiction novella written in the mid-20th century. Set on Venus, the narrative examines the challenges faced by a corporation, Piper Pharmaceuticals, Inc., as it attempts to exploit the planet’s unique and mysterious resources. The central theme revolves around the misunderstandings and mishaps that arise between human colonizers and the native Venusian inhabitants while uncovering the true potential of the planet's mud. In the story, Robert Kielland, a special investigator for Piper Pharmaceuticals, arrives on Venus to evaluate a struggling research installation that has encountered unexpected difficulties in extracting valuable resources from the planet's lush and clinging mud. The Venusian natives, known for their playful and seemingly unintelligent nature, are initially viewed by the Earthmen as a hindrance to their objectives. However, as Kielland navigates through the series of logistical failures and absurd incidents involving the natives and their unique knowledge of the environment, he gradually realizes that the Mud-pups are not as simple as they appear. The narrative culminates in a revelation about the natives' actual intelligence and their connection to the very resources the humans seek, leading to a reconsideration of the exploitation strategy in favor of a more mutually beneficial arrangement. (This is an automatically generated summary.) Original publication data not identified Science fiction Short stories Human-alien encounters -- Fiction Produced from "Tiger by the Tail and Other Science Fiction Stories by Alan E. Nourse" and was first published in Fantastic Universe July 1957. https://www.gutenberg.org/ebooks/24274 65275 65275