PRoblem

"PRoblem" by Alan Edward Nourse is a science fiction novel written in the mid-20th century. The story revolves around the unexpected arrival of the Grdznth, a peculiar alien species that poses challenges for Earth's public relations and societal acceptance. The book explores themes of xenophobia, adaptation, and the complexities of interspecies communication in the face of crisis. The plot begins with Pete Greenwood, a public relations man, who is summoned to help manage the fallout from the Grdznth's entrance into Earth society. Initially portrayed as a benign but frightening presence, the Grdznth are struggling to find their place on Earth as they face backlash from the human population. The narrative unfolds as Pete and his colleague Tommy Heinz attempt to navigate the chaos caused by the Grdznth's uninvited arrival while also uncovering the implications of their existence, which seem to threaten Earth's stability. As they grapple with public perception and political pressure, the characters must devise a strategy to highlight the Grdznth’s motherhood and ultimately mitigate the anxiety surrounding their presence—leading to a commentary on societal fear of the unknown and the essence of humanity's compassion. (This is an automatically generated summary.)

Alan Edward Nourse was an American science fiction writer and physician. He wrote both juvenile and adult science fiction, as well as nonfiction works about medicine and science. His SF works sometimes focused on medicine and/or psionics.