Cum Grano Salis: Classic Book Guide and Free Edition
Cum Grano Salis: author and translator credits, catalogue synopsis, subjects and links to the Gutenberg reading formats.
Cum Grano Salis is catalogued by Project Gutenberg with author credits for Garrett, Randall (1927–1987).
Catalogue synopsis
Project Gutenberg supplies this automated synopsis of the opening text:
"Cum Grano Salis" by Randall Garrett is a science fiction novella written in the late 1950s. The story revolves around a group of astronauts facing dire circumstances on an alien planet, highlighting themes of survival, human resilience, and the unexpected consequences of encounters with extraterrestrial life. The title itself, which translates to "with a grain of salt," underscores the caution and skepticism the characters must exercise as they navigate their challenging situation. The narrative follows Colonel Fennister and the crew of an exploratory mission to Alphegar IV, who find themselves in a precarious predicament after a lightning strike destroys their food supplies, leaving them with only a month’s worth of rations while awaiting rescue. As they grapple with the threat of starvation, they explore the native flora for potential food sources. Only Broderick MacNeil, a spaceman on the crew, discovers that he can consume a native fruit, the banana-pear, without harmful effects, leading to a critical survival tactic. However, as others try the fruit, they suffer fatal consequences, revealing a deadly chelating agent within it that the others were unaware of. The story captures the conflicts arising from desperation and survival instincts and ultimately reflects on how the body’s chemistry can differ significantly between species.
Book and edition facts
- Title: Cum Grano Salis
- Author credits: Garrett, Randall (1927–1987)
- Catalogue language: English
Catalogue subjects
- Science fiction
Gutenberg collections
- Category: Science-Fiction & Fantasy
- Science Fiction
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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.
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