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Naudsonce
Naudsonce by Henry Beam Piper
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First published January 1, 1962
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About the author
H. Beam Piper
311 books245 followersHenry Beam Piper was an American science fiction author. He wrote many short stories and several novels. He is best known for his extensive Terro-Human Future History series of stories and a shorter series of "Paratime" alternate history tales.
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Displaying 1 - 14 of 14 reviews
November 23, 2019
2019 grade B
Another long short story about the interaction between high tech earth settlers and the sentient life on another planet. This time it is on the lines of first contact between European settlers with lower or no technology populations. The story ends after solving the communication barrier and is interesting. The bad things that will happen to the native population in the future are only hinted at.
Anyway, it was well written as Piper almost is. The end was a little abrupt but overall an enjoyable read.
Kindle mega-pack.
Another long short story about the interaction between high tech earth settlers and the sentient life on another planet. This time it is on the lines of first contact between European settlers with lower or no technology populations. The story ends after solving the communication barrier and is interesting. The bad things that will happen to the native population in the future are only hinted at.
Anyway, it was well written as Piper almost is. The end was a little abrupt but overall an enjoyable read.
Kindle mega-pack.
March 30, 2011
An interesting book looking at potential complications when having first contact with an alien race.
December 31, 2023
A Golden Age story that bears all the marks of "The editor asked for x words and I did my best. Sorry."
There's needless padding throughout the story. My guess is the author worked hard to get to the requested word count. Each padding reeks of "I'm going to throw things in until I figure out what I'm writing about."
Unfortunately, Piper never seemed to figure it out. The ending comes out of nowhere, is two steps away from Deux ex Machina, and greatly disappointing.
All of which is a pity as I normally love this kind of story - first contact, learn their language, communicate.
I'd like to say there's some technique worth learning and no, not even that.
Don't bother.
There's needless padding throughout the story. My guess is the author worked hard to get to the requested word count. Each padding reeks of "I'm going to throw things in until I figure out what I'm writing about."
Unfortunately, Piper never seemed to figure it out. The ending comes out of nowhere, is two steps away from Deux ex Machina, and greatly disappointing.
All of which is a pity as I normally love this kind of story - first contact, learn their language, communicate.
I'd like to say there's some technique worth learning and no, not even that.
Don't bother.
July 5, 2025
A brilliant little tale from an author mostly famous for his Fuzzie stories.
Old school SF somehow seems better than the stuff written today for 'the modern audience'
A new world ideal for human colonisation with an indigenous sentient lifeform and the humans attempt to communicate with them is more difficult than anticipated.
The tale is of the day and is surprisingly good in it's character dynamics, there are even women and they have a purpose and are allowed to talk and contribute to the task as the linguist is a woman, oh the shock, horror of it all.
Well worth a read.
Old school SF somehow seems better than the stuff written today for 'the modern audience'
A new world ideal for human colonisation with an indigenous sentient lifeform and the humans attempt to communicate with them is more difficult than anticipated.
The tale is of the day and is surprisingly good in it's character dynamics, there are even women and they have a purpose and are allowed to talk and contribute to the task as the linguist is a woman, oh the shock, horror of it all.
Well worth a read.
August 9, 2018
Like Omnilingual, dramatic revelation of an intriguing sci fi idea. A little more plot- Mom and Sonny were fun.
The jump from "they communicate with tactile sensations" to "they are more sensual than rational" is plausible, and a fascinating elaboration of a neat idea. But it's not necessary, and could have been better supported in the text. We communicate with sound, but our word for "loud" isn't loud.
The jump from "they communicate with tactile sensations" to "they are more sensual than rational" is plausible, and a fascinating elaboration of a neat idea. But it's not necessary, and could have been better supported in the text. We communicate with sound, but our word for "loud" isn't loud.
April 27, 2021
Fantasy reading 📚
Due to eye issues Alexa reads to me, a will written fantasy Sci-Fi space adventure thriller novella. The characters are complicated, explorers from Earth 🌎visiting a new planet with an inhabitants that can not hear 👂or speak. I would recommend this novella to readers of fantasy Sci-Fi adventures. Enjoy reading 🔰2021 🐃🐏👑😊
Due to eye issues Alexa reads to me, a will written fantasy Sci-Fi space adventure thriller novella. The characters are complicated, explorers from Earth 🌎visiting a new planet with an inhabitants that can not hear 👂or speak. I would recommend this novella to readers of fantasy Sci-Fi adventures. Enjoy reading 🔰2021 🐃🐏👑😊
June 17, 2018
So cleverly conceived, a peculiar and beautiful world.
I guess I have found my poison. It is the SciFi genre, the short stories. Doesn't matter if the plot falls apart into absurdity or nothingness. The alternative or the seemingly absurd is so amazing.
I guess I have found my poison. It is the SciFi genre, the short stories. Doesn't matter if the plot falls apart into absurdity or nothingness. The alternative or the seemingly absurd is so amazing.
November 1, 2021
Naudsonce is a very neat linugistical scifi story. It’s also terribly unimaginative in every other way: Aliens who communicate wildly differently, yet follow human norms in every other way? Puh-lease. Everything good done here was done better by Vernor Vinge.
September 28, 2017
Some pretty good old school hard SF. Definitely an acquired taste, but if you have the proper tastebuds, this one will knock your socks off.
May 9, 2021
Fun tale of first contact with a primitive alien species. Classic sci-fi exploration of some of the ways extra-terrestrial intelligent life can evolve and really differ from humanity.
March 22, 2025
3.5* Another solid Analog Novella from Piper.
March 5, 2017
This is a short story about the ever expanding Terro-Human Federation which makes first contact with the indigenous peoples of a new world, but for some reason the standard contact methods don't seem to be working. It is a compelling look at 'strange otherness' that pulls the reader into solving the mystery. I found it quite compelling. Let's just say, read it and you will get all the 'feels'. Read it and you'll get my little pun there also. Still has the Imperialistic Arrogance theme of Piper's THF series going in it though. 4 stars and I call it a Thought Provoking Read.
January 27, 2013
... an attempt to communicate with an alien race...
February 10, 2025
Interesting story.
Displaying 1 - 14 of 14 reviews