Water Pirate - Leigh Brackett

Short Story

Number of words : 6000
Percent of complex words : 6.6
Average syllables per word : 1.4
Average words per sentence : 12.6


READABILITY INDICES

Fog : 7.67
Flesch : 72.5
Flesch-Kincaid : 6.3



SETTING

In 2418

Valkis

Martian city.

Teka Desert

Mountainous dry area out from Valkis.


CHARACTERS

Johan Gray

Chief of Special Duty of the Convoy Fleet.

Jaffa Gray

His son and investigator.

Lhara

A warrior-girl of Kesh.

Lhar

Her brother.

Rha

An alien from Vhila, a golden swimmer from a water-world with three suns.


ORGANISATIONS

Trans-Galactic Convoy Fleet

Shipping protection group.


PLACES

Kesh

Martian barbarian dryland state.


VEHICLES

Kallman two-seater

Small flying craft.


TECHNOLOGY

Ultra-visor

Display mechanism.


WEAPONS

Paralysis Gun

Non-lethal sidearm.

Heat Gun

Lethal sidearm.


PLOT

Rha, an alien from a water-world has taken Lhara's brother hostage. She finds Jaffa Gray, son of a powerful administrator, and paralyses him, wanting to use him. She finds out Rha is more than a bandit, being an alien scientist wanting to save his amphibious people, under siege on their own world. He too wants to use Jaffa's ability to sway his father for help. Jaffa decides that his cause is worthy enough to forgive his crimes, and offers to intercede.


3.5 out of 5