Jesse F. Bone 37 min read

The aliens woo Earth with gifts, love, and peace, and one grim marksman lies on a mattress, sighting his rifle, because no one shoots Santa Claus.

Jesse F. Bone's 1958 story frames its taut premise with dark wit: how do you resist benevolent invaders, and what kind of man appoints himself to try? Daniel Matson eyes his weapon with an executioner's calm. Tense, morally knotty first-contact SF. Read it for a sharp golden-age story that asks whether the deadliest gift is kindness.

In its time

Published in 1958, during the 1950s, post-war optimism meets cold war anxiety.

Reading it

37 min read (a novelette, room for a turn or two).

Illustrated by

Ed Emshwiller