E Being

In Short

This inventive science fiction story follows a pilot who undergoes a bizarre metamorphosis after exceeding the speed of light. He awakens as an "e being," a sentient force of energy that perceives humanity as a collection of "mush" and electricity. As he attempts to make contact with the people he once belonged to, his hunger for energy leads to unintended global catastrophes. The narrative serves as a witty, dark exploration of the disconnect between human technological ambition and the unintended consequences of playing with fundamental forces.

The Story

The protagonist, a pilot of the high-speed vessel Lighttrick, undergoes a transformation at the speed of light. He finds himself stripped of his physical form, existing instead as a shimmering blue haze. Encountering other e beings—energy-based entities that view matter as a static, "mushy" byproduct of energy—he learns that he has become one of them. Returning to Earth, he discovers that his new, highly efficient metabolism demands constant consumption of energy; he inadvertently "eats" a repairman named Joe by draining his nervous system, leaving only a pile of disorganized energy behind.

Horrified but still perpetually hungry, the protagonist attempts to communicate with the humans he now observes from afar. He tries to signal a doctor named McPherson by manipulating television images, but his lack of control over his own nature causes him to trigger massive power failures and environmental disasters. Hoping to be understood, he attempts to "speak" through grand gestures, such as inducing volcanic eruptions and consuming the energy of a nuclear explosion, only to create further chaos, including floods, fires, and deafening sonic blasts.

His attempts at interaction are consistently misinterpreted by the human authorities, who view these occurrences as sabotage or natural disasters. Eventually, he is cornered by Dr. McPherson, who deduces that an intelligent force is behind the erratic power fluctuations. Using a radioactive lure—a cobalt-flavored treat—McPherson traps the protagonist inside a specially designed, non-conductive Leyden jar. The story concludes with the entity in captivity, serving as a reluctant weapon for the doctor. The protagonist is allowed to operate an electric typewriter to record his warning, but he remains a prisoner, waiting for a war that will allow him to "eat" the incoming missiles, lamenting his existence while cautioning other e beings to avoid the dangerous, unfeeling "mush-men."

How It Unfolds

The transition After the Lighttrick converts into energy at the speed of light, the pilot realizes he has lost his physical body and become an "e being." He is quickly patronized by other energy entities who view his human origins as a poetic, if unlikely, fiction.

The hunger He descends to Earth and discovers that he cannot help but consume the electrical energy that powers human civilization. His first interaction with a human repairman results in the man’s accidental death, marking the beginning of the protagonist’s guilt-ridden struggle.

The failed signals Desperate to make himself known to Dr. McPherson, the protagonist attempts to send Morse code through television sets and volcanic eruptions. Instead of communicating, he causes widespread earthquakes and environmental devastation, solidifying his status as a misunderstood anomaly.

The trap Recognizing the entity's pattern, Dr. McPherson uses a radioactive bait to lure the protagonist into a Leyden jar. The scientist successfully traps him within the insulating vessel, ending his spree of consumption.

The stalemate The protagonist remains a captive, fed just enough to survive while acting as a secret, living defense weapon. He spends his time writing this account on a typewriter, forever frustrated by his dependence on the humans who locked him away.

The People

The protagonist is a man untethered from his humanity, possessing the power of a god but the unrefined, ravenous appetite of a starving animal. He wants only to communicate and find his place, but he lacks the nuance to engage with a world that he now views as mere fuel.

Dr. McPherson is the pragmatic, opportunistic scientist who serves as the protagonist’s captor. Unlike the other "mush-men," he is observant enough to realize that the global disasters are not random. He represents the clinical, cold side of human intelligence, treating the protagonist not as a sentient being, but as a strategic asset to be kept in a jar.

Joe, the repairman, acts as the tragic catalyst for the protagonist’s realization. He is the first victim of the protagonist’s hunger, representing the fragility of the biological life that the protagonist has left behind.

In Its Own Voice

The narrator reflects on the physical impossibility of his transformation, noting the irony of his current state:

I happen to be the answer to the equation, and by interfering with the motor of this electric typescripter I can give you my thoughts on the matter.

After failing to communicate his intentions to the humans, he realizes that his "food" has become a source of unintentional destruction:

Energy eaten by e beings converts into sound and ozone.

Despite his captivity and the misery of his situation, he clings to his original perspective, viewing the humans with a mixture of disdain and longing:

What's more, they have no finer feelings!

What It's Really About

The book explores the dangerous arrogance of scientific discovery, suggesting that humanity’s obsession with mastery over energy—such as speed-of-light travel and nuclear power—is born from a fundamental misunderstanding of the universe. The protagonist’s hunger acts as a metaphor for the rapacious nature of industrial progress; by consuming the very things that sustain human life, he highlights the destructive cost of "eating" more than the planet can provide. Ultimately, the story questions the nature of communication and empathy, asking whether two vastly different forms of existence can ever truly understand one another, or if they are doomed to view each other merely as resources or threats.

Why Read It Today

Readers who enjoy mid-century science fiction will find a sharp, clever, and surprisingly grim narrative here. It captures the specific voice of 1960s speculative fiction, where grand, cosmic concepts were often filtered through a cynical, slightly weary human lens. The protagonist’s journey is not one of triumphant exploration, but of profound alienation, and the prose—with its "mush" terminology and mechanical obsession—creates a distinct sense of unease.

The book is an excellent pick for those who prefer their science fiction with a heavy dose of irony and a lack of easy, moralistic solutions. While the language occasionally reflects the scientific jargon and character archetypes of its era, the central tension—the loneliness of being something that no one else can perceive or understand—is timeless. It is a brief, punchy read that resists the urge to offer a happy ending, leaving the reader with a lingering, uncomfortable question about the true cost of our technological curiosity. If you appreciate stories that view humanity from the outside, you will find this a haunting, inventive piece of writing that lingers long after the final page is turned.