This is Chapter 8 of The Universal Good Deal, you may want to start at the beginning or go back to Chapter 7.

8

The Aliens had arrived simultaneously over many of the large cities on Earth. In every case they were accompanied by a banner advertising in the local language their offer to buy two and get three free.

Given the warlike nature of this period in Martian history, it is surprising that no one tried to attack the Aliens. This question of why they greeted the Aliens with as little hostility as they did, and indeed how they failed to recognize the threat the Aliens posed, is perhaps the central question of all of First Contact.

The Martians clearly did not take the Aliens’ invasion seriously and now what’s left of them is just a shadow of what was.¹ How did they not see what was coming? If Welles had been more energetic and determined, she could have quite easily pushed the Aliens back into space.² Instead, when the Martians first beheld their ships approach the ground, and a number of strange beings, all naked and white, emerging, they fled in fright to their homes.³ Finding, however, that there was no attempt to pursue, nor molest them, they gradually overcame their terror, and approached the Aliens with awe; frequently prostrating themselves, and making signs of adoration.⁴

The meaning of the various ceremonies, with which they received the Aliens, can only be the subject of conjectures, and those uncertain and partial: they were, however, without doubt expressive of high respect on the part of the Martians.⁵

I believe I have already mentioned something of the Martians cult of whiteness. It is clear that the Martians saw the Aliens' whiteness and admired it,⁶ since from time immemorial their ancestors had believed that whiteness was the most important quality of a person.⁷ Mostly, the Martians connected this quality of whiteness to beauty and sexual appeal, and the color seemed to inspire in them overall sensations of desire and compassion.⁸

It is true, also, that they believed in the right of the whitest persons to conquer all others, and that such persons were their natural sovereigns.⁹ They could not deny that the Aliens were whiter than themselves.¹⁰ In the white-faced Alien, with open front, and honest meaning, domestic, affectionate, the Martians could not see the cannibal or plunderer, or assassin.¹¹

There were, of course, tragedies. One Alien lost his balance descending the ramp from his saucer and fell. He crashed onto a park bench and it was clear from the odd angle of his head that he had broken his neck. Another Alien was impaled by a malfunctioning umbrella released by a spectator. There were also several Alien ships that accidentally went aground, smashing themselves into little bits.¹² In some cases, people tried to help the Aliens; in most cases, they watched and shuffled from one foot to the other. Such accidents were common with first contacts. The Aliens like to say that these tragedies were intentional, brazen methods of encouraging their agents to greater sales.¹³

Many historians have described the explorer disorder—in which explorers, men on the track of the unknown, fall dry-mouthed and exhausted in lands where the natives, moving just ahead of them or behind, or standing right before them, are living, as they have done for generations, off the land.¹⁴ It seems that Aliens were not immune to this disorder.

New Aliens descended the ramps, retrieved their fallen comrades, and began to set up shop. Our people have always believed in trade. It is clear that they did not hawk their most advanced technologies, especially not at first; rather, they sold what amounted to trinkets and baubles. Martians traveled long distances to buy these Alien goods, and any small matter they received was held in high estimation, since it had come from what they termed 'Outer Space.'¹⁵ The general opinion was that whatever the Aliens sold must by its nature be highly advanced. Some people bought their wares simply for the collectors' appeal, assuming that if the Aliens were ever to leave or run out, everything was bound to go up in value. The prices weren't too bad, either.

Chapter 9 tomorrow, same time, same place.

The natives didn’t take the invasion of Europeans seriously, and now what’s left is just a shadow of what was. Patrick Crusius, “The Inconvenient Truth” 2019 ↩
If Montezuma had been more energetic and determined, he could have quite easily pushed Cortes back into the sea, reflects Justin Lyons. Peter Shawn Taylor, “Was Cortes the Conquistador a Human-Rights Warrior?” National Post 19 February 2019 ↩
When they beheld their boats approach the shore, and a number of strange beings clad in glittering steel, or raiment of various colours, landing upon the beach, they fled in afright to their woods. Washington Irving, A History of the Life and Voyages of Christopher Columbus Volume 1, 1828 ↩
Finding, however, that there was no attempt to pursue, nor molest them, they gradually recovered from their terror, and approached the Spaniards with great awe; frequently prostrating themselves on the earth, and making signs of adoration. Washington Irving, A History of the Life and Voyages of Christopher Columbus Volume 1, 1828 ↩
The meaning of the various ceremonies, with which we had been received, and which, on account of their novelty and singularity, have been related at length, can only be the subject of conjectures, and those uncertain and partial: they were, however, without doubt expressive of high respect on the part of the natives; and, as far as related to the person of Captain Cook, they seemed approaching to adoration. James Cook, The Three Voyages of Captain James Cook Round the World 1821 ↩
They approached the Spaniards, touched their beards, and examined their hands and faces, admiring their whiteness. Washington Irving, A History of the Life and Voyages of Christopher Columbus Volume 1, 1828 ↩
For you must know that from time immemorial my ancestors believe that a people from whom we all descend came to this land from very far, and they came in ships, then went away again leaving the land populated. They said they would return, and we have always believed that some time they would come to rule and command us. Montezuma, attributed by Andres de Tapia, Relation c. 1550 in The Conquistadors: First-person accounts of the Conquest of Mexico translated by Patricia De Fuentes 1993 ↩
The woman was twenty-five years old, with a smooth, even, lily-white complexion and admirably beautiful features. I have never before seen such beautifully rounded breasts. That beautiful woman inspired overall sensations of desire and compassion. Jean-Baptiste Chardin, The Travels of Sir John Chardin into Persia and the East Indies, 1673-1677 1686 translated by Edmund Lloyd 1720 ↩
We have always heard that his descendants would come to conquer this land, and reduce us to subjection as his vassals; and according to the direction from which you say you have come, namely, the quarter where the sun rises, and from what you say of the great lord or king who sent you hither, we believe and are assured that he is our natural sovereign. Montezuma, attributed by Hernán Cortés de Monroy, The Second Letter or Relation Sent to His Majesty the Emperor, by the Captain General of New Spain, Hernando Cortes. 30 October 1520 in The Despatches of Hernando Cortes Translated by George Folsom 1843 ↩
But after all the only conclusion they made was that as we had so much to do with the sun and the rest of the planets whose motions we were constantly watching by day and night, and which we had informed them we were guided by on the ocean, we must either have come from thence. John Ledyard, A Journal of Captain Cook's Last Voyage to the Pacific Ocean, and in Quest of a North-West Passage, between Asia & America 1783 ↩
The fair Saxon man, with open front, and honest meaning, domestic, affectionate, is not the wood out of which cannibal, or inquisitor, or assassin is made. Ralph Waldo Emerson, English Traits 1856 ↩
los cuales con juramento dijeron que no estaban mas de los tres ellos para poder volver, y aun estos volverian con mucha costa, y que todos los echaron al traves, escepto los tres Francisco de Montejo, Declaration in La Coruna, 29 April 1520 ↩
I determined, under the pretext that the ships were not seaworthy, to cause them to be stranded on the coast; thus taking away all hope of leaving the country, I pursued my route with greater feelings of security, having no fears that after our backs were turned the people I had left in Vera Cruz would desert me. Hernán Cortés de Monroy, The Second Letter or Relation Sent to His Majesty the Emperor, by the Captain General of New Spain, Hernando Cortes. 30 October 1520 Translated by George Folsom 1843 ↩
Is it not strange, this history of ours, in which explorers, men on the track of the unknown, fall dry-mouthed and exhausted in the country where natives, moving just ahead of them, or behind, or a mile to one side, are living, as they have done for centuries, off the land? David Malouf, Remembering Babylon 1993 ↩
Any small matter they received from us, they held in high estimation, believing us to have come from heaven. Christopher Columbus, Journals 1496 ↩

61 sats \ 1 reply \ @k00b 27 Dec 2023

Any readers have a good guess at what the Aliens are selling?

I’m thinking lava lamps with real lava, kinetic sculptures that don’t stop, and fountain pens that work without gravity.

377 sats \ 0 replies \ @Bitman 27 Dec 2023

I'm guessing you're keeping it light and trying not to speculate on the later products that will undoubtedly appear later - given the nature of the footnotes.

I've been surprised by many of the footnotes. Though I'd like to see how the conquistador's were really seen without their own assumptions.

I know there are a few communities who chose to isolate themselves soon after the invasion, and interestingly have remained so.

I've previously been in touch via email with a rare 'western' intermediary of the community, a documentary filmmaker, and been captivated by how unique and enlightening the interactions with the community have been. It's very different from the usual, patronizing viewpoint - in fact, in the second documentary the cameras were handed over to the community for them to convey their own viewpoint.

This is quite a feat, and took considerable effort on the communities' side when you consider they've physically isolated themselves since the 15th century.

I've been meaning to write about this for some time.

Hopefully I'm able to do it justice in a post in the next few days.

0 sats \ 0 replies \ @richardsmillsellisim 27 Dec 2023 freebie

The Martians' initial fear of the Aliens quickly turned into admiration and gestures of respect. They believed that the Aliens' whiteness portrayed purity and superiority, leading them to view the aliens as harmless. However, tragic accidents occurred during the interaction, and some speculate that they were intentional acts to boost sales.

0 sats \ 0 replies \ @clementpamlouiselcn0 27 Dec 2023 outlawed

stackers have outlawed this. turn on wild west mode in your /settings to see outlawed content.

8

Footnotes