Free Download

Total downloads: 802

The Secret of the Ninth Planet

English, published in 1959
46,052 words (132 pages)
Categories: Science Fiction, Post-1930

While the circumnavigation of the solar system seems farfetched, it may not be once the problem of effective anti-gravitational control is solved. In this book I have assumed that the many researchers now actually at work on this problem will achieve such a result in the next decade. It is not at all impossible that they may for we all know that the more minds that work at a problem, the sooner it will be solved. The discovery of a means of negating, reversing or otherwise utilizing the immense force of gravitation for space flight purposes is now thought to be within the bounds of probability. It should occur some time within the next hundred years, possibly in even the short period I assume here. (Copyright expired.)

Excerpt

ing if he would ever have a chance to walk its surface, or if his own future was to lie in probing mankind's past rather than surveying the grounds of his future. As he watched, he thought he saw a faint light among the brightening stars where none had been before.

He squinted, and, sure enough, he saw that one tiny white light was swinging more and more toward the center of the sky. He pointed it out to his father and Gonzales. "Too fast to be a celestial object," he said. "Is it one of the space platforms or a sputnik?"

The two men gazed at it in curiosity. Suddenly it seemed to grow brighter and sharper and to twist toward them in its path.

"Look!" gasped Burl, but the others were already on their feet.

The light plunged down. There was a sudden outburst of yellow flame that caused the three to duck instinctively, and brought the Indians to their feet with yells. The glare brightened until they could see that something was just above them. The fire vanished as swiftly as it came

ReviewsAdd a review for this title.

Average Rating:

2009.01.07
Bill

If you start reading this as "sci-fi", you might be disappointed. So take this as a boys adventure novel, which happens to be set in space.

2008.11.20
Greg Smith

This is an outstanding juvenile sci-fi novel. I have re-read it many times over the years. This book was the trigger for life long love of Science fiction.

2007.05.27
Newegor

When I has in School this book was the book that got me into reading. Being younger this book was great for my mind, and imagination.

2006.03.07
Kiwigoldfish

A fairly mediocre tale. Boys Own meets Asimov in a Sci Fi tale of a boy caught in a series of "exciting" adventures.

The story is about a team of astronauts and a keen young boy who are sent to space to destroy alien installations all over the solar system which are draining the sun and risking supernova. The prose is wretched and the storyline flimsy.

I probably would have enjoyed it when I was 10, and that's probably the kind of market it was written for.