Synopsis
There can be no meaningful communication between genuine aliens—one must remake itself into an analogue of the other, in order to share systems, affinity and experience.
History
First publication: Amazing, March 1970
Review
Tiptree tackles a difficult idea and approaches it in sort of an experimental manner. The result is hard to follow, starting with a surreal dreamlike story, then switching to an ordinary narrative about a meeting at a research facility, and then giving the ending of the story. The result I don’t think quite works. It seemed muddled rather than coherent.
Videos
We have the story in these editions:
Ten Thousand Light-Years from Home, paperback, Ace, 1973-07-00
Amazing, March 1970, edited by Ted White, magazine, Ultimate Publishing Co., 1970-03-00
