Review: Science Fiction Short Story: "Image of the Gods" by Alan E. Nourse

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Pete Farnam was out on the plantation cleaning a clogged nozzle in his sprayer. He was tarring the fields in anticipation of winter, which was due to hit with unforgiving ferocity any day now. The taaro had been harvested—a bumper crop, all bundled and ready for shipment. Mario came driving up in a jeep with a couple of the Dusties in the back seat, bouncing up and down like excited 5-year-olds. The brakes squealed and Mario shouted, “The ship’s in!” Something was not right. This was the year for the supply ship from earth. Pete hopped in jeep and they all headed toward base, Dusties crawling over him. The small fuzzy brown Dusties were not quite human, but more intelligent than animals. They couldn’t speak, indeed, they made no noise at all, yet they had helped the colonists survive after the first devastating winter which nearly wiped the colony out. They had shown them how to build the wind shields. And they seemed always happy and willing to lend a hand, inept though that hand might be at mechanized farming. At base, things were worse than expected. Instead of Old Schooner, the ship was captained by a man named Varga. Captain Schooner, um, retired. Along with Captain Varga is one Rupert Nathan of the Colonial Service. He’s there to make sure Baron IV increases its quota. If they can’t pull their weight, the colony will be shut down. The conflict is nicely drawn and the reader can easily understand and empathize with colonists of Baron IV who have worked in isolation for a long time. They no longer consider themselves earthlings, though they were all born on earth. The doings on earth, a distant echo, are about the change their lives. And into this mix are the little understood, but much loved, Dusties. The ending was in many ways predictable, but I found it devastating. It is a good story in that it is moving, but I will not read this one again. Author Alan E. Nourse was a practicing physician. Some of his science fiction reflects this. He also wrote a column in Good Housekeeping offering advice. This story is available from Project Gutenberg and as an audiobook from Librivox: _____ Title: “Image of the Gods” Author: Alan E. Nourse (1928-1992) First published: Orbit September/October 1954 Source: ISFDB