What's the Name of That Book??? discussion
Query abandoned by poster
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ABANDONED. Science fiction short story about a space-age smuggler, lizards, and religion
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This sounds like The Streets of Ashkelon by Harry Harrison. You can find it in several anthologies, including The Best of Harry Harrison.
Sue wrote: "This sounds like The Streets of Ashkelon by Harry Harrison."I've read OP's story. And I'm pretty sure Sue has nailed it, as Harry is one of the authors I've read a lot.
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LDiesIrael (OP) was last active on the site in September 2019.
- Author of said story is most likely to be of US or UK origin;
- Main actors would be a retired smuggler with his genetically modified bear friend and a Christian missionary priest;
- Bear name somewhat resembles a Finnish nickname, might start with "Pitka";
- The planet the story takes place on is a remote swampy one with sentient lizards, which were pre-tribal when discovered by a smuggler;
- Smuggler taught lizards basic science facts and laws of nature, just as he sold their works of primitive art off-world;
- At some point former rival of a smuggler arrives, dumping a priest missioner, which happens to be a Christian one, with no obvious option of getting back;
- Priest teaches lizards the basic tenets of Christianity and they try to crucify him in order to witness a miracle of faith and so start believing;
- Smuggler decides to intervene this act of involuntary Crucifixion, which results in a fight and a few of lizards dead;
- Ending is a dialogue between the smuggler and the chief lizard on the fight and the situation in it's wholeness.
I know, it's not much, but it's what I have :/