Alan Edward Nourse, who also went by the names Edward Alan Nourse, Al Nourse, and Doctor X, was one of the best short stories writers of the Golden Age of sci-fi. Among his many books and stories is the novel Bladerunner.

In this story, an earth colony discovers that their relationship with the mother planet has suddenly changed due to an overthrow of the Earth's government. They decide not to go along with the new totalitarian regime and to declare their independence. They expect a fight for liberty and get it. However, their relationship with the natives of the planet, the "dusties", changes the whole situation in a very dramatic way.