To Venus! To Venus!

by David Grinnell

Sul pianeta Venere - secondo i dati trasmessi dalle sonde americane ogni vita è non c'è acqua, l'atmosfera è irrespirabile, la temperatura supera i 300 gradi centigradi. Quand'ecco un sensazionale astronauti sovietici sono sbarcati sul pianeta e comunicano che le condizioni di vita sono tollerabili. Ma gli stessi astronauti chiedono anche urgentissimamente e disperatamente aiuto, perché a causa di un incidente non possono più tornare indietro. Che cosa c'è sotto questo incredibile messaggio? Come stanno veramente le cose? Agli americani non resta che andare a vedere di persona.

Copertina di Karel Thole

Genres: Science Fiction, Science Fiction Fantasy

192 pages, Hardcover

First published January 1, 1970

About the author

Pseudonym of Donald A. Wollheim

Reviews

[Juho Salo · Rating 3 out of 5]

Few years into the future, Americans and Soviets have technology to get neighbouring planets but no trip has yet been executed. Then Soviet probe from Venus informs that the planet has breathable atmosphere; both super powers send their men to check the results. The book is a story about preparations, trip and what they find on the planet. In a way, it made me think of the The Martian, with much less interest on hard science.

[Pete · Rating 3 out of 5]

This is a perfect example of an ace double novella (Two novellas printed on opposite sides of the same book). The first 70 pages are interesting and engaging, then the action ramps up, and then you're in the peak of the story, and then it suddenly ends in 15 pages (presumably because an editor told the author to put a lid on it if he wanted to sell it in a book like this). Give it a shot, but expect some disappointment with the ending.

[Jerimy Stoll · Rating 4 out of 5]

This would have been a great movie. There was plenty of adventure for a 128-page novel. There are a few quick lessons about the burden of command and sacrifice for one's fellow man. I would recommend the story for the usual science fiction enthusiast. It is slightly dated, one who lived through both the cold war and Reagan's Star Wars would recognize what was happening and why.

[SciFiOne · Rating 3 out of 5]

Ace Double Novel 441-81610-075
To Venus! To Venus!, by David Grinnel, grade C+
Jester at Scar (Dumarest 5), by EC Tubb, grade C-