Attitude

"Attitude" by Hal Clement is a science fiction novel written in the early 1940s. The story revolves around Dr. Little, who awakens from unconsciousness in a mysterious metal chamber without memory of how he got there, only to uncover that he is a captive aboard an unusual ship. As the narrative progresses, readers are drawn into a web of intrigue involving his fellow crew members, alien captors, and the enigmatic devices they are allowed to construct towards escape. The opening of the novel immerses readers in a disorienting atmosphere as Dr. Little regains consciousness and grapples with a sense of confusion and weightlessness. He is trapped in a copper-colored metal room and struggles to piece together the events that led to his captivity aboard the ship called the "Gomeisa". As he investigates his surroundings, trying to comprehend his captors' motivations, he discovers he is not alone; members of his crew are also prisoners, and they are faced with the challenge of understanding their alien captors, constructing weapons, and devising a plan for escape, all while navigating the bizarre dynamics that govern their captors' behavior.