Once a Greech: Classic Book Guide and Free Edition
Once a Greech: author and translator credits, catalogue synopsis, subjects and links to the Gutenberg reading formats.

Once a Greech 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:
"Once a Greech" by Evelyn E. Smith is a science fiction novella written in the mid-20th century, which reflects the imaginative explorations typical of that era. The story revolves around the accidental discovery of intelligent life on the moon Flimbot, found amidst a routine interstellar exploration, leading to unexpected adventures and philosophical ponderings about life, identity, and connection across species. Captain Iversen and his crew aboard the spaceship "Herringbone" encounter Lieutenant Harkaway, who has ingrained himself amongst the Flimbotzik, a friendly extraterrestrial race. Harkaway’s enthusiasm for the Flimbotzik's gentleness and his belief in their cultural simplicity clash with Iversen’s skepticism. As interactions unfold, the crew learns that Harkaway's perceptions lead to significant misunderstandings, including the kidnapping of a Flimbotzik child, which escalates tensions. Transformations occur on multiple levels: the cute creature Harkaway adopts, known as a greech, eventually morphs into a young humanoid that represents a culmination of the interconnectedness between their two species. With the ship facing dire circumstances, an unexpected twist reveals that the child is now an advanced being, eliminating boundaries of life and identity and establishing a new order where existence may transcend physical forms. The narrative deftly weaves in themes of friendship, the nature of the soul, and the exploration of cultural misunderstandings.
Book and edition facts
- Title: Once a Greech
- Author credits: Smith, Evelyn E. (1922–2000)
- Catalogue language: English
Catalogue subjects
- Human-alien encounters -- Fiction
- Metamorphosis -- Fiction
- Science fiction
- Space flight -- 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.


