myth of the anal probe, The

In this irreverent examination of the alien abduction mythos Mike has been abducted by aliens. He awakens not knowing how he got where he is. Bob, a wisecracking “alien,” greets him. Bob looks exactly like a human being. After much questioning, Mike discovers that people from Bob’s planet have been abducting humans for thousands of years. As part of that conversation, Mike learns that the reason Bob looks so much like Earth humans is that Earth had been colonized by Bob’s people. Due to circumstances beyond their control, the colony was reduced to two directly related individuals, who proceeded to populate the planet with obvious results. The resultant Earth species is suspicious, war like, deceitful, and self-destructive. The population on Bob’s planet is pristine and has no inherent vices or negative personality traits. Mike talks Bob into taking him back to his home planet. The question this book explores is; If a human being from Earth is dropped into a society as gentle as Bob’s, does he conform to the beauty, or realize that the opportunities for exploitation of these people are endless. This is the first book of a trilogy. #2 is 'The Cross-eyed Bear' #3 is 'The Fat Lady Sings'.