The Answer

Originally published in 1955, this enchanting, oftentimes chilling novella tackles a question that has plagued humans since civilization began: How can we live together in peace? As the story opens, the Cold War is in full swing and both the United States and the Soviet Union are frantically and mindlessly developing weapons of mass destruction. The U.S. military is thrown into sudden chaos, however, when, in the aftermath of an H-Bomb test in the Pacific, a boy discovers a beautiful celestial being - what could only be an angel - lying unconscious in a glade on a tiny tropical island. Meanwhile, the Soviets have discovered their own angel after a similar test explosion in Siberia. A gripping tale of political confusion and dismay unfolds as each nation wrestles with the implications and ramifications of its otherworldly visitor. Is it a United States plot against the Soviets? A Soviet plot against the United States? Or have they both actually shot down an angel? And, if so, can this being somehow be harnessed and employed to enhance a nation's power? The answer to these questions is revealed at the novella's end in a message that is both simple and, hopefully, prophetic.