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gengelcox's review
3.0
An extrapolation typical of science fiction where humans take the role of the Manhattan Indians when the Europeans buy the island for a handful of beads. Herein, we exchange all of our radioactive isotopes for machines that prolong our lives, without realizing that those same isotopes are needed to power the machines. Tenn is a satirical writer, and his point of view character is an advertising executive initially called in to sell the aliens—giant snails, basically—to the public. But it’s the total misunderstanding of value—similar to H. B. Fyfe’s “Of Value Deceived”—on which the story depends. Thankfully, it doesn’t end there, but has a coda wherein there might be a comeuppance. Fun.
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