Collector's Item: Classic Book Guide and Free Edition
Collector's Item: author and translator credits, catalogue synopsis, subjects and links to the Gutenberg reading formats.

Collector's Item is catalogued by Project Gutenberg with author credits for Smith, Evelyn E. (1922–2000).
Catalogue synopsis
Project Gutenberg supplies this automated synopsis of the opening text:
"Collector's Item" by Evelyn E. Smith is a science fiction novel written during the mid-20th century. The story unfolds on Venus and revolves around a group of Earth scientists who find themselves entangled with intelligent alien lizard-like beings amidst the planet's hostile environment. The narrative explores themes of intelligence, identity, and the nuanced relationships between species, raising questions about civilization and what it means to be "civilized." The plot centers on Professor Bernardi and his expedition team as they navigate the challenges of survival on Venus, from dealing with hostile flora and fauna to encountering telepathic alien beings. Initially, they believe they are the only intelligent life forms on the planet, but they quickly discover that the lizard-man, Jrann-Pttt, and his companion Dfar-Lll, have their own agenda. As the characters grapple with trust and suspicion, they face existential dilemmas about their place in the universe and the consequences of their actions. Ultimately, the story blends humor and adventure with deeper philosophical inquiries, culminating in an unexpected twist about the nature of captivity and autonomy.
Book and edition facts
- Title: Collector's Item
- Author credits: Smith, Evelyn E. (1922–2000)
- Catalogue language: English
Catalogue subjects
- Human-alien encounters -- Fiction
- Science fiction
- Venus (Planet) -- Fiction
Gutenberg collections
- Category: Novels
- Category: Science-Fiction & Fantasy
- Science Fiction
- Science Fiction by Women
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View the complete Gutenberg catalogue record. Project Gutenberg identifies this edition as public domain in the United States; that designation does not establish its copyright status in every country.
Source notes
Catalogue metadata is public domain and is supplied through Gutendex, which imports Gutenberg's machine-readable catalogue. The automated synopsis is source-supplied, not an independently verified review. Author dates above describe the credited people; no ebook release date is presented as the book's original publication date.


