Cover of The Stranger

The Stranger

    Gordon R. Dickson's The Stranger is a Victorian science fiction and classic fantasy novel. Key subjects include fathers and sons, space ships and human-alien encounters.

    On Project Gutenberg it was downloaded 1,031 times in the last 30 days.

    It is in the public domain in the United States and free to read on Project Gutenberg.

    About The Stranger

    "The Stranger" by Gordon R. Dickson is a science fiction novel written in the early 1950s. The story revolves around a mysterious alien spacecraft encountered by the crew of a mining ship, prompting themes of exploration, fear of the unknown, and the potential for understanding between different species. In the narrative, the crew members, Jeff and Peter Wadley, land on an unnamed planet and discover an alien ship that appears to be in distress. Despite Jeff's initial desire to flee from the situation out of fear for their safety, Peter insists on investigating, believing that the alien ship may require assistance. After deducing that the ship is likely a vessel for an enormous being, Peter and Jeff work together to right the ship using motor jacks. Their act of kindness ultimately leads to a triumphant moment when the alien ships away, revealing that they have forged a bond of friendship and understanding across species. The book encapsulates ideas of empathy, courage, and the profound impact of helping others, even when faced with fear of the unknown.
    Summary from Project Gutenberg (automatically generated)

    Themes, setting & tropes

    Genres

    Subjects

    • Science fiction
    • Fathers and sons
    • Space ships
    • Human-alien encounters

    Quick answers

    Who wrote The Stranger?

    The Stranger was written by Gordon R. Dickson.

    What genre is The Stranger?

    It is usually shelved as Victorian Science Fiction and Classic Fantasy.

    Is The Stranger free to read?

    Yes. It is in the public domain in the United States and can be read free on Project Gutenberg in EPUB, Kindle and HTML formats.

    What books are similar to The Stranger?

    Readers who like it often enjoy The Misplaced Battleship, From the Earth to the moon; and, round the moon and Plague Ship.

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