In 1956, Gore Vidal wrote this comedic play about humanity's seeming preoccupation with war and world domination. “Visit to a Small Planet” addresses our fears concerning global and nuclear warfare in a hilarious spoof on alien invasion. When the “alien” Kreton lands his space ship in the middle of an upscale suburban rose garden, he announces with charming insouciance his plans to conquer the world. Having observed the barbaric behavior of his hosts, he views himself merely as their facilitator, and relishes his role as commander-in-chief of this operation. Although written at the height of the cold war, Vidal's play is still highly topical today.
