Review Science Fiction Short Story: "The Planetoid of Peril" by Paul Ernst

Tweet

Mining engineer Harley 2Q14N20 is asteroid shopping. He’s hoping to find a quiet little place to build a house on a lake to share with the comely daughter of the wealthy 3W28W12. He’s also hoping to exploit some mineral deposits. Scanning the listings of the Celestial Developments Company (est. 2045), he thinks he has found just the right place. Asteroid Z-40 in the Red Belt is a steal at half a million dollars. So why is the manager of Celestial Developments now saying it’s not for sale? Nothing wrong with the atmosphere. The revolution is a little awkward. The days are three hours, annoying until you get used to it. Minerals are fine, including heavy radium deposits. The vegetation is as luxuriant as that of semi-tropic Earth. It’s just that, well, the first guy it who bought it left and was never heard from again. The second guy escaped, but he’s a bit worse for the wear. Seems, uh, seems there’s already a tenant there. One who was there before Celestial Development was even organized. And that tenant doesn’t feel like sharing. But for crying out loud, don’t tell anyone! This is an adventure tale in space, man against nature. Harley is up against something he can’t beat by sheer force. It’s intelligent enough to smash his machinery. And his ray gun does nothing. It’ll take a bit of quick thinking on his part if he wishes to build that little house by the lake. The story is not great literature, but the hour or so it takes to read is fun. Author Paul Ernst wrote mostly short fiction and is perhaps best remembered for his Avenger series, which he wrote under the house name, Kenneth Robeson. He also wrote a Doctor Satan series for Weird Tales in the mid-30s. I haven’t read any of the Avenger stuff, but what I’ve read of the Doctor Satan is almost like crime adventure and leans toward the violent. This story is available from Project Gutenberg: _____ Title: “The Planetoid of Peril” Author: Paul Ernst (1899-1985) First published: Astounding Stories November. 1931 Source: ISFDB *An earlier version of this review appeared at another site. It's been updated and expanded for it's inclusion on myLot.*