
A crew of the Third Interstellar Expedition peers through a telescope at a dazzling discovery: two planets orbiting Vega, the nearer of which shows clear signs of an atmosphere and shimmering lakes on its surface. The astronomer Ron Val can hardly contain his excitement, dreaming of the scientific breakthrough that could rewrite humanity’s understanding of where life might exist. Captain Jed Hargraves, while equally awed, keeps his focus on the practicalities of landing and the responsibility of guiding his team safely through uncharted space.
The dialogue between the eager scientist and the seasoned commander reveals a tension between boundless curiosity and disciplined caution. As the ship draws closer, the crew prepares to set foot on a world that could hold alien ecosystems—or perhaps the first signs of intelligence beyond Earth. The anticipation builds, promising a mixture of wonder, danger, and the timeless human urge to explore the unknown.
Language
en
Duration
~1 hours (80K characters)
Publisher of text edition
Project Gutenberg
Credits
Produced by Greg Weeks, Mary Meehan and the Online Distributed Proofreading Team at https://www.pgdp.net
Release date
2010-06-05
Rights
Public domain in the USA.

1907–1977
A prolific pulp-era storyteller, he wrote fast-moving science fiction and fantasy for magazines and paperbacks, often under several pen names. His work helped fill the shelves of mid-20th-century genre reading with lost worlds, strange futures, and nonstop adventure.
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