Novella
Number of words : 23900
Percent of complex words : 5.3
Average syllables per word : 1.4
Average words per sentence : 15.3
READABILITY INDICES
Fog : 8.3
Flesch : 76.5
Flesch-Kincaid : 6.4
PEOPLE
Eric John Stark
N'Chaka, the Man-Without-a-Tribe. Earthman, out of Mercury.
Camar
A dying Martian.
Ciaran
The warlord Ciara, Black Amazon of Mars.
Ban Cruach
A great Martian king of old.
Thord
Leader of the Riders of Mekh.
Otar
One of Ciaran's men. Elderly and crazed.
Thanis
A Kushat girl who helps Stark. Balin's sister.
Lugh
The military leader in Kushat.
Balin
A soldier of Kushat. Thanis' brother.
Rogain
A noble in Kushat.
Tika
A girl Stark knew in his youth.
PLACES
Norland
A Martian desert region.
Kushat
Where Stark is heading. A city in the Martian north.
Thieves' Quarter
Where Camar was born.
Gates of Death
A pass that opens into the black mountains beyond Kushat. Domain of Ban Cruach.
Babylon
Ancient Earth city.
Phobos and Deimos
The moons of Mars.
Jekkara and Valkis and Barrakesh
Southern cities of Mars.
CONCEPTS
Lord of Silence
A deity.
High Martian
Ancient dialect.
TECHNOLOGY
Talisman
A crystal lens, some four inches across with an intricate interlocking of many
facets. Ban Cruach's, and contains his knowledge.
Crystal Globes
Ancient technology, used for heat blocking.
Master-bank
Technology of the ice-folk.
ORGANISATIONS
Riders of Mekh
Ciaran's barbarian warriors.
RACES
Ice-folk
Shining faceless ones. The kings of the glacial ice of ages past. Banished by Ban Cruach.
WEAPONS
Ban Cruach's sword
Worries the ice-folk.
PLOT
Stark's friend Camar has taken the Talisman of Ban Cruach, and wants to take it back to Kushat. However, he has been mortally wounded, so passes it on to Stark.
Stark runs into a problem when he encounters the Riders of Merkh - a barbarian horde under the command of Lord Ciaran. He is brought in front of the lord, who shows both intelligence and brutality, but he manages to escape and make it to Kushat. Despite two of the locals, a brother and sister believing him, those in charge do not believe in barbarian hordes at the gate.
Hence, unprepared and despite Stark's effort, Kushat will soon be overrun. Stark decides to lead a charge, however, futile, and heads straight for Ciaran. They clash on horseback, both losing their weapons. This brings Stark an advantage in size as they grapple - and even more so when he realises Ciaran is actually female. She still has a good punch though, knocking Stark back.
Her own men are shocked by this revelation, but she declares he accomplishments, and when they waver she rides into them, slaughtering several. So the new boss is the as the old boss. Stark gets away in this confusion. Fascinated, however, he seeks her out in her new chambers in Kushat.
She says will eve go beyond the Gates of Death - and knows that Stark has the talisman.
Thanis' brother Balin has gone to the Gates of Death, which is very bad if in his anger at his city's loss he looses what Ban Cruach stived to hold in check. The coming of the ice-folk again.
Both Stark and Ciara are too brave to see the city go this way, even if it is not hers, and they head out to try and find Balin. There they find ancient super science and the old, cold race, and Ban Cruach's sword.
It is up to Stark to use the talisman and Ban Cruach's knowledge within to hold back this old anyway, and save Balin and Ciara.
5 out of 5
http://www.archive.org/details/BlackAmazonOfMars
http://www.gutenberg.org/dirs/3/2/6/6/32665/32665-h/32665-h.htm
Showing posts with label z novella. Show all posts
Showing posts with label z novella. Show all posts
Saturday, May 15, 2010
Sunday, May 2, 2010
The Secret of Sinharat - Leigh Brackett
Novella
Number of words : 28000
Percent of complex words : 5.4
Average syllables per word : 1.4
Average words per sentence : 12.4
READABILITY INDICES
Fog : 7.1
Flesch : 78.2
Flesch-Kincaid : 5.4
PEOPLE
Eric John Stark
N'Chaka, oh Man-without-a-tribe who is on the run. Gets to be an agent.
Simon Ashton
Stark's friend and mentor who has a deal for him he can't say no to.
Kynon
A barbarian chieftain from Shun. The Giver of Life.
Delgaun
A bandit, and one of the System's top criminals.
Knighton
Terran bandit. Owner of a fast cruiser.
Walsh
Terran bandit. A genius weaponeer.
Themis
Mercurian bandit. Also a mechanic.
Arrod
Callistan bandit and organised crime leader.
Luthar
Venusian bandit. A cashiered officer of the Venusian Guards. Has worked with and betrayed Stark before.
Berild
Raman woman, allied with Kynon.
Tika
Girl Stark knew, killed by a giant bird.
Freka
Kynon's captain and indulger in Shanga.
Fianna
Rama woman who is sick of the lifestyle and hates Kynon.
Kala
Old woman, owner of Kala's.
PLACES
Valkis
Martian Low Canal town.
Barrakesh
Martian Low Canal town.
Tarak
Where the Earth Commission offices are located. On the Dryland Border.
Kesh
Martian drylands area.
Shun
Martian drylands area.
Kala's
Bar in Valkis.
Belly of Stones
Ancient underground place with a secret water supply, where Stark and Berild shelter from a desert storm.
Twilight Belt
Habitable zone on Mercury.
Sinharat
Rallying point for the tribes and Kynon's plans for war. Has Catacombs.
TECHNOLOGY
Venusian spider silk
Used for making clothes.
Crowns of the Ramas
Used for mind transfer. Or so it is said.
Purcell electronic discharge
Useful for fake shows.
Shanga
The going-back drug. Makes people more primitive.
WEAPONS
Banning
An electrical gun.
ORGANISATIONS
Earth Police Control
Hunters of Stark.
Terro-Venusian Metals
A company Stark opposed.
The Martian Council of City-States
Martian government organisation.
Earth Commission
Earth government organisation related to Mars.
Venusian Guards
Venus military group.
Brotherhood of the Little Worlds
Organised crime on the smaller planetary bodies.
Space Patrol
Police organisation, whom the Brotherhood drove nuts.
RACES
Middle Venusians
Martian swamp dwellers.
Ramas
Ancient Martian serial immortals. The Twice Born.
Keshi
Martian barbarians.
CONCEPT
Banner of Death and Life
Kynon's rallying flag.
PLOT
Simon Ashton and his posse catch up to Eric John Stark, his former mentee and almost-son.
Stark has a long stretch in the slammer hanging over his head, so Ashton offers him a deal. Be his agent in trying to break up the plans Kynon and Delgaun have for provoking an inter-regional war, and the slate is wiped clean.
Stark does so and discovers at the heart of it, along with several crimelords are a pair of women. Both take an interest in him, and Fianna wants to aid him.
Stark has an enemy in Luhar, who sold him out when he was doing some gunrunning for some locals. Therefore, they try and set him up at Kala's when he is tasked with retrieving one of Kynon's captains, Freka, from his overindulgence in Shanga. Or, Wild Man vs Beastial Men.
The woman Berild also takes an interest in Stark, growing tired of Kynon, and has her own plans. She is trapped in a desert storm with Stark, who helps her to survive, along with her knowledge of a secret underground water supply.
At Sinharat, Stark discovers that the ancient Rama race remnants are at the heart of this conspiracy, including Berild, Delgaun and Fianna. When Kynon realises he has been manipulated, he turns on his allies, with Stark. Fianna takes the Raman personality switching Crowns to hide, telling Stark that if he is tired of growing old, to come and find her, as she can't bring herself to destroy them, in case she wants to use them again.
4 out of 5
Number of words : 28000
Percent of complex words : 5.4
Average syllables per word : 1.4
Average words per sentence : 12.4
READABILITY INDICES
Fog : 7.1
Flesch : 78.2
Flesch-Kincaid : 5.4
PEOPLE
Eric John Stark
N'Chaka, oh Man-without-a-tribe who is on the run. Gets to be an agent.
Simon Ashton
Stark's friend and mentor who has a deal for him he can't say no to.
Kynon
A barbarian chieftain from Shun. The Giver of Life.
Delgaun
A bandit, and one of the System's top criminals.
Knighton
Terran bandit. Owner of a fast cruiser.
Walsh
Terran bandit. A genius weaponeer.
Themis
Mercurian bandit. Also a mechanic.
Arrod
Callistan bandit and organised crime leader.
Luthar
Venusian bandit. A cashiered officer of the Venusian Guards. Has worked with and betrayed Stark before.
Berild
Raman woman, allied with Kynon.
Tika
Girl Stark knew, killed by a giant bird.
Freka
Kynon's captain and indulger in Shanga.
Fianna
Rama woman who is sick of the lifestyle and hates Kynon.
Kala
Old woman, owner of Kala's.
PLACES
Valkis
Martian Low Canal town.
Barrakesh
Martian Low Canal town.
Tarak
Where the Earth Commission offices are located. On the Dryland Border.
Kesh
Martian drylands area.
Shun
Martian drylands area.
Kala's
Bar in Valkis.
Belly of Stones
Ancient underground place with a secret water supply, where Stark and Berild shelter from a desert storm.
Twilight Belt
Habitable zone on Mercury.
Sinharat
Rallying point for the tribes and Kynon's plans for war. Has Catacombs.
TECHNOLOGY
Venusian spider silk
Used for making clothes.
Crowns of the Ramas
Used for mind transfer. Or so it is said.
Purcell electronic discharge
Useful for fake shows.
Shanga
The going-back drug. Makes people more primitive.
WEAPONS
Banning
An electrical gun.
ORGANISATIONS
Earth Police Control
Hunters of Stark.
Terro-Venusian Metals
A company Stark opposed.
The Martian Council of City-States
Martian government organisation.
Earth Commission
Earth government organisation related to Mars.
Venusian Guards
Venus military group.
Brotherhood of the Little Worlds
Organised crime on the smaller planetary bodies.
Space Patrol
Police organisation, whom the Brotherhood drove nuts.
RACES
Middle Venusians
Martian swamp dwellers.
Ramas
Ancient Martian serial immortals. The Twice Born.
Keshi
Martian barbarians.
CONCEPT
Banner of Death and Life
Kynon's rallying flag.
PLOT
Simon Ashton and his posse catch up to Eric John Stark, his former mentee and almost-son.
Stark has a long stretch in the slammer hanging over his head, so Ashton offers him a deal. Be his agent in trying to break up the plans Kynon and Delgaun have for provoking an inter-regional war, and the slate is wiped clean.
Stark does so and discovers at the heart of it, along with several crimelords are a pair of women. Both take an interest in him, and Fianna wants to aid him.
Stark has an enemy in Luhar, who sold him out when he was doing some gunrunning for some locals. Therefore, they try and set him up at Kala's when he is tasked with retrieving one of Kynon's captains, Freka, from his overindulgence in Shanga. Or, Wild Man vs Beastial Men.
The woman Berild also takes an interest in Stark, growing tired of Kynon, and has her own plans. She is trapped in a desert storm with Stark, who helps her to survive, along with her knowledge of a secret underground water supply.
At Sinharat, Stark discovers that the ancient Rama race remnants are at the heart of this conspiracy, including Berild, Delgaun and Fianna. When Kynon realises he has been manipulated, he turns on his allies, with Stark. Fianna takes the Raman personality switching Crowns to hide, telling Stark that if he is tired of growing old, to come and find her, as she can't bring herself to destroy them, in case she wants to use them again.
4 out of 5
Saturday, May 1, 2010
Queen Of the Martian Catacombs - Leigh Brackett
Novella
Number of words : 22000
Percent of complex words : 5.2
Average syllables per word : 1.4
Average words per sentence : 12.0
READABILITY INDICES
Fog : 6.8525
Flesch : 79.2826
Flesch-Kincaid : 5.1779
PEOPLE
Eric John Stark
N'Chaka, oh Man-without-a-tribe who is on the run. Gets to be an agent.
Simon Ashton
Stark's friend and mentor who has a deal for him he can't say no to.
Kynon
A barbarian chieftain from Shun. The Giver of Life.
Delgaun
A bandit, and one of the System's top criminals.
Knighton
Terran bandit. Owner of a fast cruiser.
Walsh
Terran bandit. A genius weaponeer.
Themis
Mercurian bandit. Also a mechanic.
Arrod
Callistan bandit and organised crime leader.
Luthar
Venusian bandit. A cashiered officer of the Venusian Guards. Has worked with and betrayed Stark before.
Berild
Raman woman, allied with Kynon.
Tika
Girl Stark knew, killed by a giant bird.
Freka
Kynon's captain and indulger in Shanga.
Fianna
Rama woman who is sick of the lifestyle and hates Kynon.
Kala
Old woman, owner of Kala's.
PLACES
Valkis
Martian Low Canal town.
Barrakesh
Martian Low Canal town.
Tarak
Where the Earth Commission offices are located.
Kesh
Martian drylands area.
Shun
Martian drylands area.
Kala's
Bar in Jekkara.
Belly of Stones
Ancient Raman underground, where Stark and Berild shelter.
Twilight Belt
Habitable zone on Mercury.
Sinharat
Rallying point for the tribes and Kynon's plans for war. Has Catacombs.
TECHNOLOGY
Venusian spider silk
Used for making clothes.
Crowns of the Ramas
Used for mind transfer. Or so it is said.
Purcell electronic discharge
Useful for fake shows.
Shanga
The going-back drug. Makes people more primitive.
WEAPONS
Banning
An electrical gun.
ORGANISATIONS
Earth Police Control
Hunters of Stark.
Terro-Venusian Metals
A company Stark opposed.
The Martian Council of City-States
Martian government organisation.
Earth Commission
Earth government organisation related to Mars.
Venusian Guards
Venus military group.
Brotherhood of the Little Worlds
Organised crime on the smaller planetary bodies.
Space Patrol
Police organisaiton, whom the Brotherhood drove nuts.
RACES
Middle Venusians
Martian swamp dwellers.
Ramas
Ancient Martian serial immortals. The Twice Born.
Keshi
Martian barbarians.
CONCEPT
Khamsin
Martian storm.
PLOT
Simon Ashton and his posse catch up to Eric John Stark, his former mentee and almost-son.
Stark has a long stretch in the slammer hanging over his head, so Ashton offers him a deal. Be his agent in trying to break up the plans Kynon and Delgaun have for provoking an inter-regional war, and the slate is wiped clean.
Stark does so and discovers at the heart of it, along with several crimelords are the remnants of the Rama race - people that can transfer their consciousness to different bodies.
Stark has an enemy in Luhar, who sold him out when he was doing some gunrunning for some locals. Therefore, they try and set him up at Kala's when he is tasked with retrieving one of Kynon's captains, Freka, from his overindulgence in Shanga. Or, Wild Man vs Beastial Men.
The Rama woman Berild also takes an interest in Stark, growing tired of Kynon, and has her own body switching plans.
This pair has reckoned without Berild's Rama servant Fianna - who has her own plans and hates Kynon. Hence she aids Stark. It doesn't hurt that Stark is nice to her, either. Warning him of ambush, helping him out of prison, and helping to engineer the downfall of her fellows.
4.5 out of 5
http://www.archive.org/details/QueenOfTheMartianCatacombs
Number of words : 22000
Percent of complex words : 5.2
Average syllables per word : 1.4
Average words per sentence : 12.0
READABILITY INDICES
Fog : 6.8525
Flesch : 79.2826
Flesch-Kincaid : 5.1779
PEOPLE
Eric John Stark
N'Chaka, oh Man-without-a-tribe who is on the run. Gets to be an agent.
Simon Ashton
Stark's friend and mentor who has a deal for him he can't say no to.
Kynon
A barbarian chieftain from Shun. The Giver of Life.
Delgaun
A bandit, and one of the System's top criminals.
Knighton
Terran bandit. Owner of a fast cruiser.
Walsh
Terran bandit. A genius weaponeer.
Themis
Mercurian bandit. Also a mechanic.
Arrod
Callistan bandit and organised crime leader.
Luthar
Venusian bandit. A cashiered officer of the Venusian Guards. Has worked with and betrayed Stark before.
Berild
Raman woman, allied with Kynon.
Tika
Girl Stark knew, killed by a giant bird.
Freka
Kynon's captain and indulger in Shanga.
Fianna
Rama woman who is sick of the lifestyle and hates Kynon.
Kala
Old woman, owner of Kala's.
PLACES
Valkis
Martian Low Canal town.
Barrakesh
Martian Low Canal town.
Tarak
Where the Earth Commission offices are located.
Kesh
Martian drylands area.
Shun
Martian drylands area.
Kala's
Bar in Jekkara.
Belly of Stones
Ancient Raman underground, where Stark and Berild shelter.
Twilight Belt
Habitable zone on Mercury.
Sinharat
Rallying point for the tribes and Kynon's plans for war. Has Catacombs.
TECHNOLOGY
Venusian spider silk
Used for making clothes.
Crowns of the Ramas
Used for mind transfer. Or so it is said.
Purcell electronic discharge
Useful for fake shows.
Shanga
The going-back drug. Makes people more primitive.
WEAPONS
Banning
An electrical gun.
ORGANISATIONS
Earth Police Control
Hunters of Stark.
Terro-Venusian Metals
A company Stark opposed.
The Martian Council of City-States
Martian government organisation.
Earth Commission
Earth government organisation related to Mars.
Venusian Guards
Venus military group.
Brotherhood of the Little Worlds
Organised crime on the smaller planetary bodies.
Space Patrol
Police organisaiton, whom the Brotherhood drove nuts.
RACES
Middle Venusians
Martian swamp dwellers.
Ramas
Ancient Martian serial immortals. The Twice Born.
Keshi
Martian barbarians.
CONCEPT
Khamsin
Martian storm.
PLOT
Simon Ashton and his posse catch up to Eric John Stark, his former mentee and almost-son.
Stark has a long stretch in the slammer hanging over his head, so Ashton offers him a deal. Be his agent in trying to break up the plans Kynon and Delgaun have for provoking an inter-regional war, and the slate is wiped clean.
Stark does so and discovers at the heart of it, along with several crimelords are the remnants of the Rama race - people that can transfer their consciousness to different bodies.
Stark has an enemy in Luhar, who sold him out when he was doing some gunrunning for some locals. Therefore, they try and set him up at Kala's when he is tasked with retrieving one of Kynon's captains, Freka, from his overindulgence in Shanga. Or, Wild Man vs Beastial Men.
The Rama woman Berild also takes an interest in Stark, growing tired of Kynon, and has her own body switching plans.
This pair has reckoned without Berild's Rama servant Fianna - who has her own plans and hates Kynon. Hence she aids Stark. It doesn't hurt that Stark is nice to her, either. Warning him of ambush, helping him out of prison, and helping to engineer the downfall of her fellows.
4.5 out of 5
http://www.archive.org/details/QueenOfTheMartianCatacombs
Friday, April 30, 2010
Enchantress of Venus - Leigh Brackett
Novella
Number of words : 25000
Percent of complex words : 5.0
Average syllables per word : 1.4
Average words per sentence : 12.5
READABILITY INDICES
Fog : 7.0
Flesch : 79.9
Flesch-Kincaid : 5.2
CHARACTERS
Eric John Stark
N'Chaka, Man Without a Tribe. Looking for his lost friend.
Malthor
Captain of the ship Stark takes to Shuruun.
Helvi
A friend of Stark's who disappears in Shuruun.
Larrabee
An Earthman, and now Shuruunian who assists Stark. Survives as a medical practitioner.
Zareth
The young daughter of Malthor, who tries to warn Stark.
Varra
Lhari woman.
Bor
Lhari youth and fond of dragons.
Egil
Lhari man who wants to marry Varra. Slavemaster.
Arel
Older Lhari woman.
Grandmother
Large, monstrous Lhari ruler.
Treon
A cripped and apparently worthless Lhari man, according to the others.
Tika
A dead girl.
Tobal
Helvi's brother, died in Shuruun.
Cond
Lhari and Egil's brother.
PLACES
Red Sea
Venusian Ocean
Mountains of the White Cloud
Beyond which lie the Red Sea.
Shuruun
Venusian pirate city.
Twilight Belt
Mercurian zone inbetween the two sides.
Yarell
A town near where Helvi hails from.
High Plateaus
Area of Venus where the Cloud People come from.
Sinharat
Martian ruined city.
Jekkara
A Low Canal town.
Valkis
A Low Canal town.
Callisto
Has buried tombs.
Arianrhod
Site of the cliff-caves.
RACES
Lhari
The Lords of Shuruun. Rulers and slavers, with access to remnants of ancient possibly alien technology.
Cloud People
Live on the Venusian High Plateaus.
CONCEPTS
The Lost Ones
Those taken by the Lhari as slaves.
ANIMALS
Dragon
A small flying pet of the Lhari.
Lord of the Rocks
A large lizard.
WEAPONS
Black Rod
An energy weapon Egil uses.
Shock-weapons
Used by the guards to control the Lost One slaves.
TECHNOLOGY
Collars
Used to control the Lost One slaves. Hurt or kill if a barrier is crossed.
Cosmic ray machines
Technology used by the Lhari to change living cells. There a variety of types, including tomblike.
PLOT
Eric John Stark is looking for his friend, a barbarian princeling. He has disappeared in Shuruun, a city of outlaws and pirates on Venus. Stark hires one such to take him there over the Red Sea.
He finds a city in the grip of the Lhari, the remnants of an advanced race, using those they can catch as slaves on a technology project to restore their former glory.
The arrival of an uncowed and fearless Stark throws the Wild Man among the pigeons, and draws the attention of one of the women - provoking jealousy in the man who would wed her. He places Stark among the slaves. A bad move, as Stark is not one to be caged. His friend Helvi is there also, to show him the ropes until their can organise a fight for freedom.
There are divisions among the Lhari, too. Treon has been doing his own technology work, unknown to the others, even though the monstrous Grandmother still rules.
The Lhari also have well armed guards and minions like Malthor the pirate who brought Stark to them, and the slaves have to fight their way past these before they can take on the Lhari. Their internal jealousies help the slave revolt, but the slaves and Stark and Helvi are still in trouble, until the arrival of Larrabee with some of the locals.
4 out of 5
http://www.archive.org/details/EnchantressOfVenus
Number of words : 25000
Percent of complex words : 5.0
Average syllables per word : 1.4
Average words per sentence : 12.5
READABILITY INDICES
Fog : 7.0
Flesch : 79.9
Flesch-Kincaid : 5.2
CHARACTERS
Eric John Stark
N'Chaka, Man Without a Tribe. Looking for his lost friend.
Malthor
Captain of the ship Stark takes to Shuruun.
Helvi
A friend of Stark's who disappears in Shuruun.
Larrabee
An Earthman, and now Shuruunian who assists Stark. Survives as a medical practitioner.
Zareth
The young daughter of Malthor, who tries to warn Stark.
Varra
Lhari woman.
Bor
Lhari youth and fond of dragons.
Egil
Lhari man who wants to marry Varra. Slavemaster.
Arel
Older Lhari woman.
Grandmother
Large, monstrous Lhari ruler.
Treon
A cripped and apparently worthless Lhari man, according to the others.
Tika
A dead girl.
Tobal
Helvi's brother, died in Shuruun.
Cond
Lhari and Egil's brother.
PLACES
Red Sea
Venusian Ocean
Mountains of the White Cloud
Beyond which lie the Red Sea.
Shuruun
Venusian pirate city.
Twilight Belt
Mercurian zone inbetween the two sides.
Yarell
A town near where Helvi hails from.
High Plateaus
Area of Venus where the Cloud People come from.
Sinharat
Martian ruined city.
Jekkara
A Low Canal town.
Valkis
A Low Canal town.
Callisto
Has buried tombs.
Arianrhod
Site of the cliff-caves.
RACES
Lhari
The Lords of Shuruun. Rulers and slavers, with access to remnants of ancient possibly alien technology.
Cloud People
Live on the Venusian High Plateaus.
CONCEPTS
The Lost Ones
Those taken by the Lhari as slaves.
ANIMALS
Dragon
A small flying pet of the Lhari.
Lord of the Rocks
A large lizard.
WEAPONS
Black Rod
An energy weapon Egil uses.
Shock-weapons
Used by the guards to control the Lost One slaves.
TECHNOLOGY
Collars
Used to control the Lost One slaves. Hurt or kill if a barrier is crossed.
Cosmic ray machines
Technology used by the Lhari to change living cells. There a variety of types, including tomblike.
PLOT
Eric John Stark is looking for his friend, a barbarian princeling. He has disappeared in Shuruun, a city of outlaws and pirates on Venus. Stark hires one such to take him there over the Red Sea.
He finds a city in the grip of the Lhari, the remnants of an advanced race, using those they can catch as slaves on a technology project to restore their former glory.
The arrival of an uncowed and fearless Stark throws the Wild Man among the pigeons, and draws the attention of one of the women - provoking jealousy in the man who would wed her. He places Stark among the slaves. A bad move, as Stark is not one to be caged. His friend Helvi is there also, to show him the ropes until their can organise a fight for freedom.
There are divisions among the Lhari, too. Treon has been doing his own technology work, unknown to the others, even though the monstrous Grandmother still rules.
The Lhari also have well armed guards and minions like Malthor the pirate who brought Stark to them, and the slaves have to fight their way past these before they can take on the Lhari. Their internal jealousies help the slave revolt, but the slaves and Stark and Helvi are still in trouble, until the arrival of Larrabee with some of the locals.
4 out of 5
http://www.archive.org/details/EnchantressOfVenus
Thursday, December 31, 2009
Last Call From Sector 9G - Leigh Brackett
Novella
Number of words : 21000
Percent of complex words : 7.1
Average syllables per word : 1.4
Average words per sentence : 10.6
READABILITY INDICES
Fog : 7.1
Flesch : 76.2
Flesch-Kincaid : 5.3
SETTING
Pax
Capital of Galactic Center
The Hub
Major city there.
Senya Dik
Sister planet to Nanta Dik, in Sector 9G.
CHARACTERS
Lloyd Durham
An ex-agent and current drunk.
Hawtree
An administrator in charge, uses his influence to prevent Dik requests to the Federation getting heard.
Susan Hawtree
His daughter, and a love of Durham's, involved in the accident that wrecked his career.
Morrison
Hawtree's parter, who oversees Universal Mineral operations in Sector 9G.
Baya
Durham's Mintakan girlfriend.
Willa Paulsen
Durham's ex-fiancee.
Varnik
A dodgy joint proprietor in on trying to set Durham up with Baya.
Wanbecq-ai
Female Nantavan agent out to get Durham.
Wanbecq
Her male partner.
Jubb
Ruler of Senya Dik.
Karlovic
Terran consul in league with Jubb, wanting to get evidence against Hawtree.
TECHNOLOGY
Servall
Robot domestics. Durham and Hawtree had them, the models differ.
Bitter Star
A created being that is an energy absorber, sucking in all around it until things freeze.
PLACES
Mintaka
A star.
Nanta Dik
World in Sector 9G where Durham's mission takes him.
VEHICLES
Margaretta K
Ship to Nanta Dik Durham has been booked for.
Varney
A tug of Morrison's.
RACES
Senyans
People of Senya Dik. Have four legs.
Nantans
People of Nanta Dik.
Darkbirds
Senyan aliens able to go insubstantial and stun on contact, they are not made of matter, and are a creation.
ORGANISATIONS
Universal Minerals
Rapacious mining company basically looting the Sector, with Hawtree providing the interference.
Federation
Political organisation of worlds in the galaxy.
PLOT
Lloyd Durham is a broken down ex-agent on Galactic Center, living with little in a cheap apartment, having blown his job and his fiancee, and a possible relationship with the woman he really loves thanks to a vehicular accident. Susan Hawtree is the daughter of a high ranking diplomat, who summons Durham for a mission. This lands him in the middle of something very serious.
First, Nantavan agents are after him, and then Senyan darkbirds - and Susan gets in the middle when she comes to say goodbye to him, little realising he isn't going home, but on a mission for her father. Nanta Dik and Senya Dik are the two inhabited worlds in Sector 9G.
Unknown to Durham he was supposed to get drunk and blab his mission, helping to start a war between the two worlds. This would be to the advantage of Universal Minerals, a mining company run by Morrison, with Hawtree as his partner running diplomatic interference and allowing him to get away with anything. The two Dik worlds have been in conflict in the past, so are manipulable.
Durham takes his mission seriously, and when he works it out thanks to talking with the Nantavan agents, and the Senyan leader he realises he should flip, and try and hang his boss and partner, and hopefully keep Susan alive. The Senyan planet is problematic in that they are not oxygen breathers.
One of the angles that Morrison had taken was rumours about a destructive force that legend said had terrorised the Nantavans in the past. Little does Morrison know that this is real, and the leader of the Senyans knows how to control it. Or hope he does. Because it is one giant energy drain, leaving those it affects frozen - and it can devastate planets.
With Morrison's agents and men able to provoke armed conflicts between Senyans of different sympathies. The Terran consul Karlovic, who has been working with the Senyans to try and work out who was the dodgy diplomat preventing their requests for aid from the Federation, must work with Durham. Their only choice now is to appeal to Jubb to unleash the Bitter Star, as the only thing that can stop Morrison. Before their air runs out. Of course, it may also destroy everything if they get it wrong and the darkbirds can't or won't control it.
4.5 out of 5
Number of words : 21000
Percent of complex words : 7.1
Average syllables per word : 1.4
Average words per sentence : 10.6
READABILITY INDICES
Fog : 7.1
Flesch : 76.2
Flesch-Kincaid : 5.3
SETTING
Pax
Capital of Galactic Center
The Hub
Major city there.
Senya Dik
Sister planet to Nanta Dik, in Sector 9G.
CHARACTERS
Lloyd Durham
An ex-agent and current drunk.
Hawtree
An administrator in charge, uses his influence to prevent Dik requests to the Federation getting heard.
Susan Hawtree
His daughter, and a love of Durham's, involved in the accident that wrecked his career.
Morrison
Hawtree's parter, who oversees Universal Mineral operations in Sector 9G.
Baya
Durham's Mintakan girlfriend.
Willa Paulsen
Durham's ex-fiancee.
Varnik
A dodgy joint proprietor in on trying to set Durham up with Baya.
Wanbecq-ai
Female Nantavan agent out to get Durham.
Wanbecq
Her male partner.
Jubb
Ruler of Senya Dik.
Karlovic
Terran consul in league with Jubb, wanting to get evidence against Hawtree.
TECHNOLOGY
Servall
Robot domestics. Durham and Hawtree had them, the models differ.
Bitter Star
A created being that is an energy absorber, sucking in all around it until things freeze.
PLACES
Mintaka
A star.
Nanta Dik
World in Sector 9G where Durham's mission takes him.
VEHICLES
Margaretta K
Ship to Nanta Dik Durham has been booked for.
Varney
A tug of Morrison's.
RACES
Senyans
People of Senya Dik. Have four legs.
Nantans
People of Nanta Dik.
Darkbirds
Senyan aliens able to go insubstantial and stun on contact, they are not made of matter, and are a creation.
ORGANISATIONS
Universal Minerals
Rapacious mining company basically looting the Sector, with Hawtree providing the interference.
Federation
Political organisation of worlds in the galaxy.
PLOT
Lloyd Durham is a broken down ex-agent on Galactic Center, living with little in a cheap apartment, having blown his job and his fiancee, and a possible relationship with the woman he really loves thanks to a vehicular accident. Susan Hawtree is the daughter of a high ranking diplomat, who summons Durham for a mission. This lands him in the middle of something very serious.
First, Nantavan agents are after him, and then Senyan darkbirds - and Susan gets in the middle when she comes to say goodbye to him, little realising he isn't going home, but on a mission for her father. Nanta Dik and Senya Dik are the two inhabited worlds in Sector 9G.
Unknown to Durham he was supposed to get drunk and blab his mission, helping to start a war between the two worlds. This would be to the advantage of Universal Minerals, a mining company run by Morrison, with Hawtree as his partner running diplomatic interference and allowing him to get away with anything. The two Dik worlds have been in conflict in the past, so are manipulable.
Durham takes his mission seriously, and when he works it out thanks to talking with the Nantavan agents, and the Senyan leader he realises he should flip, and try and hang his boss and partner, and hopefully keep Susan alive. The Senyan planet is problematic in that they are not oxygen breathers.
One of the angles that Morrison had taken was rumours about a destructive force that legend said had terrorised the Nantavans in the past. Little does Morrison know that this is real, and the leader of the Senyans knows how to control it. Or hope he does. Because it is one giant energy drain, leaving those it affects frozen - and it can devastate planets.
With Morrison's agents and men able to provoke armed conflicts between Senyans of different sympathies. The Terran consul Karlovic, who has been working with the Senyans to try and work out who was the dodgy diplomat preventing their requests for aid from the Federation, must work with Durham. Their only choice now is to appeal to Jubb to unleash the Bitter Star, as the only thing that can stop Morrison. Before their air runs out. Of course, it may also destroy everything if they get it wrong and the darkbirds can't or won't control it.
4.5 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
Monday, December 21, 2009
Shannach the Last - Leigh Brackett
Novella
Number of words : 20000
Percent of complex words : 5.5
Average syllables per word : 1.4
Average words per sentence : 12.10
READABILITY INDICES
Fog : 7.0
Flesch : 78.3
Flesch-Kincaid : 5.3
SETTING
Caves
In Mercury's Twilight Belt.
Solar City
On Mercury.
CHARACTERS
Trevor
Downed on Mercury.
Jen
Escaped slave.
Galt
Korin hunt leader.
Hugh
Taken escaped slave.
Saul
Slave man.
Shannach
An alien, last of his group. A silicon based lifeform and as such very long-lived.
TECHNOLOGY
Sun-stone
Used in electronics, and for the Korins to control the hawk-lizards. Very valuable.
ANIMALS
Hawk-lizard
Jet black except for a saffron belly.
Crested beasts
"The beasts they rode were taller and slighter than horses. They were not hoofed, but clawed. They had narrow, vicious-looking heads with spiny crests that stood up erect and arrogant."
ORGANISATIONS
Korins
The Lords of Korith, descended from convicts.
PLOT
A man downed on Mercury stumbles into an air-filled pocket of habitability on Mercury, where he finds hawk-lizards flying and hunting a woman. He goes to her aid and finds she is an escaped slave, from the Korins.
The Korins in turn are controlled by an alien, Shannach - and he has used the sunstones to help the Korins control the animals and rule the slaves for him.
The slaves resist, but Trevor is captured and made to work on the shat that brought the humans here. Trevor fights, and finds a way to get outside help for himself and the rest.
3.5 out of 5
Number of words : 20000
Percent of complex words : 5.5
Average syllables per word : 1.4
Average words per sentence : 12.10
READABILITY INDICES
Fog : 7.0
Flesch : 78.3
Flesch-Kincaid : 5.3
SETTING
Caves
In Mercury's Twilight Belt.
Solar City
On Mercury.
CHARACTERS
Trevor
Downed on Mercury.
Jen
Escaped slave.
Galt
Korin hunt leader.
Hugh
Taken escaped slave.
Saul
Slave man.
Shannach
An alien, last of his group. A silicon based lifeform and as such very long-lived.
TECHNOLOGY
Sun-stone
Used in electronics, and for the Korins to control the hawk-lizards. Very valuable.
ANIMALS
Hawk-lizard
Jet black except for a saffron belly.
Crested beasts
"The beasts they rode were taller and slighter than horses. They were not hoofed, but clawed. They had narrow, vicious-looking heads with spiny crests that stood up erect and arrogant."
ORGANISATIONS
Korins
The Lords of Korith, descended from convicts.
PLOT
A man downed on Mercury stumbles into an air-filled pocket of habitability on Mercury, where he finds hawk-lizards flying and hunting a woman. He goes to her aid and finds she is an escaped slave, from the Korins.
The Korins in turn are controlled by an alien, Shannach - and he has used the sunstones to help the Korins control the animals and rule the slaves for him.
The slaves resist, but Trevor is captured and made to work on the shat that brought the humans here. Trevor fights, and finds a way to get outside help for himself and the rest.
3.5 out of 5
Sunday, December 20, 2009
The Jewel Of Bas - Leigh Brackett
Novella
Number of words : 18000
Percent of complex words : 6.7
Average syllables per word : 1.4
Average words per sentence : 10.6
READABILITY INDICES
Fog : 6.9
Flesch : 78.2
Flesch-Kincaid : 5.0
SETTING
Phrygian Hills
The beginning of Mouse and Ciaran's journey on the tenth planet.
Forbidden Plains
To be crossed to get to Ben Beatha.
Ben Beatha
The Mountain of Life, home of Bas the Immortal
CHARACTERS
Mouse
A young woman, partnered with Ciaran.
Ciaran
A bard, partnered with Mouse.
Bas the Immortal
An ancient traveller from Earth who looks like a boy. In conflict with the androids.
Ram
A trapper.
Khafre
An android.
Steud
An android.
Marsali
Bas' love.
RACES
Kalds
Furry Beasts that serve the androids through mind control. Wand carrying enforcers.
TECHNOLOGY
The Stone of Destiny
Source of Bas' power.
MEDIA
The Distance Cycle
A group of planetary legends.
CONCEPTS
Dagon
An Elder God of Atlantis.
PLACES
Hyperborea
Ancient Earth civilisation.
Atlantis
Ancient Earth civilisation.
PLOT
Mouse and Ciaran, a hungry disreputable pair are travelling out of the city and contemplating heading for the territory of Bas the Immortal, with slaves, androids and beast-men to deal with. They learn what Bas is - an ancient traveller from Earth-was around for Atlantis and Hyperborea-to this tenth planet, and why the androids are opposed to him.
3.5 out of 5
Number of words : 18000
Percent of complex words : 6.7
Average syllables per word : 1.4
Average words per sentence : 10.6
READABILITY INDICES
Fog : 6.9
Flesch : 78.2
Flesch-Kincaid : 5.0
SETTING
Phrygian Hills
The beginning of Mouse and Ciaran's journey on the tenth planet.
Forbidden Plains
To be crossed to get to Ben Beatha.
Ben Beatha
The Mountain of Life, home of Bas the Immortal
CHARACTERS
Mouse
A young woman, partnered with Ciaran.
Ciaran
A bard, partnered with Mouse.
Bas the Immortal
An ancient traveller from Earth who looks like a boy. In conflict with the androids.
Ram
A trapper.
Khafre
An android.
Steud
An android.
Marsali
Bas' love.
RACES
Kalds
Furry Beasts that serve the androids through mind control. Wand carrying enforcers.
TECHNOLOGY
The Stone of Destiny
Source of Bas' power.
MEDIA
The Distance Cycle
A group of planetary legends.
CONCEPTS
Dagon
An Elder God of Atlantis.
PLACES
Hyperborea
Ancient Earth civilisation.
Atlantis
Ancient Earth civilisation.
PLOT
Mouse and Ciaran, a hungry disreputable pair are travelling out of the city and contemplating heading for the territory of Bas the Immortal, with slaves, androids and beast-men to deal with. They learn what Bas is - an ancient traveller from Earth-was around for Atlantis and Hyperborea-to this tenth planet, and why the androids are opposed to him.
3.5 out of 5
The Citadel Of Lost Ages - Leigh Brackett
Novella
Number of words : 20000
Percent of complex words : 6.0
Average syllables per word : 1.4
Average words per sentence : 11.3
READABILITY INDICES
Fog : 6.9
Flesch : 80.2
Flesch-Kincaid : 4.9
SETTING
The Citadel
Future Earth, postapocalytpic, with aliens. Place of power in New York, near the Palisades. ""Sunk a half mile deep in solid rock—area larger than the Empire State Building—lined and reinforced with steel—earthquake-proof, floodproof—heat and air supplied by sea!ed atomic generators with an efficiency period of five thousand years .. .""
Temple of Eternal Night
Numi religious structure.
The Desert Gate
Through which you must go to reach The Citadel.
CHARACTERS
Fenway-Fenn
Sleeper and prisoner that awakens with a dodgy memory and important technological knowledge.
Arika
Girl that Fenway knows. Half-blood Numi.
Malech
Arika's brother, but takes after his Numi side.
RhamSin
Jailor of Fenn and Numi religious leader.
Lannar
Outlaw leader.
RACES
Numi
Race of aliens, their names means New Men.
CONCEPTS
The Great Dark
Term for static diurnal planet.
The Destruction
Term for the damage caused by the Dark Star passing earth.
PLOT
Fenway awakes in the future dominated by the New Men. (They may be aliens, may be a mutation caused by an Earth changed by astronomoical calamity) and meets Arika, a half-breed, again. Also her brother. Fenn knows if he can remember how to get to The Citadel. A place in New York where humans stored examplars of technology and techniques for future survival, post Destruction.
The Numi leader RhamSin is also interested in this, but Fenn finds aid in an outlaw band-but the divided loyalties of the half-breed siblings cause problems. Once at The Citadel Fenn has the advantage because of his knowledge of the tech, if he can remember the deadly uses.
4 out of 5
Number of words : 20000
Percent of complex words : 6.0
Average syllables per word : 1.4
Average words per sentence : 11.3
READABILITY INDICES
Fog : 6.9
Flesch : 80.2
Flesch-Kincaid : 4.9
SETTING
The Citadel
Future Earth, postapocalytpic, with aliens. Place of power in New York, near the Palisades. ""Sunk a half mile deep in solid rock—area larger than the Empire State Building—lined and reinforced with steel—earthquake-proof, floodproof—heat and air supplied by sea!ed atomic generators with an efficiency period of five thousand years .. .""
Temple of Eternal Night
Numi religious structure.
The Desert Gate
Through which you must go to reach The Citadel.
CHARACTERS
Fenway-Fenn
Sleeper and prisoner that awakens with a dodgy memory and important technological knowledge.
Arika
Girl that Fenway knows. Half-blood Numi.
Malech
Arika's brother, but takes after his Numi side.
RhamSin
Jailor of Fenn and Numi religious leader.
Lannar
Outlaw leader.
RACES
Numi
Race of aliens, their names means New Men.
CONCEPTS
The Great Dark
Term for static diurnal planet.
The Destruction
Term for the damage caused by the Dark Star passing earth.
PLOT
Fenway awakes in the future dominated by the New Men. (They may be aliens, may be a mutation caused by an Earth changed by astronomoical calamity) and meets Arika, a half-breed, again. Also her brother. Fenn knows if he can remember how to get to The Citadel. A place in New York where humans stored examplars of technology and techniques for future survival, post Destruction.
The Numi leader RhamSin is also interested in this, but Fenn finds aid in an outlaw band-but the divided loyalties of the half-breed siblings cause problems. Once at The Citadel Fenn has the advantage because of his knowledge of the tech, if he can remember the deadly uses.
4 out of 5
Friday, December 18, 2009
The Misfortune Teller - Leigh Brackett
Novella
Number of words : 25000
Percent of complex words : 5.6
Average syllables per word : 1.4
Average words per sentence : 8.6
READABILITY INDICES
Fog : 5.7
Flesch : 82.1
Flesch-Kincaid : 3.9
SETTING
Los Angeles
Hollywood and Beverly Hills.
CHARACTERS
February Smith
Private detective in the classic mold. Knows both Hardy and Brandenburger. Investigating the Misfortune Teller case.
Detective Lieutenant Harold 'Horse' Palfrey
Homicide detective on the case.
Rachel Hardy
New actress interest of Brandenburger's. Old interest of Smith's. Current interest of Brandenburger's.
C. J. Brandenburger
Rich guy that blows his money on filmmaking and actresses. A bad man.
Lars Thorsson-Ed Kreisher
Actor. Attacked and badly disfigured when he comes between Janis and Brandenburger.
Ted Bray
Bad guy. Hired by Brandenburger to do bad things.
Tim Garrison
New actor in new Brandenburger picture. Fancies an actress too much.
Stella Janis
Dead actress, found with an Ace of Spades and a cut throat.
Chase
Plainclothes policeman.
Harry
Gunsel for Bray.
Matilda
Rachel Hardy's maid.
Dr. Wolf
Gives the verdict on Stella Janis.
Joe Sawyer
Friend of Stella's.
Johnny Reynolds
Homicide detective in New York that knew Smith.
MEDIA
Red Nocturne
An independent film made by Brandenburger.
Strange Victory
Brandenburger's planned new epic.
PLOT
A classic PI story. February Smith begins investigating a case that involves people being sent The Ace of Spades. An action that really isn't an invitation to the local card game. One such recipient, Stella Janis, is found dead with a cut throat.
Smith is designed to be set up for this by those concerned, and ends up in shootouts with the above cops and eventually the bad guys.
C. J. Brandenburger is a producer out of money, and jealous of his starlets. He hires a criminal to badly injure an actor because of this. It appears that his current girlfriend, Rachel Hardy is also a target - but it turns out that she and her current actor paramour are actually targeters instead.
4 out of 5
Number of words : 25000
Percent of complex words : 5.6
Average syllables per word : 1.4
Average words per sentence : 8.6
READABILITY INDICES
Fog : 5.7
Flesch : 82.1
Flesch-Kincaid : 3.9
SETTING
Los Angeles
Hollywood and Beverly Hills.
CHARACTERS
February Smith
Private detective in the classic mold. Knows both Hardy and Brandenburger. Investigating the Misfortune Teller case.
Detective Lieutenant Harold 'Horse' Palfrey
Homicide detective on the case.
Rachel Hardy
New actress interest of Brandenburger's. Old interest of Smith's. Current interest of Brandenburger's.
C. J. Brandenburger
Rich guy that blows his money on filmmaking and actresses. A bad man.
Lars Thorsson-Ed Kreisher
Actor. Attacked and badly disfigured when he comes between Janis and Brandenburger.
Ted Bray
Bad guy. Hired by Brandenburger to do bad things.
Tim Garrison
New actor in new Brandenburger picture. Fancies an actress too much.
Stella Janis
Dead actress, found with an Ace of Spades and a cut throat.
Chase
Plainclothes policeman.
Harry
Gunsel for Bray.
Matilda
Rachel Hardy's maid.
Dr. Wolf
Gives the verdict on Stella Janis.
Joe Sawyer
Friend of Stella's.
Johnny Reynolds
Homicide detective in New York that knew Smith.
MEDIA
Red Nocturne
An independent film made by Brandenburger.
Strange Victory
Brandenburger's planned new epic.
PLOT
A classic PI story. February Smith begins investigating a case that involves people being sent The Ace of Spades. An action that really isn't an invitation to the local card game. One such recipient, Stella Janis, is found dead with a cut throat.
Smith is designed to be set up for this by those concerned, and ends up in shootouts with the above cops and eventually the bad guys.
C. J. Brandenburger is a producer out of money, and jealous of his starlets. He hires a criminal to badly injure an actor because of this. It appears that his current girlfriend, Rachel Hardy is also a target - but it turns out that she and her current actor paramour are actually targeters instead.
4 out of 5
Saturday, December 12, 2009
Teleportress Of Alpha C - Leigh Brackett
Planet Stories, Winter 1954-55, (Dec 1954, Jack O'Sullivan, Love Romances Publishing Co., Inc.; Stamford, CT, $0.25, 100pp, Pulp, magazine)
I've read this as incorporated into Alpha Centauri or Die! So no length measurement other than it is likely a novella, but could be a long novelette, as Alpha Centauri or Die is 40,000 words, so about half that. Rating is from what I read in the above.
3.5 out of 5
http://www.isfdb.org/cgi-bin/title.cgi?77170
I've read this as incorporated into Alpha Centauri or Die! So no length measurement other than it is likely a novella, but could be a long novelette, as Alpha Centauri or Die is 40,000 words, so about half that. Rating is from what I read in the above.
3.5 out of 5
http://www.isfdb.org/cgi-bin/title.cgi?77170
The Ark Of Mars - Leigh Brackett
Planet Stories, September 1953, (Sep 1953, Jack O'Sullivan, Love Romances Publishing Co., Inc.; Stamford, CT, $0.25, 116pp, Pulp, magazine) Cover: Kelly Freas - [VERIFIED]
American Science Fiction Magazine, #26, (1954, uncredited, Malian Press, -/9, ph, magazine)
I've read this as incorporated into Alpha Centauri or Die! So no length measurement other than it is likely a novella, but could be a long novelette, as Alpha Centauri or Die is 40,000 words, so about half that. Rating is from what I read in the above.
3 out of 5
The National Library has a copy :- http://catalogue.nla.gov.au/Record/1587289
http://www.isfdb.org/cgi-bin/title.cgi?77141
American Science Fiction Magazine, #26, (1954, uncredited, Malian Press, -/9, ph, magazine)
I've read this as incorporated into Alpha Centauri or Die! So no length measurement other than it is likely a novella, but could be a long novelette, as Alpha Centauri or Die is 40,000 words, so about half that. Rating is from what I read in the above.
3 out of 5
The National Library has a copy :- http://catalogue.nla.gov.au/Record/1587289
http://www.isfdb.org/cgi-bin/title.cgi?77141
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