Stranger in a Strange Land

The first group of colonists reaches Mars, and the Tennessee legislature introduces a bill to send religious missionaries as well (the bill is defeated). Agnes Douglas—one of Foster’s most stalwart “field operatives”—discorporates. Jubal, meanwhile, keeps track of Smith’s adventures: enrollment in a theological seminary, and enlistment in the Federation Armed Forces (he is kicked out of both). However, when Smith becomes the “Reverend Dr. Valentine M. Smith, A.B., D.D., Ph.D., Founder and Pastor of the Church of All Worlds, Inc.,” (321), he fears Smith is simply joining an age-old racket.

Just then, Ben Caxton arrives. They view Jubal’s art collection and debate its merits. Looking at a painting of Hans Christian Andersen’s The Little Mermaid, Jubal opines about choices and regrets, alluding to Smith. He then reports that Miriam is marrying Dr. Mahmoud, and two of Jubal’s secretaries are pregnant (by Smith, Caxton believes). Caxton mentions that he's just seen Smith, and his “church” is actually a school for teaching Martian. When he enters the Church’s inner sanctum, he is greeted by Patricia, fully nude.