“The Eye of the Beholder” by David P. Harmon (January 5, 1974) – A science team from the Ariel disappears while investigating Lactra 7. Kirk, Spock, and McCoy search the planet for the team. The encounter a desert next to a rain forest and creatures that seem to be from other worlds. They are captured by huge slug like beings and put into a zoo with the Ariel‘s science team. Spock detects a high level of intelligence from telepathic impressions. How will the crew escape this zoo? The aliens look alien and they are not mean or evil, they are just way more advance than Federation. Its great that the Lactrans and the crew reach an understanding rather than using brute force to escape. The Kirk’s escape attempt is also more brains than brawn. This is a great first contact story.
Rainbow War Blog 