The Natives

The Natives is a science fiction short story by Katherine MacLean, written in the early to mid-20th century. It explores the interaction between extraterrestrial beings and a human aircraft, focusing on themes of energy absorption and the consequences of contact with unknown forces. The narrative follows a young entity and its grandfather as they observe a fast-moving spaceship, while a pilot aboard a stratoliner faces alarming encounters with glowing creatures that absorb energy from his craft, raising questions about the boundaries between their worlds.