Coming of the Gods

In Short

Set on a wild and perilous Mars, this swift-moving science fiction tale follows Ro, a young Martian returning home from his travels. He discovers that his tribe has been displaced by the savage Oan, who have stolen powerful ray guns from a stranded human space expedition. Teaming up with the Earth scientists—including the professor, his daughter Charlotte, Carlson, and Grimm—Ro uses his tracking skills and stone-throwing prowess to help them reclaim their ship. Ultimately, recognizing the dangerous friction between human technology and Martian primitivism, Ro sends his visitors safely away.

The Story

Ro, a young Martian explorer, journeys home across the crimson plains after visiting distant northern villages. Eager to settle down and reunite with his family and the graceful woman he loves, Na, his joyous homecoming is shattered when he rescues Na from a vicious, fanged rat-man known as an Oan. Na weeping tells him a horrifying tale: weeks prior, a metal sphere landed from the sky carrying humans from Earth. Though the humans initially made peaceful, telepathic contact, the Oan ambushed them in the night, slaughtered Ro's father and brothers, seized the humans' advanced ray guns, and drove the surviving Martians from their cliffside caves into isolated hiding.

Determined to avenge his family, Ro resolves to rescue the captive Earth expedition. Traveling secretly through the dark jungle past dangerous swamp snakes and cannibal plants, Ro infiltrates the Oan camp. Using his mental abilities to communicate silently, he frees the older professor, his daughter Charlotte, and assistants Carlson and Grimm. Escaping to a hidden cave, the group debates how to defeat the hundreds of Oan who outnumber them. When Grimm insists that constructing new ray guns in the wilderness is impossible, the professor reveals a better alternative: the heavy weapons aboard their grounded space sphere.

Executing a carefully coordinated plan, Na acts as bait to lure the Oan guards away from the ship while Ro, Carlson, and Grimm orchestrate an avalanche of massive boulders from the cliffs. After a fierce struggle where Ro rescues Na from an attacking Oan, the party reunites at the metal sphere. Inside, the Earthmen man the instrument panels, unleashing devastating explosive charges that shatter the attacking horde of rat men and send the survivors fleeing in terror.

With the immediate threat neutralized, Ro takes a surviving ray gun to hunt down the remaining Oan snipers, ensuring they can never again threaten his tribe. Upon returning to the ship, however, Ro's perspective shifts. Recognizing the profound incompatibility between Earth's advanced science and Mars's backward primitivism—and witnessing the petty friction among the human men—Ro decides that the visitors must leave. He extends a final, respectful farewell to Carlson, returning their weapons and urging them to depart. Standing with Na at the edge of the clearing, Ro watches the metal sphere spit multi-colored fire and ascend back into the black space from whence it came, hoping for a future day when their worlds might truly meet as equals.

How It Unfolds

The return home Ro journeys across the Martian plains, eager to see his family and Na after months of exploration. His peaceful return is abruptly interrupted when he slays a vicious Oan rat-man to rescue Na from a terrifying chase.

A tale of betrayal Weeping, Na explains that humans from Earth recently landed in a metal sphere and were welcomed with a peaceful feast. However, the treacherous Oan captured the humans in the night, stole their ray guns, and massacred Ro's tribe.

The midnight rescue Vowing vengeance, Ro scales the dark cliffs and successfully infiltrates the Oan camp using stealth and silence. He establishes telepathic contact with the imprisoned Earth expedition, freeing the professor, Charlotte, Carlson, and Grimm.

The trap springs Hiding in a mountain cave, the allies formulate a plan using Na as bait to draw the Oan away from the ship. Ro and Carlson trigger a devastating avalanche of boulders from the cliffs, crushing several attackers while Na narrowly escapes another close brush with death.

Fire from the sphere Reaching the grounded spaceship, the Earthmen man the instrument panels and unleash explosive force against hundreds of charging rat-men. The surviving Oan scatter in absolute terror, ending their immediate reign of violence.

Parting in peace After hunting down the remaining snipers with a ray gun, Ro realizes that human science and Martian tradition cannot mix without bringing trouble. He bids a respectful farewell to Carlson and watches the sphere return to the black stars.

The People

Ro is a skilled, athletic Martian warrior who wants to settle down and marry Na, but finds his family murdered and his home overrun by beasts. His main obstacles are the vast numerical superiority of the Oan and the lethal power of stolen human technology. He transforms from an angry avenger into a wise leader who recognizes the deep cultural gulf between his people and Earth. Na is a graceful, dark-eyed Martian woman whose love draws Ro home; she faces extreme vulnerability against the beastly rat-men but bravely serves as vital bait to help reclaim the spaceship. The professor is a wise, silver-haired elder leading the Earth expedition, seeking to study Mars; he provides strategic insight but is initially hindered by the helpless vulnerability of being captured. Carlson is a lean, determined Earthman who loves Charlotte and actively aids Ro in combat, ultimately earning Ro's deep respect through mutual understanding. Grimm is a stouter, hot-tempered assistant whose rivalry with Carlson causes friction within the group, though he fights bravely alongside them against the Oan. Charlotte is a golden-haired woman caught in the middle of competing affections, serving as a bright, human focal point for the expedition.

In Its Own Voice

Never had Mars seen such men as these, for they came from black space, carrying weird weapons--to fight for a race of which they had never heard.

The narrator reflects on the strange and unprecedented nature of the space travelers entering the harsh Martian landscape.

"They came from a place called Earth, they said. And they came in peace."

Na describes the initial, hopeful landing of the mysterious human metal sphere to a grieving Ro.

"You are a good friend," he said quietly. "Perhaps some day my people will grow up. Perhaps you will come again and we will meet you on equal terms."

Ro offers a final expression of mature mutual respect to Carlson just before the Earth expedition departs.

What It's Really About

This story explores the friction between advanced technology and primitive tribal existence, questioning whether cultures at vastly different developmental stages can safely intermingle. It examines the corrupting influence of power, as seen when the vicious Oan misuse human ray guns to oppress their neighbors, turning a peaceful scientific expedition into a catalyst for regional violence. Beneath the surface adventure lies a meditation on cultural maturity and self-reliance. Ro ultimately realizes that true peace cannot be manufactured by importing foreign weapons or adopting alien legal systems; rather, a society must grow and find its own path. The narrative champions independence, arguing that mutual respect is best preserved when distinct worlds maintain their own boundaries until they are truly ready to meet as equals.

Why Read It Today

Readers who love classic pulp science fiction filled with daring rescues, heroic hand-to-hand combat, and sweeping alien landscapes will thoroughly enjoy this novella. Reading it feels like stepping straight into the pages of a vintage 1945 pulp magazine, complete with relentless pacing, straightforward heroism, and a vivid sense of planetary adventure. However, contemporary readers must be prepared for the period's limitations: the characterizations are broad, the dialogue is occasionally melodramatic, and the gender dynamics reflect mid-century attitudes where female characters like Na and Charlotte are frequently cast as damsels in distress requiring rescue. Despite these dated tropes, the story retains a charming earnestness. What stays with you is the quiet, poignant conclusion, where Ro chooses cultural preservation over technological dependence, demonstrating a surprising thematic maturity that elevates the story above standard action fare.