History Literature / TheStarBeast

%%* BadassGrandpa: Mr. Kiku
* BenevolentAlienInvasion: Earth demands a treaty with the Hroshian empire if they are to surrender a free-man, John Thomas, to them. Embassies, cultural and scientific missions on both capital planets must be established. The implications of this treaty become apparent in the conclusion, for if her [[TheHighQueen Imperial Highness]] Lummox gets to keep her [[HumanPet John Thomas]], ''every noble and common Hroshii seeking to impress their queen is going to want a [[FridgeHorror human pet]]''.

** Later, when an elite Hroshii soldier tries to pick a fight, Lummox [[BewareTheNiceOnes head-butts him hard enough to knock him down]]. On the one hand, she's bigger than him; on the other, as far as training is concerned, this is the equivalent of a pudgy, pampered ten-year-old decking a member of Special Forces.

* IGaveMyWord: When Lummox says "Cross my heart", [[ThePromise she's made you a promise]], and Lummox ''never'' breaks her promises.

-- '''Kiku''': It is understandable given they are in a place where they are not sure of the intentions of the other side and might have to escape from hostile conditions. Just pretend it's their recording equipment. This is actually a good sign.\\

* HiddenWeapons: At the negotiating conference [[spoiler:over having John Thomas accompany Lummox back to her home planet]] one of the conference members noitices the Hroshiu have brought equipment that he realizes are cannons into the room and have soldiers aiming them. He is worried enough to point it out to Mr. Kiku, who is unsurprised.\\
'''Kiku''': It is understandable given they are in a place where they are not sure of the intentions of the other side and might have to escape from hostile conditions. Just pretend it's their recording equipment. This is actually a good sign.\\

* BerserkButton
** [[TheBully Hroshiu expedition commander]]: Making any derogatory remarks about his status or refuting his authority.
** [[BullyHunter Lummox]]: Anyone treating humans badly, by means of aggression or intimidation.

* ABoyAndHisX: A Giant Talking [[EverythingsBetterWithDinosaurs Space Lizard]] and Her Boy.
* AliensSpeakingEnglish
* AlienAnimals: The Hroshii
* AttackOfThe50FootWhatever

* BadassGrandpa: Mr. Kiku

* HumansAreDiplomats

* MeddlingParents: John's mother, Mrs. Stuart.

* SpaceWhaleAesop

* BizarreAlienBiology: Lummox has [[BizarreAlienLocomotion eight great legs that move in similar succession to a caterpillar]]. In addition to four pairs of legs she later grows a pair of arms that are extremely dexterous. No one single heart, but a un-centralized circulatory system. A secondary brain back in her rump, which controls motor-functions and a [[ExtraEyes guardian eye when she dozes]]. Her kind come in [[BizarreAlienSexes six assorted sexes (though the differences are not readily apparent), Lummox herself being more female than male]].

* RaisedByHumans: Is how everyone, including John Thomas, regards the Lummox. He, she or it, is the generations old family pet. [[PerspectiveFlip In actuality]], Lummox regards [[InterspeciesAdoption John Thomas as her dearest companion and family]].

[[quoteright:300:http://static.tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pub/images/the-star-beast_3768.jpg]]
[[caption-width-right:300:]]
'''''The Star Beast''''' is a science fiction novel by Creator/RobertAHeinlein first published in 1954. The novel, somewhat abridged, was originally serialised in The Magazine of Fantasy & Science Fiction as "Star Lummox" and then published in hardcover as part of Scribner's series of Heinlein juveniles.

* NotWorthKilling: Mr. Kiku begins to suspect towards the end the Hroshii had no real desire in destroying Earth, and that as their negotiator, Dr. Ftaeml was hiding this fact from him.

--> [[NarrativeProfanityFilter ''"Contempt... lower animal... eat you with relish... follow back your ancestors and eat them as well... your despicable race must be taught manners... kidnappers... child stealers..."'']]

* ForeignLanguageTirade: Hroshiu Commander: ''"Contempt... lower animal... eat you with relish... follow back your ancestors and eat them as well... your despicable race must be taught manners... kidnappers... child stealers..."''

* ABoyAndHisX: A Giant Talking Space Lizard and Her Boy.

* ThisIsMyHuman

* WeAreAsMayflies: It is common for sapient beings across the cosmos have naturally long lifespans. Rargyllians are extraordinary long-lived, and the Hroshians themselves are practically immortal. Mr. Kiku finds it troubling that humans are the shortest-lived intelligent race they have yet found.

* ABoyAndHisX

* EarthShatteringKaboom: What the Hroshii threaten to do, [[WaveMotionGun and will do]], if their queen is not returned alive and unharmed. When Lummox is delivered but orders her beloved pet be returned to her, the Hroshii once more demand mankind release the boy, ''[[ImpliedDeathThreat or else]]''. The humans call their bluff since threatening to destroy the planet will obviously not guarantee John Thomas' safety. [[ProveIAmNotBluffing Nevertheless, the aliens have already considered]] causing considerable damage to the Moon, as a mere demonstration of force. [[PlutoIsExpendable And they don't care that the Moon is currently inhabited with multiple lunar bases]].
* EloquentInMyNativeTongue: [[CunningLinguist The Hroshii instinctively know their own language almost from the shell]]. They find other languages bothersome and time-consuming to acquire, so never bother learning to use them well. Lummox has been practicing for over a hundred years, yet speaks English as well as a four-year-old child. But in her own language she is ''dangerously'' fluent.

* DeadGuyJunior / KingBobTheNth: Or something. John Thomas Stuart XI isn't royalty, and his father (X) and grandfather (IX) were alive when he was born, but the family has kept up the tradition of naming and pioneering for a long time.

[[quoteright:300::http://static.tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pub/images/the-star-beast_3768.jpg]]

The Star Beast has a high school senior discover that his late father's extraterrestrial pet is [[MoreThanMeetsTheEye more than it appears to be]]. The [[TropeNamer titular Star Beast]] turns out to actually be a highly intelligent alien whose hobby is raising humans, namely the generations of the hero's family.

* RaisedByHumans: Is how everyone, including John Thomas, regards the great Lummox. He, she or it, is the generations old family pet. [[PerspectiveFlip In actuality]], Lummox regards [[InterspeciesAdoption John Thomas as her dearest companion and family]].

* SuperiorSpecies: Fortunately for the universe, the advanced Hroshii [[CurbStompBattle are not a war-mongering race]], however they do [[MasterRace look down upon other weaker alien races from "Olympian heights"]]. They want nor need anything from other civilizations. They cannot see any purpose in diplomatic relations with [[PunyEarthlings lesser beings]]. Any proposal for trade, commence or friendship is not taken seriously.

* InsufficientlyAdvancedAlien: What advanced aliens ''[[TheReasonYouSuckSpeech think of humans]]'', granted [[TheFederation]] is a culture possessing star travel, some minor skill in physics, but humans are technologically limited to their local star neighborhood, and not capable of very-deep interstellar travel on a regular commercial basis, or anything beyond scientific curiosity. [[CoincidenceMagnet It was by sheer chance that humans stumbled upon the Hroshii homeworld over nine-hundred light-years from Earth in the first place]].

* ObfuscatingStupidity. Lummox was already some two hundred years old when she stowed away with John's great grandfather, while she may be adventurous, simply dim-witted and outwardly eager to please, [[SmarterThanYouLook don't be fooled]].