"Shadows in the Woods" by Leigh Brackett (Venus, Volume One, Number 1, Jun '44)
Unseen and length unknown.
Showing posts with label z short story. Show all posts
Showing posts with label z short story. Show all posts
Wednesday, February 2, 2011
Monday, March 29, 2010
Quest Of the Starhope - Leigh Brackett
Short Story
Number of words : 5700
Percent of complex words : 6.2
Average syllables per word : 1.4
Average words per sentence : 9.7
READABILITY INDICES
Fog : 6.3
Flesch : 79.2
Flesch-Kincaid : 4.6
CHARACTERS
Bert Quintal
Exploitative explorer.
Butch
Quintal's indentured small Venusian lifeform with mental powers. He keeps him working for him due to threats against his wife.
Chika
Chief of a group of winged Martians, the People of the Sky.
Hjan
Chika's mate, he also heads a working group.
VEHICLES
Starhope
Quintal's spaceship.
TECHNOLOGY
Cyclotron
A type of particle accelerator.
Anti-gravity metal
The People of the Sky have access.
PLOT
Quintal is exploring Mars with Butch, looking to make money in an unsavoury manner. Already forcing Butch to work for him, he discovers the People of the Sky, and the technology they have access to.
This will be worth a fortune, so he tries the same hostage taking intimidatory tactics he has used before. Eventually, Butch and Chika decide they have had enough and take the offensive to take care of Quintal.
4 out of 5
Number of words : 5700
Percent of complex words : 6.2
Average syllables per word : 1.4
Average words per sentence : 9.7
READABILITY INDICES
Fog : 6.3
Flesch : 79.2
Flesch-Kincaid : 4.6
CHARACTERS
Bert Quintal
Exploitative explorer.
Butch
Quintal's indentured small Venusian lifeform with mental powers. He keeps him working for him due to threats against his wife.
Chika
Chief of a group of winged Martians, the People of the Sky.
Hjan
Chika's mate, he also heads a working group.
VEHICLES
Starhope
Quintal's spaceship.
TECHNOLOGY
Cyclotron
A type of particle accelerator.
Anti-gravity metal
The People of the Sky have access.
PLOT
Quintal is exploring Mars with Butch, looking to make money in an unsavoury manner. Already forcing Butch to work for him, he discovers the People of the Sky, and the technology they have access to.
This will be worth a fortune, so he tries the same hostage taking intimidatory tactics he has used before. Eventually, Butch and Chika decide they have had enough and take the offensive to take care of Quintal.
4 out of 5
Sunday, March 28, 2010
Purple Priestess Of the Mad Moon - Leigh Brackett
Short Story
Number of words : 6900
Percent of complex words : 8.5
Average syllables per word : 1.5
Average words per sentence : 14.8
READABILITY INDICES
Fog : 9.2973
Flesch : 68.7083
Flesch-Kincaid : 7.3469
CHARACTERS
Harvey Selden
An artifact expert working for the Bureau of Interworld Cultural Relations.
Bentham
Third Officer on the Goddard.
Firsa Mak
A Martian, concerned with the old rituals.
Altman
An Earthman, guest of Mak's.
Mrs Altman
Altman's wife.
Lella
A Martian woman who participates in the old rituals.
Loughlin Herbert
A diplomat who died while looking into the Mad Moon ritual.
VEHICLES
TSS Goddard
An observation ship.
PLACES
Kahora
Martian city, growing. Now an eight-domed administrative centre of the planet.
Triangle
Part of Kahora, representing the Three Worlds.
Vashna
Martian moon. Also called Deimos.
Denderon
Martian moon. Also called Phobos, and the Mad Moon in certain phases.
N'York
Earth city.
Jekkara
Martian city.
Valkis
Martian city.
Low Canals
An area of Mars these cities are in.
CONCEPT
Umbrella Treaty
Old Martian corruptible agreement.
High Martian
Martian dialect.
Low Martian
Martian dialect.
Purple Priestess
Ancient servant of a Dark Lord, and not so ancient, as it turns out.
ORGANISATIONS
Bureau of Interworld Cultural Relations
Selden's employer, concerned with the arts on various planets.
World Government of Terra
Earth political body at the time of the Umbrella Treaty.
Martian Federation of City-States
Martian political body at the time of the Umbrella Treaty. Broke.
Khalide Kings of Jekkara
Two thousand years ago, their Seventeenth Dynasty. Lella has jewellery from that time.
PLOT
Selden goes down to Mars from an observation ship, and visit Mak's house with Bentham. He meets a woman Lella, of a type he has not seen before. From there he is shanghaied into observing the Purple Priestess Mad Moon ritual and isn't able to cope, but survives. The others want him to tell the Bureau, but he runs for Earth instead, into therapy. However, at the end a communique arrives from Lella, saying she is waiting for him at the next ritual.
3.5 out of 5
Number of words : 6900
Percent of complex words : 8.5
Average syllables per word : 1.5
Average words per sentence : 14.8
READABILITY INDICES
Fog : 9.2973
Flesch : 68.7083
Flesch-Kincaid : 7.3469
CHARACTERS
Harvey Selden
An artifact expert working for the Bureau of Interworld Cultural Relations.
Bentham
Third Officer on the Goddard.
Firsa Mak
A Martian, concerned with the old rituals.
Altman
An Earthman, guest of Mak's.
Mrs Altman
Altman's wife.
Lella
A Martian woman who participates in the old rituals.
Loughlin Herbert
A diplomat who died while looking into the Mad Moon ritual.
VEHICLES
TSS Goddard
An observation ship.
PLACES
Kahora
Martian city, growing. Now an eight-domed administrative centre of the planet.
Triangle
Part of Kahora, representing the Three Worlds.
Vashna
Martian moon. Also called Deimos.
Denderon
Martian moon. Also called Phobos, and the Mad Moon in certain phases.
N'York
Earth city.
Jekkara
Martian city.
Valkis
Martian city.
Low Canals
An area of Mars these cities are in.
CONCEPT
Umbrella Treaty
Old Martian corruptible agreement.
High Martian
Martian dialect.
Low Martian
Martian dialect.
Purple Priestess
Ancient servant of a Dark Lord, and not so ancient, as it turns out.
ORGANISATIONS
Bureau of Interworld Cultural Relations
Selden's employer, concerned with the arts on various planets.
World Government of Terra
Earth political body at the time of the Umbrella Treaty.
Martian Federation of City-States
Martian political body at the time of the Umbrella Treaty. Broke.
Khalide Kings of Jekkara
Two thousand years ago, their Seventeenth Dynasty. Lella has jewellery from that time.
PLOT
Selden goes down to Mars from an observation ship, and visit Mak's house with Bentham. He meets a woman Lella, of a type he has not seen before. From there he is shanghaied into observing the Purple Priestess Mad Moon ritual and isn't able to cope, but survives. The others want him to tell the Bureau, but he runs for Earth instead, into therapy. However, at the end a communique arrives from Lella, saying she is waiting for him at the next ritual.
3.5 out of 5
Martian Quest - Leigh Brackett
Short Story
Number of words : 6200
Percent of complex words : 6.8
Average syllables per word : 1.4
Average words per sentence : 10.4
CHARACTERS
Martin Drake
A chemist pretending to be a secretary coming to the Martian reclaimed area.
Terra Brooke
A girl, neighbour of Drake's in his new area.
Tels
Venusian settler in the reclaimed area. Drake's land is next to his.
George Breckner
Martin Drake's businessman uncle.
PLACES
Rivatka
A Martian reclaimed area.
Tchava
A Martian reclaimed area.
Thern
A city, centre of Rivatka.
ORGANISATIONS
Tri-Council
Solar System political organisation.
Interworld Enterprises
Company of Martin Drake's uncle.
ANIMALS
Vaard
Martian hairy, ugly hairless horselike animal.
Khom
Great Martian desert lizard. "Wicked triangular heads shot up from the ruined vines, horny reptilian heads framed in ruffs like Triceratops. Bodies two feet longer than a tall man raised high in ominous preparation on strong clawed legs, and tails—...Khom had a tail as long as his body and his head together; a mighty, supple flail armed with rows of deadly spikes."
PLOT
Martin Drake comes to Mars, an Earthman basically indentured to a wealthy uncle who took him in. After a lab incident, the chemist leaves, and decides to settl e in the Martian reclaimed area. He meets his neighbour, who begins to fill him in on the problems they face.
The chief of these other than hard work and hard living in a dry desert landscape is a giant lizardlike creature that eats all their crops, and is mostly impervious to standard weaponry. Tels discovers Drake is no secretary, but a chemist, and implores him to study the problem - as the program will have its funding cut off in less than two weeks.
Drake gets nowhere until one of the Khom is killed, and he gets to dissect the body, uncovering how the beasts feed - and what he can do to their food cycle to basically wipe them out, much like poisoning rats or ants to go back and spread the damage to their fellow.
3.5 out of 5
Number of words : 6200
Percent of complex words : 6.8
Average syllables per word : 1.4
Average words per sentence : 10.4
CHARACTERS
Martin Drake
A chemist pretending to be a secretary coming to the Martian reclaimed area.
Terra Brooke
A girl, neighbour of Drake's in his new area.
Tels
Venusian settler in the reclaimed area. Drake's land is next to his.
George Breckner
Martin Drake's businessman uncle.
PLACES
Rivatka
A Martian reclaimed area.
Tchava
A Martian reclaimed area.
Thern
A city, centre of Rivatka.
ORGANISATIONS
Tri-Council
Solar System political organisation.
Interworld Enterprises
Company of Martin Drake's uncle.
ANIMALS
Vaard
Martian hairy, ugly hairless horselike animal.
Khom
Great Martian desert lizard. "Wicked triangular heads shot up from the ruined vines, horny reptilian heads framed in ruffs like Triceratops. Bodies two feet longer than a tall man raised high in ominous preparation on strong clawed legs, and tails—...Khom had a tail as long as his body and his head together; a mighty, supple flail armed with rows of deadly spikes."
PLOT
Martin Drake comes to Mars, an Earthman basically indentured to a wealthy uncle who took him in. After a lab incident, the chemist leaves, and decides to settl e in the Martian reclaimed area. He meets his neighbour, who begins to fill him in on the problems they face.
The chief of these other than hard work and hard living in a dry desert landscape is a giant lizardlike creature that eats all their crops, and is mostly impervious to standard weaponry. Tels discovers Drake is no secretary, but a chemist, and implores him to study the problem - as the program will have its funding cut off in less than two weeks.
Drake gets nowhere until one of the Khom is killed, and he gets to dissect the body, uncovering how the beasts feed - and what he can do to their food cycle to basically wipe them out, much like poisoning rats or ants to go back and spread the damage to their fellow.
3.5 out of 5
Thursday, January 7, 2010
The Treasure Of Ptakuth - Leigh Brackett
Short Story
Number of words : 6000
Percent of complex words : 7.3
Average syllables per word : 1.4
Average words per sentence : 11.5
READABILITY INDICES
Fog : 7.5
Flesch : 73.0
Flesch-Kincaid : 5.9
SETTING
Ptakuth
Ancient Martian city with advanced technology that can confer immortality, so the legend goes and truth reveals.
CHARACTERS
Terence Shane
Earthman adventurer.
Thaldrek of Ved
Martian adventurer.
Zendra Challoner
Shunni goddess-queen leader, only half Shunni.
Harold Challoner
Zendra's father. Apparently became a god and suicided, after he led a previous expedition to Ptakuth.
PLACES
Atlantis
Ancient legendary city on Earth.
Phobos
Moon of Mars.
ORGANISATIONS
Martian Archaeological Foundation
Terry Shane's employer.
RACES
Shunni
Martian barbarians.
PLOT
Terry Shane is an adventurer hired by the Martian Archaeological Foundation to find Ptakuth. He has a rival, in Indiana Jones style, and one somewhat dodgier.
They run into Zendra Challoner and some Shunni warriors. She is half Shunni, and her father found Ptakuth - and died, because: ""This much I can say, Shane; tell it to the men of the Martian Foundation, and let them make what good they can of it. The cyclotron fired hydrogen bullets against a screen of yttrium. Using rubidium filters, the scientists of Ptakuth generated a ray with a wonderful property; the property of making the human bloodstream radio-active with a gamma-principle. This gamma element in the blood gave a power of regeneration to the body cells, but most of all, being in itself a germ-destroying element, it made the human body immune to all disease. You can see how this would extend the life span.
"The tragedy was that the ray destroyed whatever mysterious center of the brain it is that controls sleep. Imagine, Shane; a lifetime of several centuries, with never a moment's relaxation in sleep, never a quiet time of darkness and rest. Every second of every day lived to the uttermost. Ptakuth went mad! Like Challoner, it destroyed itself, and the rest of the world said it was cursed. Ptakuth was shunned."
There's another flaw that Shane's rival Thaldrek understands. Stand in there too long, and you die. Shane has to keep this from happening both to Zendra, and himself.
3.5 out of 5
Number of words : 6000
Percent of complex words : 7.3
Average syllables per word : 1.4
Average words per sentence : 11.5
READABILITY INDICES
Fog : 7.5
Flesch : 73.0
Flesch-Kincaid : 5.9
SETTING
Ptakuth
Ancient Martian city with advanced technology that can confer immortality, so the legend goes and truth reveals.
CHARACTERS
Terence Shane
Earthman adventurer.
Thaldrek of Ved
Martian adventurer.
Zendra Challoner
Shunni goddess-queen leader, only half Shunni.
Harold Challoner
Zendra's father. Apparently became a god and suicided, after he led a previous expedition to Ptakuth.
PLACES
Atlantis
Ancient legendary city on Earth.
Phobos
Moon of Mars.
ORGANISATIONS
Martian Archaeological Foundation
Terry Shane's employer.
RACES
Shunni
Martian barbarians.
PLOT
Terry Shane is an adventurer hired by the Martian Archaeological Foundation to find Ptakuth. He has a rival, in Indiana Jones style, and one somewhat dodgier.
They run into Zendra Challoner and some Shunni warriors. She is half Shunni, and her father found Ptakuth - and died, because: ""This much I can say, Shane; tell it to the men of the Martian Foundation, and let them make what good they can of it. The cyclotron fired hydrogen bullets against a screen of yttrium. Using rubidium filters, the scientists of Ptakuth generated a ray with a wonderful property; the property of making the human bloodstream radio-active with a gamma-principle. This gamma element in the blood gave a power of regeneration to the body cells, but most of all, being in itself a germ-destroying element, it made the human body immune to all disease. You can see how this would extend the life span.
"The tragedy was that the ray destroyed whatever mysterious center of the brain it is that controls sleep. Imagine, Shane; a lifetime of several centuries, with never a moment's relaxation in sleep, never a quiet time of darkness and rest. Every second of every day lived to the uttermost. Ptakuth went mad! Like Challoner, it destroyed itself, and the rest of the world said it was cursed. Ptakuth was shunned."
There's another flaw that Shane's rival Thaldrek understands. Stand in there too long, and you die. Shane has to keep this from happening both to Zendra, and himself.
3.5 out of 5
Water Pirate - Leigh Brackett
Short Story
Number of words : 6000
Percent of complex words : 6.6
Average syllables per word : 1.4
Average words per sentence : 12.6
READABILITY INDICES
Fog : 7.67
Flesch : 72.5
Flesch-Kincaid : 6.3
SETTING
In 2418
Valkis
Martian city.
Teka Desert
Mountainous dry area out from Valkis.
CHARACTERS
Johan Gray
Chief of Special Duty of the Convoy Fleet.
Jaffa Gray
His son and investigator.
Lhara
A warrior-girl of Kesh.
Lhar
Her brother.
Rha
An alien from Vhila, a golden swimmer from a water-world with three suns.
ORGANISATIONS
Trans-Galactic Convoy Fleet
Shipping protection group.
PLACES
Kesh
Martian barbarian dryland state.
VEHICLES
Kallman two-seater
Small flying craft.
TECHNOLOGY
Ultra-visor
Display mechanism.
WEAPONS
Paralysis Gun
Non-lethal sidearm.
Heat Gun
Lethal sidearm.
PLOT
Rha, an alien from a water-world has taken Lhara's brother hostage. She finds Jaffa Gray, son of a powerful administrator, and paralyses him, wanting to use him. She finds out Rha is more than a bandit, being an alien scientist wanting to save his amphibious people, under siege on their own world. He too wants to use Jaffa's ability to sway his father for help. Jaffa decides that his cause is worthy enough to forgive his crimes, and offers to intercede.
3.5 out of 5
Number of words : 6000
Percent of complex words : 6.6
Average syllables per word : 1.4
Average words per sentence : 12.6
READABILITY INDICES
Fog : 7.67
Flesch : 72.5
Flesch-Kincaid : 6.3
SETTING
In 2418
Valkis
Martian city.
Teka Desert
Mountainous dry area out from Valkis.
CHARACTERS
Johan Gray
Chief of Special Duty of the Convoy Fleet.
Jaffa Gray
His son and investigator.
Lhara
A warrior-girl of Kesh.
Lhar
Her brother.
Rha
An alien from Vhila, a golden swimmer from a water-world with three suns.
ORGANISATIONS
Trans-Galactic Convoy Fleet
Shipping protection group.
PLACES
Kesh
Martian barbarian dryland state.
VEHICLES
Kallman two-seater
Small flying craft.
TECHNOLOGY
Ultra-visor
Display mechanism.
WEAPONS
Paralysis Gun
Non-lethal sidearm.
Heat Gun
Lethal sidearm.
PLOT
Rha, an alien from a water-world has taken Lhara's brother hostage. She finds Jaffa Gray, son of a powerful administrator, and paralyses him, wanting to use him. She finds out Rha is more than a bandit, being an alien scientist wanting to save his amphibious people, under siege on their own world. He too wants to use Jaffa's ability to sway his father for help. Jaffa decides that his cause is worthy enough to forgive his crimes, and offers to intercede.
3.5 out of 5
Monday, January 4, 2010
The True Death of Juanito Rodriguez - Leigh Brackett
Short Story
Number of words : 4000
Average syllables per word : 1.3
Average words per sentence : 11.3
READABILITY INDICES
Fog : 6.7
Flesch : 82.9
Flesch-Kincaid : 4.5
SETTING
New York West Side
Where the Rodriguez family live.
CHARACTERS
Josefina Rodriguez
Grieving mother, and widow.
Tina Rodriguez
Her young daughter.
Luisa Rodriguez
Her other young daughter, the elder of the two.
Juanito Rodriguez
Her dead son, shot to death in a robbery attempt, 16 at the time.
Consuela Rodriguez
Her eldest child, 18 years old and has moved out.
Carlos
A suitor or Josefina's.
Father Chavez
Local priest.
Mr Hoffman
Local businessman who shot Juanito when defending his property.
PLOT
Josefina's son Juanito was killed in a robbery attempt, and she cannot get over it. To the point of neglecting her two youngest daughters who need looking after. After the local priest tries to help her a confrontation with her eldest daughter begins to motivate her, when Consuela takes her two sisters away with her to look after them.
Josefina has a gun, and actually lines up the child of the Mr Hoffman, the man who shot her son, in her sights, but doesn't pull the trigger. In fact, she ends up defending him when she sees him cornered by friends and fellow hoodlums of Juanito's. This event finally gets through to her, as she sees the innocent boy home.
3.5 out of 5
Number of words : 4000
Average syllables per word : 1.3
Average words per sentence : 11.3
READABILITY INDICES
Fog : 6.7
Flesch : 82.9
Flesch-Kincaid : 4.5
SETTING
New York West Side
Where the Rodriguez family live.
CHARACTERS
Josefina Rodriguez
Grieving mother, and widow.
Tina Rodriguez
Her young daughter.
Luisa Rodriguez
Her other young daughter, the elder of the two.
Juanito Rodriguez
Her dead son, shot to death in a robbery attempt, 16 at the time.
Consuela Rodriguez
Her eldest child, 18 years old and has moved out.
Carlos
A suitor or Josefina's.
Father Chavez
Local priest.
Mr Hoffman
Local businessman who shot Juanito when defending his property.
PLOT
Josefina's son Juanito was killed in a robbery attempt, and she cannot get over it. To the point of neglecting her two youngest daughters who need looking after. After the local priest tries to help her a confrontation with her eldest daughter begins to motivate her, when Consuela takes her two sisters away with her to look after them.
Josefina has a gun, and actually lines up the child of the Mr Hoffman, the man who shot her son, in her sights, but doesn't pull the trigger. In fact, she ends up defending him when she sees him cornered by friends and fellow hoodlums of Juanito's. This event finally gets through to her, as she sees the innocent boy home.
3.5 out of 5
Saturday, December 26, 2009
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
Thursday, December 24, 2009
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
Monday, December 21, 2009
The Demons Of Darkside - Leigh Brackett
Short Story
Number of words : 7000
Percent of complex words : 7.8
Average syllables per word : 1.4
Average words per sentence : 9.9
READABILITY INDICES
Fog : 7.1
Flesch : 75.3
Flesch-Kincaid : 5.2
SETTING
Sila
"Town buried on the edge of Venus' eastern swamp belt."
Darkside
Permanent sunless hemisphere of Mercury.
CHARACTERS
Barry Garth
Lover of Alice Webster. Crack pilot.
Alice Webster
Heiress given the death penalty for murdering her uncle.
Wilsey Stevens
Chief prosecution evidence and third-vice president of Mercurian Metals.
Gavin Webster
Mercurian Metals tycoon, dead.
'Black' Sandy MacDougal
The Scot. Owner of said ship. Ex-pilot who crashed on Mercury.
Brent
Friend of MacDougal.
Akal
Brent's Martian henchman.
ORGANISATIONS
Interplanetary Court
Justice may be served.
Mercurian Metals
Corporation run by Gavin Webster, when alive.
Scotia Salvage Co
Wherefrom Garth nicks a ship to go to Mercury.
Interplanetary Mails
Former employer of MacDougal.
TECHNOLOGY
Yttrium
Rare metal, popular for smuggling.
VEHICLES
Hermes
Stevens' ship.
Bruce
Said purloined ship of MacDougal's.
FOOD
Venusian whiskey
Pungent stuff.
RACES
Crystals
Lifeforms on Mercury that unwittingly drive people crazy: "We build up thought impulses by simple oscillation of our facets," the voice explained. "During this exchange of vibrations, energy is liberated in the form of light. When all of us oscillate to the same frequency, we have quite a powerful output. Solar radiations destroy our thoughts by introducing counter-vibrations. That's why we're powerful only in the screening shadow of this planet."
PLOT
Barry Garth is drinking in a dive on Venus when news that his girlfriend's appeal on a murder charge has failed and she will be executed. He decides to make a mad run for Mercury because the chief prosecution witness has crashed there and he smells a rat.
So he steals a ship, hijacks its owner and heads for the planet, where he does find a rat, plus the lifeforms responsible for people going crazy on the Darkside.
4 out of 5
Number of words : 7000
Percent of complex words : 7.8
Average syllables per word : 1.4
Average words per sentence : 9.9
READABILITY INDICES
Fog : 7.1
Flesch : 75.3
Flesch-Kincaid : 5.2
SETTING
Sila
"Town buried on the edge of Venus' eastern swamp belt."
Darkside
Permanent sunless hemisphere of Mercury.
CHARACTERS
Barry Garth
Lover of Alice Webster. Crack pilot.
Alice Webster
Heiress given the death penalty for murdering her uncle.
Wilsey Stevens
Chief prosecution evidence and third-vice president of Mercurian Metals.
Gavin Webster
Mercurian Metals tycoon, dead.
'Black' Sandy MacDougal
The Scot. Owner of said ship. Ex-pilot who crashed on Mercury.
Brent
Friend of MacDougal.
Akal
Brent's Martian henchman.
ORGANISATIONS
Interplanetary Court
Justice may be served.
Mercurian Metals
Corporation run by Gavin Webster, when alive.
Scotia Salvage Co
Wherefrom Garth nicks a ship to go to Mercury.
Interplanetary Mails
Former employer of MacDougal.
TECHNOLOGY
Yttrium
Rare metal, popular for smuggling.
VEHICLES
Hermes
Stevens' ship.
Bruce
Said purloined ship of MacDougal's.
FOOD
Venusian whiskey
Pungent stuff.
RACES
Crystals
Lifeforms on Mercury that unwittingly drive people crazy: "We build up thought impulses by simple oscillation of our facets," the voice explained. "During this exchange of vibrations, energy is liberated in the form of light. When all of us oscillate to the same frequency, we have quite a powerful output. Solar radiations destroy our thoughts by introducing counter-vibrations. That's why we're powerful only in the screening shadow of this planet."
PLOT
Barry Garth is drinking in a dive on Venus when news that his girlfriend's appeal on a murder charge has failed and she will be executed. He decides to make a mad run for Mercury because the chief prosecution witness has crashed there and he smells a rat.
So he steals a ship, hijacks its owner and heads for the planet, where he does find a rat, plus the lifeforms responsible for people going crazy on the Darkside.
4 out of 5
Outpost On Io - Leigh Brackett
Short Story
Number of words : 6000
Percent of complex words : 7.8
Average syllables per word : 1.4
Average words per sentence : 9.1
READABILITY INDICES
Fog : 6.8
Flesch : 76.9
Flesch-Kincaid : 4.8
CHARACTERS
Chris MacVickers
Terran Deep-space trader.
Loris
Venusian Guardsman.
Pendleton
Earthman, The Starfish.
Janu
Pendleton's Martian foreman.
Birek
Prisoner boss, starting to go jewel-like.
RACES
Europans
"His smooth black body had a dull sheen of red under the Jupiter-light. There was no back nor front to him, no face. Only the four long rubbery legs, the roundish body, and the tentacles in a waving crown above."
ORGANISATIONS
Venusian Guard
Military operation.
TECHNOLOGY
Jovium
Metal destroying mineral, probably a radioactive isotope.
PLACES
J-XI
Only other source of Jovium.
PLOT
MacVickers has been captured by the Jovians, and is put to work in a prison mine along with several other prisoners. They are either worked to death or die due to transformation caused by the mineral Jovium they are mining. Jovium allows the Jovians to destroy metal atomically from a distance, giving them a hard to combat superiority.
MacVickers isn't content with this lot, though, and would rather die fighting trying to escape, but has to overcome prison leader Birke first before he can lead a suicidal breakout attempt.
3.5 out of 5
Number of words : 6000
Percent of complex words : 7.8
Average syllables per word : 1.4
Average words per sentence : 9.1
READABILITY INDICES
Fog : 6.8
Flesch : 76.9
Flesch-Kincaid : 4.8
CHARACTERS
Chris MacVickers
Terran Deep-space trader.
Loris
Venusian Guardsman.
Pendleton
Earthman, The Starfish.
Janu
Pendleton's Martian foreman.
Birek
Prisoner boss, starting to go jewel-like.
RACES
Europans
"His smooth black body had a dull sheen of red under the Jupiter-light. There was no back nor front to him, no face. Only the four long rubbery legs, the roundish body, and the tentacles in a waving crown above."
ORGANISATIONS
Venusian Guard
Military operation.
TECHNOLOGY
Jovium
Metal destroying mineral, probably a radioactive isotope.
PLACES
J-XI
Only other source of Jovium.
PLOT
MacVickers has been captured by the Jovians, and is put to work in a prison mine along with several other prisoners. They are either worked to death or die due to transformation caused by the mineral Jovium they are mining. Jovium allows the Jovians to destroy metal atomically from a distance, giving them a hard to combat superiority.
MacVickers isn't content with this lot, though, and would rather die fighting trying to escape, but has to overcome prison leader Birke first before he can lead a suicidal breakout attempt.
3.5 out of 5
Child Of the Green Light - Leigh Brackett
Short Story
Number of words : 7000
Percent of complex words : 6.1
Average syllables per word : 1.4
Average words per sentence : 9.5
READABILITY INDICES
Fog : 6.2569
Flesch : 81.9419
Flesch-Kincaid : 4.1898
CHARACTERS
Son
A man able to live unsupported in space, changed by intersection of universes.
Aona
Woman from another universe.
Ransome
Leader of humans trying to save them.
Dickson
Physicist, killed in space.
Arun
Man from Tethys.
Greenough
Childlike gunnery officer.
Teck
A Martian.
CONCEPTS
The Light
""So it's part of another universe. Diluted by distance, its radiation speeds human metabolism, causing swift age. Concentrated, it changes the human organism into an alien metabolism, alien flesh.
"Slim almost made it through, but his peculiar chemical balance destroyed him. You must be in the same transition stage, but much slower, being passed by the changing of your basic vibratory rate into another space-time continuum."
"
The Veil
Darkness continuum, hiding the Beyond.
The Cloud
Effect that is stopping the human race.
PLACES
Martian Drylands
"men sometimes get what we call esht—desert-fear"
TECHNOLOGY
Elker drive
Starship propulsion.
PLOT
A group of desperate men want to stop the phenomenon destroying the human race. They encounter son, a man changed by contact between universes and see him as a possible miracle last hope. The contact between them is deadly, however.
4 out of 5
Number of words : 7000
Percent of complex words : 6.1
Average syllables per word : 1.4
Average words per sentence : 9.5
READABILITY INDICES
Fog : 6.2569
Flesch : 81.9419
Flesch-Kincaid : 4.1898
CHARACTERS
Son
A man able to live unsupported in space, changed by intersection of universes.
Aona
Woman from another universe.
Ransome
Leader of humans trying to save them.
Dickson
Physicist, killed in space.
Arun
Man from Tethys.
Greenough
Childlike gunnery officer.
Teck
A Martian.
CONCEPTS
The Light
""So it's part of another universe. Diluted by distance, its radiation speeds human metabolism, causing swift age. Concentrated, it changes the human organism into an alien metabolism, alien flesh.
"Slim almost made it through, but his peculiar chemical balance destroyed him. You must be in the same transition stage, but much slower, being passed by the changing of your basic vibratory rate into another space-time continuum."
"
The Veil
Darkness continuum, hiding the Beyond.
The Cloud
Effect that is stopping the human race.
PLACES
Martian Drylands
"men sometimes get what we call esht—desert-fear"
TECHNOLOGY
Elker drive
Starship propulsion.
PLOT
A group of desperate men want to stop the phenomenon destroying the human race. They encounter son, a man changed by contact between universes and see him as a possible miracle last hope. The contact between them is deadly, however.
4 out of 5
Sunday, December 20, 2009
The Tweener - Leigh Brackett
Short Story
Number of words : 7000
Percent of complex words : 5.1
Average syllables per word : 1.4
Average words per sentence : 10.4
READABILITY INDICES
Fog : 6.2
Flesch : 81.8
Flesch-Kincaid : 4.44
CHARACTERS
Matt Winslow
Husband and father, brother of Fred.
Lucille Winslow
His wife.
Josh Winslow
His son.
Barbie Winslow
His daughter.
Uncle Fred
Army man who has been on Mars.
RACES
Tweener-John Carter
Uncle Fred brings one back to the Winslows: "On a mat of red sand and dry lichens a thing was crouching, a neat furry thing about the size of a big rabbit and not unlike one in outline, except that its ears were cup-shaped, and except that its coat was mottled in the exact rust red and greenish gray of the native sand and lichens."
PLOT
Uncle Fred brings the Winslows back a Martian creature that is more than an animal. Otherwise defenseless it has mental powers that can badly affect the human mind. The kids think of it as a pet, and are sad when it has escaped, and the adults let them think that a dog actually got it.
3.5 out of 5
Number of words : 7000
Percent of complex words : 5.1
Average syllables per word : 1.4
Average words per sentence : 10.4
READABILITY INDICES
Fog : 6.2
Flesch : 81.8
Flesch-Kincaid : 4.44
CHARACTERS
Matt Winslow
Husband and father, brother of Fred.
Lucille Winslow
His wife.
Josh Winslow
His son.
Barbie Winslow
His daughter.
Uncle Fred
Army man who has been on Mars.
RACES
Tweener-John Carter
Uncle Fred brings one back to the Winslows: "On a mat of red sand and dry lichens a thing was crouching, a neat furry thing about the size of a big rabbit and not unlike one in outline, except that its ears were cup-shaped, and except that its coat was mottled in the exact rust red and greenish gray of the native sand and lichens."
PLOT
Uncle Fred brings the Winslows back a Martian creature that is more than an animal. Otherwise defenseless it has mental powers that can badly affect the human mind. The kids think of it as a pet, and are sad when it has escaped, and the adults let them think that a dog actually got it.
3.5 out of 5
Saturday, December 19, 2009
Retreat To the Stars - Leigh Brackett
Short Story
Number of words : 7000
Percent of complex words : 7.6
Average syllables per word : 1.4
Average words per sentence : 10.3
READABILITY INDICES
Fog : 7.1
Flesch : 77.4
Flesch-Kincaid : 5.0
SETTING
Trojan asteroid base
In the 40th century. Home to 10,000 Rebels.
"Two thousand years ago. Why couldn't I have been born two thousand years ago?"
* * *
The strangeness of it came over Arno—how Marika could look back to the Twentieth Century as day before darkness, and he as darkness before dawn. In the Twenty-first Century the last Terran rebels had fled to Venus, and from there to Mars, and from there to the state where they were now. The all-encompassing strength of the State had followed them, driving out their heresies, their anarchies, their haphazard individualism.
Now there was peace and system everywhere, except for the hidden plague-spots on the planets and this barren asteroid, which, through him, the Tri-State would soon destroy."
Titan
Moon of Saturn. Site of a mining operation.
CHARACTERS
Arno
Spy for the Tri-State. Father of three. Falls in love with Marika and is torn.
Ralph
Squadron leader of the rebels.
Marika
Rebel mechanic.
Laura
Rebel woman with a child.
Frane
Part of the rebel council.
Father Berrens
Rebel civilian leader.
People's Protector
Arno's superior and handler.
Vern
Pilot of Ralph's squadron, killed.
Parlo
Pilot of Ralph's squadron, killed.
Karl
Pilot of Ralph's squadron, killed.
ORGANISATIONS
Tri-State
Controlling political body in the Solar System, for quite some time, over 2000 years.
Rebels
Opposition to the Tri-State.
VEHICLES
Sparling
An old one-man spaceship that Ralph flies on a desperate raid to Titan.
TECHNOLOGY
Tractor beams
Prize haulers.
CONCEPTS
The Creed
Tri-State doctrine.
PLOT
A small group of Rebels remains after a two thousand year struggle against the Tri-State, but they are almost out of supplies, and almost have a ship ready to carry them out.
The Tri-State have infiltrated a spy, Arno, and are waiting for enough intel to begin blowing the base to hell. Arno, however, falls for the tough mechanic Marika after she has a moment of weakness with him, and he eventually reveals his purpose.
With Ralph dead, she guns him down too, and the Rebel ship is ready to head for the stars.
3.5 out of 5
Number of words : 7000
Percent of complex words : 7.6
Average syllables per word : 1.4
Average words per sentence : 10.3
READABILITY INDICES
Fog : 7.1
Flesch : 77.4
Flesch-Kincaid : 5.0
SETTING
Trojan asteroid base
In the 40th century. Home to 10,000 Rebels.
"Two thousand years ago. Why couldn't I have been born two thousand years ago?"
* * *
The strangeness of it came over Arno—how Marika could look back to the Twentieth Century as day before darkness, and he as darkness before dawn. In the Twenty-first Century the last Terran rebels had fled to Venus, and from there to Mars, and from there to the state where they were now. The all-encompassing strength of the State had followed them, driving out their heresies, their anarchies, their haphazard individualism.
Now there was peace and system everywhere, except for the hidden plague-spots on the planets and this barren asteroid, which, through him, the Tri-State would soon destroy."
Titan
Moon of Saturn. Site of a mining operation.
CHARACTERS
Arno
Spy for the Tri-State. Father of three. Falls in love with Marika and is torn.
Ralph
Squadron leader of the rebels.
Marika
Rebel mechanic.
Laura
Rebel woman with a child.
Frane
Part of the rebel council.
Father Berrens
Rebel civilian leader.
People's Protector
Arno's superior and handler.
Vern
Pilot of Ralph's squadron, killed.
Parlo
Pilot of Ralph's squadron, killed.
Karl
Pilot of Ralph's squadron, killed.
ORGANISATIONS
Tri-State
Controlling political body in the Solar System, for quite some time, over 2000 years.
Rebels
Opposition to the Tri-State.
VEHICLES
Sparling
An old one-man spaceship that Ralph flies on a desperate raid to Titan.
TECHNOLOGY
Tractor beams
Prize haulers.
CONCEPTS
The Creed
Tri-State doctrine.
PLOT
A small group of Rebels remains after a two thousand year struggle against the Tri-State, but they are almost out of supplies, and almost have a ship ready to carry them out.
The Tri-State have infiltrated a spy, Arno, and are waiting for enough intel to begin blowing the base to hell. Arno, however, falls for the tough mechanic Marika after she has a moment of weakness with him, and he eventually reveals his purpose.
With Ralph dead, she guns him down too, and the Rebel ship is ready to head for the stars.
3.5 out of 5
The Tapestry Gate - Leigh Brackett
Short Story
Number of words : 5000
Percent of complex words : 7.8
Average syllables per word : 1.4
Average words per sentence : 10.5
READABILITY INDICES
Fog : 7.3
Flesch : 74.7
Flesch-Kincaid : 5.5
SETTING
A town in the USA that is not specified.
CHARACTERS
Dick Stratton
Husband of Jane, or bank account of Jane more to the point it appears. Unwilling Tapestry owner.
Jane Stratton
His spendthrift wife and Tapestry purchaser.
Bootblack
Man who tells Dick of the Tapestry's powers.
Alice Kelly
Friend of Jane's.
Mrs Lydell
Town resident having a reception.
Doris Ryder
Woman Jane threatens smearing Dick with to get money out of him.
MEDIA
The Tapestry
Strange artwork made of human hair his wife buys rather than the print he wanted.
PLOT
Brackett's lone horror story.
Jane buys The Tapestry over Dick's objections, and continues to extract money out of him to keep up with the Joneses. However, this purchase is evil, and can actually seduce people to enter it with promises. Dick meets a man who tells of its past, and then his wife disappears. What will happen to him, given he can't bring himself to burn it.
3.5 out of 5
Number of words : 5000
Percent of complex words : 7.8
Average syllables per word : 1.4
Average words per sentence : 10.5
READABILITY INDICES
Fog : 7.3
Flesch : 74.7
Flesch-Kincaid : 5.5
SETTING
A town in the USA that is not specified.
CHARACTERS
Dick Stratton
Husband of Jane, or bank account of Jane more to the point it appears. Unwilling Tapestry owner.
Jane Stratton
His spendthrift wife and Tapestry purchaser.
Bootblack
Man who tells Dick of the Tapestry's powers.
Alice Kelly
Friend of Jane's.
Mrs Lydell
Town resident having a reception.
Doris Ryder
Woman Jane threatens smearing Dick with to get money out of him.
MEDIA
The Tapestry
Strange artwork made of human hair his wife buys rather than the print he wanted.
PLOT
Brackett's lone horror story.
Jane buys The Tapestry over Dick's objections, and continues to extract money out of him to keep up with the Joneses. However, this purchase is evil, and can actually seduce people to enter it with promises. Dick meets a man who tells of its past, and then his wife disappears. What will happen to him, given he can't bring himself to burn it.
3.5 out of 5
The Shadows - Leigh Brackett
Short Story
Number of words : 6000
Percent of complex words : 6.6
Average syllables per word : 1.4
Average words per sentence : 11.6
READABILITY INDICES
Fog : 7.3
Flesch : 76.9
Flesch-Kincaid : 5.4
SETTING
Unnamed planet under a blue star.
CHARACTERS
Barrier
Experienced older Ground Exploration team leader.
Hubbard
Ground Exploration team anthropologist.
Kendall
Ground Exploration team lead.
Aiken
Ground Exploration team archaeologist.
Caffrey
Ground Exploration team geologist.
Schmidt
Ground Exploration team entomologist.
Gordon
Ground Exploration team zoologist.
Morris
Ground Exploration team communicator.
Captain Verlaine
Master of the Survey ship.
Cristofek
Chief of Technical.
ORGANISATIONS
Galactic Survey
Sender of ships to other worlds.
RACES
Mists
Inimical alien life form on this planet.
The Shadows
Like dogs, waiting to be able to see and warn man and help again.
PLOT
Barrier is an older experienced leader of a mostly younger Ground Exploration Team for the Galactic Survey. He is growing increasingly despondent and ground down at the hostility towards man in the environments and planets he has visited.
This planet appears to be more of the same as strange mistlike beings herd and frighten and even may destroy team members. Until he realises that there is more than one group, and though scary in appearance, The Shadows actually want to help and befriend them. The past history of the planet, seen in ruins, tells why.
4 out of 5
Number of words : 6000
Percent of complex words : 6.6
Average syllables per word : 1.4
Average words per sentence : 11.6
READABILITY INDICES
Fog : 7.3
Flesch : 76.9
Flesch-Kincaid : 5.4
SETTING
Unnamed planet under a blue star.
CHARACTERS
Barrier
Experienced older Ground Exploration team leader.
Hubbard
Ground Exploration team anthropologist.
Kendall
Ground Exploration team lead.
Aiken
Ground Exploration team archaeologist.
Caffrey
Ground Exploration team geologist.
Schmidt
Ground Exploration team entomologist.
Gordon
Ground Exploration team zoologist.
Morris
Ground Exploration team communicator.
Captain Verlaine
Master of the Survey ship.
Cristofek
Chief of Technical.
ORGANISATIONS
Galactic Survey
Sender of ships to other worlds.
RACES
Mists
Inimical alien life form on this planet.
The Shadows
Like dogs, waiting to be able to see and warn man and help again.
PLOT
Barrier is an older experienced leader of a mostly younger Ground Exploration Team for the Galactic Survey. He is growing increasingly despondent and ground down at the hostility towards man in the environments and planets he has visited.
This planet appears to be more of the same as strange mistlike beings herd and frighten and even may destroy team members. Until he realises that there is more than one group, and though scary in appearance, The Shadows actually want to help and befriend them. The past history of the planet, seen in ruins, tells why.
4 out of 5
How Bright the Stars - Leigh Brackett
Short Story
Number of words : 6000
Percent of complex words : 5.7
Average syllables per word : 1.4
Average words per sentence : 11.3
READABILITY INDICES
Fog : 6.8
Flesch : 79.2
Flesch-Kincaid : 5.0
SETTING
Barnard II
The second planet of Barnard's star. "Man had finally made the Big Jump
outward, with the Wenz-Boroda FTL (faster-than-light) drive". The Big Jump being a related novel about the development of interstellar travel, placing this story again in a common setting.
Alpha Centauri
A star previously visited by the Bairds.
Proxima Centauri
A star previously visited by the Bairds.
Beautiful Water
Grllan village.
Earth Base
Survey team's home.
Western Sea
Earth Base is around 20 miles from a river mouth emptying into this body.
CHARACTERS
Jerry Baird
Dr Baird's son and survey team chief cook and bottle washer.
Dr Baird
Jerry's father, survey team coordinator and physician.
Dr James Felter
Survey team vulcanologist.
Wainwright
Survey team xenobiologist.
Harding
Survey team anthropologist.
Soderman
Survey team geologist.
Souter
Survey team botanist.
Thompson
Survey team chemist.
ORGANISATIONS
Preliminary Planetary Survey
Sends teams to study other worlds.
RACES
Grllan
One clan of natives of Barnard II.
Hwyl
A clan of Barnard II whose presence induces a strange lethargic hedonism and lack of purpose in the Survey team, who stay with them.
PLOT
A young man tags along with his father on planetary survey mission, until they get to Barnard II. The older professionals discover an odd clan called the Hwyll. While staying in their village they seem to lose all desire to go or work further, but Jerry does not, and heads back to their base and the stars.
3.5 out of 5
Number of words : 6000
Percent of complex words : 5.7
Average syllables per word : 1.4
Average words per sentence : 11.3
READABILITY INDICES
Fog : 6.8
Flesch : 79.2
Flesch-Kincaid : 5.0
SETTING
Barnard II
The second planet of Barnard's star. "Man had finally made the Big Jump
outward, with the Wenz-Boroda FTL (faster-than-light) drive". The Big Jump being a related novel about the development of interstellar travel, placing this story again in a common setting.
Alpha Centauri
A star previously visited by the Bairds.
Proxima Centauri
A star previously visited by the Bairds.
Beautiful Water
Grllan village.
Earth Base
Survey team's home.
Western Sea
Earth Base is around 20 miles from a river mouth emptying into this body.
CHARACTERS
Jerry Baird
Dr Baird's son and survey team chief cook and bottle washer.
Dr Baird
Jerry's father, survey team coordinator and physician.
Dr James Felter
Survey team vulcanologist.
Wainwright
Survey team xenobiologist.
Harding
Survey team anthropologist.
Soderman
Survey team geologist.
Souter
Survey team botanist.
Thompson
Survey team chemist.
ORGANISATIONS
Preliminary Planetary Survey
Sends teams to study other worlds.
RACES
Grllan
One clan of natives of Barnard II.
Hwyl
A clan of Barnard II whose presence induces a strange lethargic hedonism and lack of purpose in the Survey team, who stay with them.
PLOT
A young man tags along with his father on planetary survey mission, until they get to Barnard II. The older professionals discover an odd clan called the Hwyll. While staying in their village they seem to lose all desire to go or work further, but Jerry does not, and heads back to their base and the stars.
3.5 out of 5
Mommies and Daddies - Leigh Brackett
Short Story
Number of words : 4000
Percent of complex words : 5.9
Average syllables per word : 1.4
Average words per sentence : 12.4
Fog : 7.3
Flesch : 78.3
Flesch-Kincaid : 5.4
SETTING
The Institute for Congenital Addiction
Home for children - the Junkys. Known as Junkyville by the hunters. Is not stated as to where it is, somewhere on future dystopic Earth is the implication, and Western and likely USA given Brackett's inclinations.
Foundling Home
A different home for children.
CHARACTERS
Deke
A boy that escapes from the institute, and wants to join the Wild Ones and be in the upper echelon.
Stella
A hunter that meets Deke.
Chad
The Wild Ones chief that takes Deke on.
Tell
An institute escapee.
John
An institute escapee.
Sara
An institute escapee.
Matron
Official at the Institute.
Mr Timmins
Teacher at the Institute.
ORGANISATIONS
Free Peoples
Those living outside authority, desperate and victims.
The Wild Ones
Top of the gang pecking order.
Foundlings
Lower tier gangs of the abandoned.
Junkies
The lowest of the low. Children of addicts.
PLOT
A boy escapes from a strictly controlled home for abandoned children of drug abusers, and sets out to join a gang and strike back. The leaders of these organisations take recruits and train them to hunt and kill adults as revenge.
4 out of 5
Number of words : 4000
Percent of complex words : 5.9
Average syllables per word : 1.4
Average words per sentence : 12.4
Fog : 7.3
Flesch : 78.3
Flesch-Kincaid : 5.4
SETTING
The Institute for Congenital Addiction
Home for children - the Junkys. Known as Junkyville by the hunters. Is not stated as to where it is, somewhere on future dystopic Earth is the implication, and Western and likely USA given Brackett's inclinations.
Foundling Home
A different home for children.
CHARACTERS
Deke
A boy that escapes from the institute, and wants to join the Wild Ones and be in the upper echelon.
Stella
A hunter that meets Deke.
Chad
The Wild Ones chief that takes Deke on.
Tell
An institute escapee.
John
An institute escapee.
Sara
An institute escapee.
Matron
Official at the Institute.
Mr Timmins
Teacher at the Institute.
ORGANISATIONS
Free Peoples
Those living outside authority, desperate and victims.
The Wild Ones
Top of the gang pecking order.
Foundlings
Lower tier gangs of the abandoned.
Junkies
The lowest of the low. Children of addicts.
PLOT
A boy escapes from a strictly controlled home for abandoned children of drug abusers, and sets out to join a gang and strike back. The leaders of these organisations take recruits and train them to hunt and kill adults as revenge.
4 out of 5
Friday, December 18, 2009
Come Sing the Moons Of Moravenn - Leigh Brackett
Short Story
Number of words : 6000
Percent of complex words : 6.5
Average syllables per word : 1.4
Average words per sentence : 10.9
READABILITY INDICES
Fog : 7.00
Flesch : 79.6
Flesch-Kincaid : 4.9
SETTING
Moravenn
A planet in the Vela Spur, orbiting a topaz-colored star. It has 3 moons. In particular, the site of a new colony sponsored by the Vanguard Foundation.
CHARACTERS
Art Farrell
Eighteen year old agriculture expert colonist.
Marta
Colonist, friend of Art who comes to disagree with him.
Hrung
R'Lann leader that tries to help the colonists throught Art.
Jamie Hunter
Agricultural coordinator for the colony.
Tom Chen
Colony council president.
Kladth
Elderly R'Lann chief.
Antelope Woman
Colony ecology team head.
Sam Agatelli
Colony extraterrestrial anthropologist.
VEHICLES
Vanguard Beautiful
Colony ship that brought the people to Moravenn.
ORGANISATIONS
The Vanguard Foundation
Supporters and funders of interstellar colonisation.
RACES
R'Lann
The native people of Moravenn, and completely humanoid and sentient. They prefer to live in caves. The name means 'The Survivors'.
CONCEPTS
Ladder Of Souls
R'Lann religious concept.
Singing the Moons
R'Lann term for the lore associated with the geological instability of the planet.
MEDIA
Tri-D
Viewing technology.
PLOT
A group of young people have been sponsored to start a colony on the world of Moravenn. They have sort of a vegetarian commune existence in mind. They have been trained for colonisation, but have no real practical experience or experience in general, which becomes a problem when they realise the planet's geology will give them problems. Three moons and the local conditions can cause devastating disasters, at least for the unprepared.
Another surprise is that the planet is inhabited. These people are low-tech but intelligent, but know how to survive here. Art believes and befriends the R'Lann natives, but some people do not, and the colony is split politically, particularly after more setbacks with food production. This does have some tragic consequences, but leaves the colony stronger and learning to adapt.
3.5 out of 5
Number of words : 6000
Percent of complex words : 6.5
Average syllables per word : 1.4
Average words per sentence : 10.9
READABILITY INDICES
Fog : 7.00
Flesch : 79.6
Flesch-Kincaid : 4.9
SETTING
Moravenn
A planet in the Vela Spur, orbiting a topaz-colored star. It has 3 moons. In particular, the site of a new colony sponsored by the Vanguard Foundation.
CHARACTERS
Art Farrell
Eighteen year old agriculture expert colonist.
Marta
Colonist, friend of Art who comes to disagree with him.
Hrung
R'Lann leader that tries to help the colonists throught Art.
Jamie Hunter
Agricultural coordinator for the colony.
Tom Chen
Colony council president.
Kladth
Elderly R'Lann chief.
Antelope Woman
Colony ecology team head.
Sam Agatelli
Colony extraterrestrial anthropologist.
VEHICLES
Vanguard Beautiful
Colony ship that brought the people to Moravenn.
ORGANISATIONS
The Vanguard Foundation
Supporters and funders of interstellar colonisation.
RACES
R'Lann
The native people of Moravenn, and completely humanoid and sentient. They prefer to live in caves. The name means 'The Survivors'.
CONCEPTS
Ladder Of Souls
R'Lann religious concept.
Singing the Moons
R'Lann term for the lore associated with the geological instability of the planet.
MEDIA
Tri-D
Viewing technology.
PLOT
A group of young people have been sponsored to start a colony on the world of Moravenn. They have sort of a vegetarian commune existence in mind. They have been trained for colonisation, but have no real practical experience or experience in general, which becomes a problem when they realise the planet's geology will give them problems. Three moons and the local conditions can cause devastating disasters, at least for the unprepared.
Another surprise is that the planet is inhabited. These people are low-tech but intelligent, but know how to survive here. Art believes and befriends the R'Lann natives, but some people do not, and the colony is split politically, particularly after more setbacks with food production. This does have some tragic consequences, but leaves the colony stronger and learning to adapt.
3.5 out of 5
Red-Headed Poison - Leigh Brackett
Short Story
Number of words : 5000
Percent of complex words : 2.4
Average syllables per word : 1.3
Average words per sentence : 8.9
READABILITY INDICES
Fog : 4.5
Flesch : 86.2
Flesch-Kincaid : 3.5
SETTING
Unstated, but it is cold enough to snow, and boys might get called in 'from St. Paul'.
CHARACTERS
Marty James
Gangster that wants to marry an honest woman.
Sheila Burke
The object of his desire is too smart to cave, even when he tries starvation intimidation tactics.
Ma Burke
Sheila's mother, who she lives with.
Tod
A friend of Sheila's, willing to fight Marty and help her out.
Tony
Marty's sidekick and gunman.
Buckwald
Rival gangster who'd prefer Marty was mortally challenged.
Del
Buckwald's wife.
Capper
Buckwald's muscle.
PLOT
Sheila is broke, and Marty wants to marry her. He has been intimidating the locals into not providing her any credit, so she is at the stage of not being able to afford to eat. She still wants nothing to do with such a low-down dirty rat.
He is called away to a meeting with another gangster, and ends up in a gunfight and injured, and comes back to use Sheila as an alibi. A fight ensues and Marty ends up in a very bad way.
4 out of 5
Number of words : 5000
Percent of complex words : 2.4
Average syllables per word : 1.3
Average words per sentence : 8.9
READABILITY INDICES
Fog : 4.5
Flesch : 86.2
Flesch-Kincaid : 3.5
SETTING
Unstated, but it is cold enough to snow, and boys might get called in 'from St. Paul'.
CHARACTERS
Marty James
Gangster that wants to marry an honest woman.
Sheila Burke
The object of his desire is too smart to cave, even when he tries starvation intimidation tactics.
Ma Burke
Sheila's mother, who she lives with.
Tod
A friend of Sheila's, willing to fight Marty and help her out.
Tony
Marty's sidekick and gunman.
Buckwald
Rival gangster who'd prefer Marty was mortally challenged.
Del
Buckwald's wife.
Capper
Buckwald's muscle.
PLOT
Sheila is broke, and Marty wants to marry her. He has been intimidating the locals into not providing her any credit, so she is at the stage of not being able to afford to eat. She still wants nothing to do with such a low-down dirty rat.
He is called away to a meeting with another gangster, and ends up in a gunfight and injured, and comes back to use Sheila as an alibi. A fight ensues and Marty ends up in a very bad way.
4 out of 5
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