 what is the 'gift from Earth'?
A Gift From Earth By MANLY BANISTER Illustrated by KOSSIN [Transcriber's Note: This etext was produced from Galaxy Science Fiction August 1955. "It is an outrage," said Koltan of the House of Masur, "that the Earthmen land among the Thorabians!" It is our strength and our fortune. By this, he seemed to imply that the Thorabians would rob the Earthmen, which the Lorians would not. Finally, the Earthmen took off in their great, shining ship. In spite of the fact that a terrestrial ship had landed at every Zurian city of major and minor importance, and all in a single day, it took some time for the news to spread. "The Earthman took them in trade—one reason why the new ones are so cheap. In the meantime, however, more things than pots came from Earth. Within five years of the first landing of the Earthmen, every major city on the globe had a printing press, a daily newspaper, and enjoyed the instantaneous transmission of news via telegraph. "As I have always said from the beginning," chortled Director Koltan, "this coming of the Earthmen had been a great thing for us, and especially for the House of Masur." The merchandise of the Earthmen is put up for sale by means of these newspapers, which also are the property of the Earthmen. Alas for that suggestion, no newspaper would accept advertising from the House of Masur; all available space was occupied by the advertisements of the Earthmen.
 capitalism
 capitalism  the printing press  metal, copper wire, and other goods  destruction of the caste system