02512cam a22003733u 4500 31981 UtSlPG 20260610133729.0 m cr n 260607r2010||||utu|||||o|||||||||||||| d UtSlPG en iso639-1 PS De Ford, Miriam Allen, 1888-1975 The Eel Salt Lake City, UT : Project Gutenberg, 2010 1 online resource : multiple file formats text txt rdacontent computer c rdamedia online resource cr rdacarrier Produced from Galaxy Science Fiction April 1958. Release date is 2010-04-14 Produced by Sankar Viswanathan, Greg Weeks, and the Online Distributed Proofreading Team at http://www.pgdp.net "The Eel" by Miriam Allen De Ford is a science fiction story written in the late 1950s. The book features themes of interplanetary law and criminal justice, centered around the notorious thief known as The Eel, who has evaded capture for over two decades while committing grand thefts across various planets within the Galactic Federation. De Ford's narrative explores the complexities of punishment and justice in a galaxy with different cultures and customs. The story unfolds as The Eel is finally apprehended by the Galactic Police, leading to a debate among eight planets over who has the right to try and punish him for his crimes. The trial takes place on the primitive planet Agsk, where the unique legal system demands that the thief's most loved one be punished instead of him. However, as the trial progresses, it becomes evident that The Eel has no one he truly loves, making it impossible for Agsk to follow their laws. In a surprising twist, The Eel attempts to manipulate the situation by professing feelings for the priestess-judge, leading to further complications. Ultimately, the story delves into themes of individuality, justice, and self-love, while leaving The Eel's fate in limbo as the Galactic Federation seeks an acceptable resolution. (This is an automatically generated summary.) Original publication data not identified Science fiction Short stories Criminals -- Fiction Dillon, Diane, 1933- Dillon, Leo, 1933-2012 Produced from Galaxy Science Fiction April 1958. https://www.gutenberg.org/ebooks/31981 72827 72827