Unseen.
Some library info here :-
http://comics.lib.msu.edu/rri/brri/barr.htm
http://media.mycomicshop.com/iss/300w/215/492151/9650911_1.jpg
http://media.mycomicshop.com/iss/300w/215/492151/9650941_1.jpg
Showing posts with label venus. Show all posts
Showing posts with label venus. Show all posts
Friday, March 19, 2010
Lorelei of the Red Mist Comics 1-2
Just discovered these, and site has "by Ray Bradbury, Leigh Brackett, Christy Marx, Dell Barras, & C. Manalac"
Unseen.
Some library info here :-
http://comics.lib.msu.edu/rri/brri/barr.htm
http://media.mycomicshop.com/iss/300w/215/492151/9650911_1.jpg
http://media.mycomicshop.com/iss/300w/215/492151/9650941_1.jpg
Unseen.
Some library info here :-
http://comics.lib.msu.edu/rri/brri/barr.htm
http://media.mycomicshop.com/iss/300w/215/492151/9650911_1.jpghttp://media.mycomicshop.com/iss/300w/215/492151/9650941_1.jpg
Saturday, December 26, 2009
The Vanishing Venusians - Leigh Brackett
Novelette
Number of words : 11000
Percent of complex words : 6.4
Average syllables per word : 1.4
Average words per sentence : 10.1
READABILITY INDICES
Fog : 6.6
Flesch : 77.8
Flesch-Kincaid : 4.9
SETTING
The Sea of Morning Opals
An ocean on Venus.
CHARACTERS
Matt Harker
Crusty ship captain.
Rory McLaren
Young man of Matt's crew.
Vila
Rory McLaren's Venusian wife.
Viki
His daughter to be.
Sim Gibbons
Elderly colonist.
Button
Harker's name for a Venusian girl they meet, a telekinetic who is probably part plant.
ANIMALS
Golden Swimmers
Venusian creatures. Possibly part plant. Have claws.
Flower-hounds
Venusian plant-animal hunters.
Leshen
Swamp dragons.
PLOT
Harker leads a crew of newly arrived colonists to Venus by ship, looking for somewhere to settle. Seeing a possibility, he takes McLaren and Gibbons with him to explorer, but encounter some local plant-animal hybrids, both animal and sentient, to lethal but successful consequence.
3.5 out of 5
Number of words : 11000
Percent of complex words : 6.4
Average syllables per word : 1.4
Average words per sentence : 10.1
READABILITY INDICES
Fog : 6.6
Flesch : 77.8
Flesch-Kincaid : 4.9
SETTING
The Sea of Morning Opals
An ocean on Venus.
CHARACTERS
Matt Harker
Crusty ship captain.
Rory McLaren
Young man of Matt's crew.
Vila
Rory McLaren's Venusian wife.
Viki
His daughter to be.
Sim Gibbons
Elderly colonist.
Button
Harker's name for a Venusian girl they meet, a telekinetic who is probably part plant.
ANIMALS
Golden Swimmers
Venusian creatures. Possibly part plant. Have claws.
Flower-hounds
Venusian plant-animal hunters.
Leshen
Swamp dragons.
PLOT
Harker leads a crew of newly arrived colonists to Venus by ship, looking for somewhere to settle. Seeing a possibility, he takes McLaren and Gibbons with him to explorer, but encounter some local plant-animal hybrids, both animal and sentient, to lethal but successful consequence.
3.5 out of 5
The Stellar Legion - Leigh Brackett
Short Story
Number of words : 6000
Percent of complex words : 8.3
Average syllables per word : 1.5
Average words per sentence : 11.3
READABILITY INDICES
Fog : 7.9
Flesch : 72.1
Flesch-Kincaid : 6.0
SETTING
Interworld Legion fort
An outpost to defend colonists from the local tribes of Venus.
CHARACTERS
Lehn
Venusian Commandant.
Ian MacIan
Earthman, Legionnaire. Scotsman, ex-Terran Guards officer.
Thekla
Martian low-canaler, Legionnaire and traitor.
Bhak
Titanian strangler, Legionnaire.
ORGANISATIONS
The Interworld Legion
A bunch of sweaty misfit soldiers from multiple worlds.
RACES
Nahali
Venusian swamp-dwellers.
PLACES
Jekkara
Martian low-canal city.
TECHNOLOGY
Venusian piano
Has three tiers.
Electro gun
Hand weapon.
ANIMALS
Swamp rats
Ruby eyed Venusian creature with iridescent scales. Electrified.
PLOT
MacIan is an ex-Terran Guardsmen who got a couple of thousand men under his command slaughtered, he thinks, so he quit and went the Legion route. A fellow soldier, Thekla, has a plot to get rid of him and discredit the local commander. The pair of them and another soldier have gone out on a patrol. MacIan has to avoid getting fried by Venusian swamp rats to reveal the scheme.
4 out of 5
Number of words : 6000
Percent of complex words : 8.3
Average syllables per word : 1.5
Average words per sentence : 11.3
READABILITY INDICES
Fog : 7.9
Flesch : 72.1
Flesch-Kincaid : 6.0
SETTING
Interworld Legion fort
An outpost to defend colonists from the local tribes of Venus.
CHARACTERS
Lehn
Venusian Commandant.
Ian MacIan
Earthman, Legionnaire. Scotsman, ex-Terran Guards officer.
Thekla
Martian low-canaler, Legionnaire and traitor.
Bhak
Titanian strangler, Legionnaire.
ORGANISATIONS
The Interworld Legion
A bunch of sweaty misfit soldiers from multiple worlds.
RACES
Nahali
Venusian swamp-dwellers.
PLACES
Jekkara
Martian low-canal city.
TECHNOLOGY
Venusian piano
Has three tiers.
Electro gun
Hand weapon.
ANIMALS
Swamp rats
Ruby eyed Venusian creature with iridescent scales. Electrified.
PLOT
MacIan is an ex-Terran Guardsmen who got a couple of thousand men under his command slaughtered, he thinks, so he quit and went the Legion route. A fellow soldier, Thekla, has a plot to get rid of him and discredit the local commander. The pair of them and another soldier have gone out on a patrol. MacIan has to avoid getting fried by Venusian swamp rats to reveal the scheme.
4 out of 5
The Moon That Vanished - Leigh Brackett
Novelette
Number of words : 17000
Percent of complex words : 4.4
Average syllables per word : 1.3
Average words per sentence : 12.2
READABILITY INDICES
Fog : 6.6
Flesch : 81.5
Flesch-Kincaid : 4.9
SETTING
Palace of All Possible Delights
Dingy bar near the Sea of Morning Opals where Heath is found by Alor and Broca.
Sea of Morning Opals
Where you must go to find the Moonfire. An ocean.
Upper Seas
Part of the Sea of Morning Opals
Dragon's Throat
Part of the Sea of Morning Opals
The Guardians
Part of the Sea of Morning Opals, black areas to avoid.
CHARACTERS
David Heath
Man who found the Moonfire and lived.
Kalruna
Owner of the Palace of All Possible Delights.
Ethne
Venusian temple woman whom Heath feverishly desires.
Alor
Venusian moon cult handmaiden, and a reality Heath can love.
Broca
Venusian uplander and proscribed cult member, of the Sarn tribe.
Johor
A ship captain working for the priests.
Vakor
A priest of the moon cult.
RACES
Nahali
Swamp-dwellers of Venus.
Sarn
An uplands tribe of Venus.
PLACES
Omaz
River near the Sea of Morning Opals.
Deep Swamps
Inland Venus.
High Plateaus
Upland area of Venus.
VEHICLES
Ethne
David Heath's ship.
Lahal
Johor's ship.
CONCEPTS
Moonfire
Myth says it is leftover from the body of a dead god, and can give you powers. Likely some radioactive material that alters the brain.
ANIMALS
Swamp-dragon
Small, reasonably intelligent lizard creatures with claws and wings.
ORGANISATIONS
Mysteries of the Moon
Oldest Venusian cult.
Children of the Moon
Priests of the cult.
PLOT
David Heath is the only man to have travelled to the Moonfire and lived long enough afterwards for people to approach about a return trip. Alor and Broca are renegades of the Venusian Moon Cult that want to go there. Heath reluctantly agrees, haunted by previous memories. The priests of the cult do not want them to reach the Moonfire and gain powers, so hire another captain and attempt to attack them at sea. Heath has the advantage here, and they managed to reach their destination, but again, not to everyone's taste.
4 out of 5
Number of words : 17000
Percent of complex words : 4.4
Average syllables per word : 1.3
Average words per sentence : 12.2
READABILITY INDICES
Fog : 6.6
Flesch : 81.5
Flesch-Kincaid : 4.9
SETTING
Palace of All Possible Delights
Dingy bar near the Sea of Morning Opals where Heath is found by Alor and Broca.
Sea of Morning Opals
Where you must go to find the Moonfire. An ocean.
Upper Seas
Part of the Sea of Morning Opals
Dragon's Throat
Part of the Sea of Morning Opals
The Guardians
Part of the Sea of Morning Opals, black areas to avoid.
CHARACTERS
David Heath
Man who found the Moonfire and lived.
Kalruna
Owner of the Palace of All Possible Delights.
Ethne
Venusian temple woman whom Heath feverishly desires.
Alor
Venusian moon cult handmaiden, and a reality Heath can love.
Broca
Venusian uplander and proscribed cult member, of the Sarn tribe.
Johor
A ship captain working for the priests.
Vakor
A priest of the moon cult.
RACES
Nahali
Swamp-dwellers of Venus.
Sarn
An uplands tribe of Venus.
PLACES
Omaz
River near the Sea of Morning Opals.
Deep Swamps
Inland Venus.
High Plateaus
Upland area of Venus.
VEHICLES
Ethne
David Heath's ship.
Lahal
Johor's ship.
CONCEPTS
Moonfire
Myth says it is leftover from the body of a dead god, and can give you powers. Likely some radioactive material that alters the brain.
ANIMALS
Swamp-dragon
Small, reasonably intelligent lizard creatures with claws and wings.
ORGANISATIONS
Mysteries of the Moon
Oldest Venusian cult.
Children of the Moon
Priests of the cult.
PLOT
David Heath is the only man to have travelled to the Moonfire and lived long enough afterwards for people to approach about a return trip. Alor and Broca are renegades of the Venusian Moon Cult that want to go there. Heath reluctantly agrees, haunted by previous memories. The priests of the cult do not want them to reach the Moonfire and gain powers, so hire another captain and attempt to attack them at sea. Heath has the advantage here, and they managed to reach their destination, but again, not to everyone's taste.
4 out of 5
The Citadel Of Lost Ships - Leigh Brackett
Novelette
Number of words : 12000
Percent of complex words : 6.2
Average syllables per word : 1.4
Average words per sentence : 9.3
READABILITY INDICES
Fog : 6.2
Flesch : 78.8
Flesch-Kincaid : 4.6
SETTING
Kraylen tribe
Dwindling group of Venusian natives.
Romany settlement
Dwelling for a group of outsiders. Live by a code of helping those who ask for it.
CHARACTERS
Roy Campbell-Thomas Black
Well-known wanted criminal, hides out with the Kraylens and the Romany.
Kraylens
Venusian tribe leader.
Tredrick
Romany Terran overchief.
Eran Mak
Chief Councilor.
Marah
Man with a hook.
Zard
A Romany.
Old Ekla
Romany elder.
Stella Moore
Romany leader.
PLANTS
Liha trees
Venusian tree.
ORGANISATIONS
Spaceguard
Coalition law-enforcement. After Roy Campbell.
Terra-Venusian Coalition Government
Settlement government.
CONCEPTS
Latnik
Someone who is not Romany.
PLACES
Tehara Province
Venusian area.
Lhi
Frontier town in Tehara Province.
Polar Cities
Of Mars.
Kesh
Martian city.
Balakar
Martian city.
Tamboian
Martian city.
Wells of Tamboina
Martian water source.
Martian Mak's
Old trade market in Lhi.
Lhi
Venusian city.
TECHNOLOGY
Needle-gun
Hand weapon.
Infra-beam
Detectors on ships.
VEHICLE
Fitts-Sothern
Small flying craft.
Black Star
Campbell's Fitts-Sothern.
Krub
Type of freighter.
RACES
Drylanders
Martian people.
Shenyat
Ganymede people.
Taxil
Mercurian backwater people.
Baraki
Titanian telekinetic cave dwellers.
Callistans
"Beyond her was a thin, small man with four arms. He wore no clothing but his
own white fur and his head was crowned with feathery antennae. Even in the blue night the antennae and the man's eyes burned living scarlet."
PLOT
Roy Campbell is on the run from the coalition spaceguard, but the Kraylen tribe have little in the way of resources left to hide him as in the past. In fact, they need help. Campbell ends up travelling to the Romany to see if he can find some. They have their own conflicts - those who are traditional, and those who want change and to become more mainstream with money and power. Harboring a criminal has repercussion. The Romany, as with their planet-bound namesakes are a persecuted group. Campbell decides he can better use his infamy by going elsewhere to highlight their plight.
4 out of 5
Number of words : 12000
Percent of complex words : 6.2
Average syllables per word : 1.4
Average words per sentence : 9.3
READABILITY INDICES
Fog : 6.2
Flesch : 78.8
Flesch-Kincaid : 4.6
SETTING
Kraylen tribe
Dwindling group of Venusian natives.
Romany settlement
Dwelling for a group of outsiders. Live by a code of helping those who ask for it.
CHARACTERS
Roy Campbell-Thomas Black
Well-known wanted criminal, hides out with the Kraylens and the Romany.
Kraylens
Venusian tribe leader.
Tredrick
Romany Terran overchief.
Eran Mak
Chief Councilor.
Marah
Man with a hook.
Zard
A Romany.
Old Ekla
Romany elder.
Stella Moore
Romany leader.
PLANTS
Liha trees
Venusian tree.
ORGANISATIONS
Spaceguard
Coalition law-enforcement. After Roy Campbell.
Terra-Venusian Coalition Government
Settlement government.
CONCEPTS
Latnik
Someone who is not Romany.
PLACES
Tehara Province
Venusian area.
Lhi
Frontier town in Tehara Province.
Polar Cities
Of Mars.
Kesh
Martian city.
Balakar
Martian city.
Tamboian
Martian city.
Wells of Tamboina
Martian water source.
Martian Mak's
Old trade market in Lhi.
Lhi
Venusian city.
TECHNOLOGY
Needle-gun
Hand weapon.
Infra-beam
Detectors on ships.
VEHICLE
Fitts-Sothern
Small flying craft.
Black Star
Campbell's Fitts-Sothern.
Krub
Type of freighter.
RACES
Drylanders
Martian people.
Shenyat
Ganymede people.
Taxil
Mercurian backwater people.
Baraki
Titanian telekinetic cave dwellers.
Callistans
"Beyond her was a thin, small man with four arms. He wore no clothing but his
own white fur and his head was crowned with feathery antennae. Even in the blue night the antennae and the man's eyes burned living scarlet."
PLOT
Roy Campbell is on the run from the coalition spaceguard, but the Kraylen tribe have little in the way of resources left to hide him as in the past. In fact, they need help. Campbell ends up travelling to the Romany to see if he can find some. They have their own conflicts - those who are traditional, and those who want change and to become more mainstream with money and power. Harboring a criminal has repercussion. The Romany, as with their planet-bound namesakes are a persecuted group. Campbell decides he can better use his infamy by going elsewhere to highlight their plight.
4 out of 5
The Blue Behemoth - Leigh Brackett
Novelette
Number of words : 11000
Percent of complex words : 5.3
Average syllables per word : 1.4
Average words per sentence : 8.8
READABILITY INDICES
Fog : 5.6
Flesch : 79.8
Flesch-Kincaid : 4.3
SETTING
Nahru
Small town on Venus, current location of Shannon's Circus.
CHARACTERS
Buckhalter Shannon
Circus proprietor.
Jig Bentley
His business manager.
Micky
Circus worker.
Simon Beamish
Wants to hire Shannon for a circus tour.
Gow
Shannon's animal handler.
Kanza
The Martian croaker.
Sam Kapper
A hunter.
Melak
Local hard man.
Jarin
One of the circus.
Malek
One of the circus.
Ahra
Nahali woman, amused by offworlders in trouble. Gives advice on how to stop the Cansin rampage.
Quern
Circus hypnotist.
RACES
Marshies
Venus indigenes.
PLACES
Tehara Belt
A potential circus tour spot.
Nahali
Venusian area.
ANIMALS
Cansin
Large blue Venusian swamp-animal.
Vapor snakes
A painful experience if they touch you, knock you out.
Zurat
Martian communal animal.
Mercurian cavecat
Very large feline.
Martian sandtigers
More very large felines.
Ganymedan puffballs
Rolling carnivores, with tentacles.
ORGANISATIONS
Shannon's Imperial Circus, the Greatest Show in Space
Buckhalter's circus, currently in trouble.
Savitt Brothers
Rival circus.
FOOD
Thildatim
Venusian booze.
Lhak
Venusian booze.
PLACES
Triangle
Term for the three major inner worlds.
PLOT
Shannon's circus is broke, and dodging their creditors in a small Venusian dump, when a wealthy Beamish wants to hire them. This is for ulterior motives involving money and a rare creature. The cansin is a huge Venusian beast worth a lot. However, here the females have found a male - and their bonding is strange. Large beasts rampaging means breakout and other dangerous circus animals loose. So dodgy circus business managers have to try and put a stop to it, before the town is destroyed. The criminal element becomes more concerned with staying alive.
4 out of 5
Number of words : 11000
Percent of complex words : 5.3
Average syllables per word : 1.4
Average words per sentence : 8.8
READABILITY INDICES
Fog : 5.6
Flesch : 79.8
Flesch-Kincaid : 4.3
SETTING
Nahru
Small town on Venus, current location of Shannon's Circus.
CHARACTERS
Buckhalter Shannon
Circus proprietor.
Jig Bentley
His business manager.
Micky
Circus worker.
Simon Beamish
Wants to hire Shannon for a circus tour.
Gow
Shannon's animal handler.
Kanza
The Martian croaker.
Sam Kapper
A hunter.
Melak
Local hard man.
Jarin
One of the circus.
Malek
One of the circus.
Ahra
Nahali woman, amused by offworlders in trouble. Gives advice on how to stop the Cansin rampage.
Quern
Circus hypnotist.
RACES
Marshies
Venus indigenes.
PLACES
Tehara Belt
A potential circus tour spot.
Nahali
Venusian area.
ANIMALS
Cansin
Large blue Venusian swamp-animal.
Vapor snakes
A painful experience if they touch you, knock you out.
Zurat
Martian communal animal.
Mercurian cavecat
Very large feline.
Martian sandtigers
More very large felines.
Ganymedan puffballs
Rolling carnivores, with tentacles.
ORGANISATIONS
Shannon's Imperial Circus, the Greatest Show in Space
Buckhalter's circus, currently in trouble.
Savitt Brothers
Rival circus.
FOOD
Thildatim
Venusian booze.
Lhak
Venusian booze.
PLACES
Triangle
Term for the three major inner worlds.
PLOT
Shannon's circus is broke, and dodging their creditors in a small Venusian dump, when a wealthy Beamish wants to hire them. This is for ulterior motives involving money and a rare creature. The cansin is a huge Venusian beast worth a lot. However, here the females have found a male - and their bonding is strange. Large beasts rampaging means breakout and other dangerous circus animals loose. So dodgy circus business managers have to try and put a stop to it, before the town is destroyed. The criminal element becomes more concerned with staying alive.
4 out of 5
Terror Out Of Space - Leigh Brackett
Novelette
Number of words : 11000
Percent of complex words : 4.3
Average syllables per word : 1.4
Average words per sentence : 10.8
READABILITY INDICES
Fog : 6.1
Flesch : 80.4
Flesch-Kincaid : 4.7
CHARACTERS
Lundy
A policeman on a mission.
Jackie Smith
An unconscious colleague.
Mike Farrell
A bleeding out colleague.
ORGANISATIONS
Tri-World Police
Law enforcement organisation.
PLACES
Vhia
Trade City on Venus.
Nahali
Get canebrakes here.
CONCEPTS
The Madness from Beyond, or The Vampire Lure
"The guys who suddenly went sluggy and charged off the rails all made it clear that they had met the ultimate Dream Woman of all women and all dreams. Nobody else could see her, but that didn't bother them any. They saw her, and she was—She. And her eyes were always veiled."
ANIMALS
Seadragon
Venus sea animal.
Kelp-beasts
What it says.
PLANTS
Flower-things
Can move.
FOOD
Vakhi
Venusian alcohol.
Canebrakes
From Nahali.
RACES
Cloud People
Live in the highlands on Venus.
Plant-men
Small, blue grey transform into green and winged.
The Others
Cannibal lurers.
PLOT
Three space policeman in a bad way in a small vehicle come under the influence of a powerfully hypnotic creature. One of them can function, and meets some plant people and one of the hypnotisers.
3.5 out of 5
Number of words : 11000
Percent of complex words : 4.3
Average syllables per word : 1.4
Average words per sentence : 10.8
READABILITY INDICES
Fog : 6.1
Flesch : 80.4
Flesch-Kincaid : 4.7
CHARACTERS
Lundy
A policeman on a mission.
Jackie Smith
An unconscious colleague.
Mike Farrell
A bleeding out colleague.
ORGANISATIONS
Tri-World Police
Law enforcement organisation.
PLACES
Vhia
Trade City on Venus.
Nahali
Get canebrakes here.
CONCEPTS
The Madness from Beyond, or The Vampire Lure
"The guys who suddenly went sluggy and charged off the rails all made it clear that they had met the ultimate Dream Woman of all women and all dreams. Nobody else could see her, but that didn't bother them any. They saw her, and she was—She. And her eyes were always veiled."
ANIMALS
Seadragon
Venus sea animal.
Kelp-beasts
What it says.
PLANTS
Flower-things
Can move.
FOOD
Vakhi
Venusian alcohol.
Canebrakes
From Nahali.
RACES
Cloud People
Live in the highlands on Venus.
Plant-men
Small, blue grey transform into green and winged.
The Others
Cannibal lurers.
PLOT
Three space policeman in a bad way in a small vehicle come under the influence of a powerfully hypnotic creature. One of them can function, and meets some plant people and one of the hypnotisers.
3.5 out of 5
Runaway - Leigh Brackett
Novelette
Number of words : 15000
Percent of complex words : 9.0
Average syllables per word : 1.5
Average words per sentence : 10.5
READABILITY INDICES
Fog : 7.8
Flesch : 72.7
Flesch-Kincaid : 5.7
SETTING
Los Angeles
Anthony Reid lives here with his family and unhappily works as an accountant.
Venus
Reid chucks it all in and heads for another planet.
CHARACTERS
Anthony Reid-Joseph Rucker
Accountant that decides to bail out and go to Venus.
Tony Reid
His son.
Phyllis Reid
His daughter.
Fern Reid
His wife.
Mr Jennings
Boss of Jennings Accounting Services.
George Grosset
Friend of Reid's in Los Angeles.
Bill Stocker
Fellow employee.
Dr Eckworth
His psychiatrist.
Crider
Runs a criminal labor operation on Venus.
Holfern
Worker on Venus.
Linson
Worker on Venus.
Everett
Worker on Venus.
Dr Hinojosa
State shrink.
Mr Horst
Immigration officer.
Dr. Buerhle
Madhouse resident doctor.
Mr. Haggerty
Fellow inmate.
Perez
Fellow inmate.
ORGANISATIONS
Jennings Accounting Services
Reid's employer.
Anglo-Martian Enterprises
A company account.
Crider Mining Company
A standover merchant.
TECHNOLOGY
Plastibrik
Building materials.
Solaray
Building materials, glass.
PLOT
Anthony Reid is an accountant with a family in Los Angeles. He has an existential crisis and chucks it all in and heads for Venus. He discovers the current situation there is no better, and in fact with dangerous conditions and a lot of desperate men, no place for someone to be that chose to be there.
He ends up in a mental institution, trying to reorient, along with some in simlar situations.
4 out of 5
Number of words : 15000
Percent of complex words : 9.0
Average syllables per word : 1.5
Average words per sentence : 10.5
READABILITY INDICES
Fog : 7.8
Flesch : 72.7
Flesch-Kincaid : 5.7
SETTING
Los Angeles
Anthony Reid lives here with his family and unhappily works as an accountant.
Venus
Reid chucks it all in and heads for another planet.
CHARACTERS
Anthony Reid-Joseph Rucker
Accountant that decides to bail out and go to Venus.
Tony Reid
His son.
Phyllis Reid
His daughter.
Fern Reid
His wife.
Mr Jennings
Boss of Jennings Accounting Services.
George Grosset
Friend of Reid's in Los Angeles.
Bill Stocker
Fellow employee.
Dr Eckworth
His psychiatrist.
Crider
Runs a criminal labor operation on Venus.
Holfern
Worker on Venus.
Linson
Worker on Venus.
Everett
Worker on Venus.
Dr Hinojosa
State shrink.
Mr Horst
Immigration officer.
Dr. Buerhle
Madhouse resident doctor.
Mr. Haggerty
Fellow inmate.
Perez
Fellow inmate.
ORGANISATIONS
Jennings Accounting Services
Reid's employer.
Anglo-Martian Enterprises
A company account.
Crider Mining Company
A standover merchant.
TECHNOLOGY
Plastibrik
Building materials.
Solaray
Building materials, glass.
PLOT
Anthony Reid is an accountant with a family in Los Angeles. He has an existential crisis and chucks it all in and heads for Venus. He discovers the current situation there is no better, and in fact with dangerous conditions and a lot of desperate men, no place for someone to be that chose to be there.
He ends up in a mental institution, trying to reorient, along with some in simlar situations.
4 out of 5
Thursday, December 24, 2009
Lorelei Of the Red Mist - Leigh Brackett
Novella
Number of words : 22000
Percent of complex words : 5.5
Average syllables per word : 1.4
Average words per sentence : 9.4
READABILITY INDICES
Fog : 5.9
Flesch : 80.5
Flesch-Kincaid : 4.4
SETTING
Mountains Of White Cloud
Dangerous Venusian geography to flee over.
Crom Dhu
Faolan's city, under siege by Rann's forces.
Falga
Site of Conan's treachery, a cliff citadel.
Red Sea
Home of the sea shepherds, and the Source Life, a strange energy source, good for recharging dead men armies.
CHARACTERS
Hugh Starke
Criminal on the run, ends up in another body and a war.
Rann
Cruel, pale green haired ruler in ancient Venus. She has plans for Starke.
Beudag
Outland Rover ruler and general, she is an opposer of Rann. Sister of Faolan. Name means Dagger-in-the-Sheath
Romna
Servant of Faolan.
Faolan of the Ships
Ruler of the Outland Rovers, now blind.
Conan
Ex-lover of Beudag and traitor. Starke now inhabits his body.
Geil
A dead man under the sea, betrayed by Conan.
Clev
A dead man under the sea, betrayed by Conan.
Mannt
A dead man under the sea, betrayed by Conan.
Bron
A dead man under the sea, betrayed by Conan.
Aesur
A dead man under the sea, betrayed by Conan.
Tlan
A dead man under the sea, betrayed by Conan.
Linnl
A sea-shepherd who gives Starke a suggestion.
ORGANISATIONS
Terro-Venus Mines Incorporated Special Police
Pursuers of Hugh Starke.
Outland Rovers
Faolan and Beudag's people.
VEHICLES
Kallman
Starke's ship.
CONCEPTS
High Venusian
A language.
ANIMALS
Golden hounds
"Their eyes were huge, jewel-like in their slim sharp faces. They possessed four members that might have been legs and arms, retracted now against their narrowing bodies. Golden membranes spread wing-like from head to flank, and they moved like wings, balancing expertly the thrust of the flat, powerful tails.
"
Flame birds
Found in the mountains near Falga.
RACES
Sea-shepherds
Undersea dwellers, webbed fingers and all.
PLACES
Jekkaran Low Canals
An area and city on Mars.
The Belt
The asteroid grouping in the Solar System.
PLOT
Hugh Starke is a criminal on the run, pursued by corporate police as he escapes with the loot. In desperation he flees in his ship over a dangerous mountain range, and blacks out.
He awakens in the clutches of Rann, a woman who has the power to transfer his mind into another body, to use as her agent against the Outland Rovers. When in the Rover citadel of Crom Dhu he is treated badly, as he is in the body of Conan, Beudag's ex-lover and a traitor who led them into a naval ambush. This has led to the situation they are in now, under siege. Faolan is blind, and Beudag has been leading the defense.
Starke manages to convince them he is not Conan, but Rann's mental hold on him is still strong, as he tries to resist it. This leads to Beudag's capture amd use as a hostage. Starke heads under the Red Sea, looking for help against Rann. Which he finds in an army of betrayed dead men, and the sea-shepherd's Source. Time for some payback.
5 out of 5
Number of words : 22000
Percent of complex words : 5.5
Average syllables per word : 1.4
Average words per sentence : 9.4
READABILITY INDICES
Fog : 5.9
Flesch : 80.5
Flesch-Kincaid : 4.4
SETTING
Mountains Of White Cloud
Dangerous Venusian geography to flee over.
Crom Dhu
Faolan's city, under siege by Rann's forces.
Falga
Site of Conan's treachery, a cliff citadel.
Red Sea
Home of the sea shepherds, and the Source Life, a strange energy source, good for recharging dead men armies.
CHARACTERS
Hugh Starke
Criminal on the run, ends up in another body and a war.
Rann
Cruel, pale green haired ruler in ancient Venus. She has plans for Starke.
Beudag
Outland Rover ruler and general, she is an opposer of Rann. Sister of Faolan. Name means Dagger-in-the-Sheath
Romna
Servant of Faolan.
Faolan of the Ships
Ruler of the Outland Rovers, now blind.
Conan
Ex-lover of Beudag and traitor. Starke now inhabits his body.
Geil
A dead man under the sea, betrayed by Conan.
Clev
A dead man under the sea, betrayed by Conan.
Mannt
A dead man under the sea, betrayed by Conan.
Bron
A dead man under the sea, betrayed by Conan.
Aesur
A dead man under the sea, betrayed by Conan.
Tlan
A dead man under the sea, betrayed by Conan.
Linnl
A sea-shepherd who gives Starke a suggestion.
ORGANISATIONS
Terro-Venus Mines Incorporated Special Police
Pursuers of Hugh Starke.
Outland Rovers
Faolan and Beudag's people.
VEHICLES
Kallman
Starke's ship.
CONCEPTS
High Venusian
A language.
ANIMALS
Golden hounds
"Their eyes were huge, jewel-like in their slim sharp faces. They possessed four members that might have been legs and arms, retracted now against their narrowing bodies. Golden membranes spread wing-like from head to flank, and they moved like wings, balancing expertly the thrust of the flat, powerful tails.
"
Flame birds
Found in the mountains near Falga.
RACES
Sea-shepherds
Undersea dwellers, webbed fingers and all.
PLACES
Jekkaran Low Canals
An area and city on Mars.
The Belt
The asteroid grouping in the Solar System.
PLOT
Hugh Starke is a criminal on the run, pursued by corporate police as he escapes with the loot. In desperation he flees in his ship over a dangerous mountain range, and blacks out.
He awakens in the clutches of Rann, a woman who has the power to transfer his mind into another body, to use as her agent against the Outland Rovers. When in the Rover citadel of Crom Dhu he is treated badly, as he is in the body of Conan, Beudag's ex-lover and a traitor who led them into a naval ambush. This has led to the situation they are in now, under siege. Faolan is blind, and Beudag has been leading the defense.
Starke manages to convince them he is not Conan, but Rann's mental hold on him is still strong, as he tries to resist it. This leads to Beudag's capture amd use as a hostage. Starke heads under the Red Sea, looking for help against Rann. Which he finds in an army of betrayed dead men, and the sea-shepherd's Source. Time for some payback.
5 out of 5
Interplanetary Reporter - Leigh Brackett
Short Story
Number of words : 7000
Percent of complex words : 7.7
Average syllables per word : 1.5
Average words per sentence : 9.9
READABILITY INDICES
Fog : 7.1
Flesch : 74.1
Flesch-Kincaid : 5.4
SETTING
Vhia
Trade City of Venus.
CHARACTERS
Chris Barton
Ex I.P. Reporter on Venus.
John Sanger
Head of I.P. on Venus.
Bobby Lancer
Another reporter.
Kei Volhan
Socialite adventuress of Vhia.
ORGANISATIONS
I.P.
Interplanetary Press.
Venusian Space Committee
Regulate spaceflight.
VEHICLES
Stellar Queen
Liner coming to Venus.
Fitts-Sothern
Type of small ship.
CONCEPTS
Martian World War
Conflict in 2504.
Jovian Mandate
Allocates territory to Jupiter, including water-rich asteroids.
Dark Invasion
Conflict on Earth.
TECHNOLOGY
Atomic heat ray
Ship weapon.
PLOT
Chris Barton is a disillusioned journalist, sick of the media and war, especially when he finds out that a dodgy deal between Mars and Jupiter over water in an interplanetary war. This will see Vhia annihilated in a sneak bombing attack designed to lay blame elsewhere.
Coming across a glamorous adventuress and teaming up with a still employed IP reporter they fly out in opposition to try and stop it and get the story out.
3.5 out of 5
Number of words : 7000
Percent of complex words : 7.7
Average syllables per word : 1.5
Average words per sentence : 9.9
READABILITY INDICES
Fog : 7.1
Flesch : 74.1
Flesch-Kincaid : 5.4
SETTING
Vhia
Trade City of Venus.
CHARACTERS
Chris Barton
Ex I.P. Reporter on Venus.
John Sanger
Head of I.P. on Venus.
Bobby Lancer
Another reporter.
Kei Volhan
Socialite adventuress of Vhia.
ORGANISATIONS
I.P.
Interplanetary Press.
Venusian Space Committee
Regulate spaceflight.
VEHICLES
Stellar Queen
Liner coming to Venus.
Fitts-Sothern
Type of small ship.
CONCEPTS
Martian World War
Conflict in 2504.
Jovian Mandate
Allocates territory to Jupiter, including water-rich asteroids.
Dark Invasion
Conflict on Earth.
TECHNOLOGY
Atomic heat ray
Ship weapon.
PLOT
Chris Barton is a disillusioned journalist, sick of the media and war, especially when he finds out that a dodgy deal between Mars and Jupiter over water in an interplanetary war. This will see Vhia annihilated in a sneak bombing attack designed to lay blame elsewhere.
Coming across a glamorous adventuress and teaming up with a still employed IP reporter they fly out in opposition to try and stop it and get the story out.
3.5 out of 5
Wednesday, December 16, 2009
The Dragon-Queen Of Venus - Leigh Brackett
Short Story
Number of words : 7000
Percent of complex words : 6.4
Average syllables per word : 1.4
Average words per sentence : 10.3
READABILITY INDICES
Fog : 6.7
Flesch : 77.0
Flesch-Kincaid : 5.1
SETTING
Fort Washington
Military building on the planet Venus designed to help protect new settlers from the military incursions of the natives. In the original version The Dragon-Queen of Jupiter, this is also given as Jupiter.
Fort Nelson
Another in the line of defensive structures, used as a diversion by the Dragon-Queen by means of a feint to draw off resources that could be used to reinforce Smith's garrison.
CHARACTERS
Tex
A corporal in the Volunteer Legion. An Earthman from his namesake state in the USA.
Breska
A Martian volunteer soldier. Is sick because of the damp atmosphere, and is a friend of Tex's, and sticks with him to the end.
The Dragon-Queen of Venus/Jupiter
The warlord in charge of the invading locals, stylish, exotic, and rides a flying steed. White-haired and pale, as are her warriors.
Captain John Smith
The commander of this military outpost, with an unsurprisingly common name for such a group.
Kuna
A young, scared Martian volunteer who bails.
Bull
One of the small number of remaining soldiers, decides to leave and takes all but our two protagonists with him.
ANIMALS
Green Snakes
Animals that are tiny, but once they attack grow rapidly in size to become lethally dangerous an swift killers.
Scarlet Beetles
Another Venusian lifeform used as a weapon. Eats people.
War-Dogs
Attack animals used by the Venusians, but really dinosaur-like.
Flying Mounts
Part bird, part lizard steeds used in aerial attacks upon the Fort.
Animalcules
Water-eating native organisms.
WEAPONS
Beetle-Bombs
Clay balls full of flesh eating Scarlet Beetles.
MEDIA
The Lone Prairee
Song sung or whistled by Tex and Breska at various times. Presumably of Texas origin.
Hertford's Jungles of Venus
The most comprehensive work on a subject still almost unknown.
Kelland's Field Tactics
Military manual.
ORGANISATIONS
The Volunteer Legion
A French Foreign Legion style military outfit on Venus, used for defense of the citizenry.
PLOT
The Volunteer Legion have done so to protect new immigrants opening up Venus for settlement, dislodging the more primitive locals in doing so. They have set up forts to protect the people attempting to grow food and live. These have far superior armaments to the Venusians - with machine-gun emplacements. They are garrisoned by only dozens of men, whom the locals would far outnumber if they attack. The Venusians only have superior local knowledge and wildlife on their side, if they do not want to engage in being slaughtered in large numbers.
The Legion - from Earth and Mars don't like the steaming jungle conditions much, and have big problems with rust. Various attacks led by the clever warlord are also whittling down their numbers severely, and their metallic protections are crumbling.
Things change when the scared young Kuna sneaks out into the forest, and returns affected by animalcules, leaving the garrison also without water. Tex, knowing they are doomed if no ideas are forthcoming with his men deserting and Captain dead, turns to science for a solution.
4 out of 5
Number of words : 7000
Percent of complex words : 6.4
Average syllables per word : 1.4
Average words per sentence : 10.3
READABILITY INDICES
Fog : 6.7
Flesch : 77.0
Flesch-Kincaid : 5.1
SETTING
Fort Washington
Military building on the planet Venus designed to help protect new settlers from the military incursions of the natives. In the original version The Dragon-Queen of Jupiter, this is also given as Jupiter.
Fort Nelson
Another in the line of defensive structures, used as a diversion by the Dragon-Queen by means of a feint to draw off resources that could be used to reinforce Smith's garrison.
CHARACTERS
Tex
A corporal in the Volunteer Legion. An Earthman from his namesake state in the USA.
Breska
A Martian volunteer soldier. Is sick because of the damp atmosphere, and is a friend of Tex's, and sticks with him to the end.
The Dragon-Queen of Venus/Jupiter
The warlord in charge of the invading locals, stylish, exotic, and rides a flying steed. White-haired and pale, as are her warriors.
Captain John Smith
The commander of this military outpost, with an unsurprisingly common name for such a group.
Kuna
A young, scared Martian volunteer who bails.
Bull
One of the small number of remaining soldiers, decides to leave and takes all but our two protagonists with him.
ANIMALS
Green Snakes
Animals that are tiny, but once they attack grow rapidly in size to become lethally dangerous an swift killers.
Scarlet Beetles
Another Venusian lifeform used as a weapon. Eats people.
War-Dogs
Attack animals used by the Venusians, but really dinosaur-like.
Flying Mounts
Part bird, part lizard steeds used in aerial attacks upon the Fort.
Animalcules
Water-eating native organisms.
WEAPONS
Beetle-Bombs
Clay balls full of flesh eating Scarlet Beetles.
MEDIA
The Lone Prairee
Song sung or whistled by Tex and Breska at various times. Presumably of Texas origin.
Hertford's Jungles of Venus
The most comprehensive work on a subject still almost unknown.
Kelland's Field Tactics
Military manual.
ORGANISATIONS
The Volunteer Legion
A French Foreign Legion style military outfit on Venus, used for defense of the citizenry.
PLOT
The Volunteer Legion have done so to protect new immigrants opening up Venus for settlement, dislodging the more primitive locals in doing so. They have set up forts to protect the people attempting to grow food and live. These have far superior armaments to the Venusians - with machine-gun emplacements. They are garrisoned by only dozens of men, whom the locals would far outnumber if they attack. The Venusians only have superior local knowledge and wildlife on their side, if they do not want to engage in being slaughtered in large numbers.
The Legion - from Earth and Mars don't like the steaming jungle conditions much, and have big problems with rust. Various attacks led by the clever warlord are also whittling down their numbers severely, and their metallic protections are crumbling.
Things change when the scared young Kuna sneaks out into the forest, and returns affected by animalcules, leaving the garrison also without water. Tex, knowing they are doomed if no ideas are forthcoming with his men deserting and Captain dead, turns to science for a solution.
4 out of 5
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