By Proxy

In Short

This novella follows Terrence Elshawe, a "research reporter" for a massive news conglomerate, as he investigates Malcom Porter, a convicted former convict attempting a mysterious second flight to the moon. Porter claims his craft uses a revolutionary "Gravito-Inertial Differential Polarizer" rather than traditional rocket power. While the narrative functions as a tense cat-and-mouse game between an ambitious inventor and various government agencies, it ultimately serves as a contemplative look at the intersection of scientific discovery, corporate interest, and the strange, often unearned mythology surrounding celebrity innovators.

The Story

Terrence Elshawe is a perceptive, pipe-smoking journalist who works behind the scenes for the glitzy "Magnum Telenews." When his editor, Oler Winstein, gets wind that the eccentric Malcom Porter is preparing a secret, non-rocket flight, Elshawe is dispatched to the desolate "Double Horseshoe Ranch" to get the exclusive. Porter, a man of immense ego and little social grace, is convinced that his invention—a device he insists works with gravity rather than against it—will fundamentally change humanity's place in the solar system.

Elshawe arrives to find a grounded, wingless fuselage that mocks the expectations of traditional aviation. As he digs into Porter’s history, he discovers a troubled past of failed academic pursuits and an obsession with being recognized as a great scientific mind. Porter views government bureaucracy with paranoid hostility, fearing his discovery will be treated as the atomic bomb was, with the individual inventor sidelined by state interests. Tension peaks when government agents from the Civil Aeronautics Authority and the Space Force arrive to demand compliance, leading to a volatile standoff where Porter swears he will fly regardless of the consequences.

The climax arrives when Porter abducts Elshawe, forcing the reporter to serve as an unwilling witness to the ship’s maiden voyage. They escape the radar nets by flying south toward Mexico before heading for open space. Upon their return, Porter is immediately arrested for violating his parole. The ship’s drive is destroyed in a mysterious explosion, leaving Porter as the sole keeper of his technological secret. Elshawe discovers the true origin of the "Polarizer" in the form of Samuel Skinner, a quiet schoolteacher who originally invented the device as a child’s toy. In a final, quiet act of professional integrity and personal mercy, Elshawe agrees to destroy the evidence that would have stripped Porter of his credit and Skinner of his anonymity. Porter becomes a national hero by default, while Elshawe returns to his desk, satisfied with having protected the private peace of the true, uninterested inventor.

How It Unfolds

The assignment begins Elshawe is tasked by his editor to investigate a private rocket shoot planned by a disgraced inventor. He approaches the job with a healthy dose of professional skepticism, knowing that Porter’s reputation for being a "crackpot" makes him a difficult subject to cover without losing credibility.

The standoff at the ranch Elshawe reaches the remote ranch and finds a strange, wingless vessel that defies all standard aeronautical logic. Porter confronts government bureaucrats with volatile rage, refusing to let them inspect his drive and insisting on his right to fly.

The unexpected flight After a tense wait, Porter forces Elshawe into the ship and takes off, successfully evading detection by the authorities. The flight results in a short-lived triumph for Porter, who lands only to be greeted by immediate arrest and the destruction of his drive.

The investigation concludes Elshawe traces the true origins of the technology to Samuel Skinner, a former teacher. Realizing that exposing the truth would destroy a man who seeks nothing but obscurity, Elshawe chooses to bury the evidence, allowing Porter to keep the fame that the actual inventor disdains.

The People

Terrence Elshawe is the heart of the story, a man who balances an sharp, investigative mind with a surprising capacity for empathy. He enters the story as a cynical reporter looking for a "good spot" but leaves it having acted as a silent guardian for a man who chose anonymity over glory.

Malcom Porter is the catalyst, defined by his immense, brittle ego and his desperate need to be remembered as a scientific titan. He is essentially a "glory-hound" who believes he is entitled to rule the future of space travel, yet he is entirely reliant on the genius of others.

Samuel Skinner represents the antithesis of Porter. He is the quiet, unassuming teacher who accidentally invented the revolutionary drive as a mere novelty. His desire to remain detached from the fame and consequences of his own invention provides the moral anchor of the narrative.

Oler Winstein, Elshawe’s editor, provides the corporate pressure that drives the plot, representing the news industry’s insatiable hunger for a "hot" story. He serves as a contrast to Elshawe, being more concerned with ratings and scoops than the ethical complexities of the lives he covers.

In Its Own Voice

"Mr. Terrence Elshawe did not conform to the mental picture that pops into the average person's mind when he hears the words 'news reporter.'"

(The narrator sets the stage by contrasting the earnest, handsome TV face with the gritty, intellectual reality of the research reporter.)

"Porter was furious. Wanted to slap a suit against the Government for wanton destruction of private property."

(Winstein explains the origin of the conflict between the inventor’s individual rights and the government’s restrictive control over flight.)

"Mr. Elshawe, who deserves credit for an invention? Who deserves the money? The inventor? Or the man who gives it to humanity?"

(Skinner poses the central question to Elshawe, effectively challenging the reporter’s assumption that invention must always lead to public recognition.)

What It's Really About

The book explores the paradox of "greatness"—specifically, who owns a scientific breakthrough when it is stripped from its quiet creator and thrust into the arena of public celebrity. It argues that the drive for recognition is often a destructive force, both for the individual and for society. Through the lens of a reporter, it examines the tension between the "official" story told to the public and the messy, private reality that news organizations often miss. Ultimately, the book questions whether the history books are ever truly accurate, or if they are simply collections of myths written about people who were loud enough to demand their place in them.

Why Read It Today

This novella is a charming, brisk read for anyone who enjoys stories about the "old-school" newspaper grind, where investigative work involved physical legwork, pipe-smoking, and long-distance phone calls. It captures a mid-century vision of the future—complete with stratojets and early concerns about government reach—that feels both nostalgic and strangely relevant. Readers who enjoy intellectual puzzles and character-driven drama will find the dynamic between the reporter and his subjects deeply engaging.

Be aware, however, that the narrative reflects a specific period in its pacing and social dynamics; the dialogue is peppered with the slang of its time, and the attitudes toward the "great men" of science feel distinctly mid-twentieth century. It is a story about the intersection of ego and technology, and while it does not dwell on long, technical explanations of its fictional physics, it succeeds as a sharp character study. If you appreciate stories where the protagonist quietly chooses the moral high ground over the professional "big scoop," this will stay with you long after the final page. It’s a rewarding piece of period science fiction that values the quiet individual over the shouting crowd.