
Syme Rector, the most dreaded raider of the solar system, crash‑lands on the red plains of Mare Cimmerium and slips into the shimmering megacity of Kal‑Jmar. Disguised as a wandering prospector, he must secure a genuine spaceman’s identity card before the Triplanet Patrol catches his trail. The city's towering dome, multicolored lights, and the promise of instant‑wish‑granting robots make the hunt both dazzling and deadly.
A young patrolman, sharp‑eyed and relentless, shadows Syme through crowded streets and up the soaring Founders’ Tower. Their cat‑and‑mouse game reaches a cliff‑edge on the observation platform, where a split‑second decision could end in murder. As Syme draws his silent energy pistol, listeners are thrust into a pulse‑pounding chase that tests his cunning and the thin line between outlaw and survivor.
Language
en
Duration
~38 minutes (37K characters)
Publisher of text edition
Project Gutenberg
Credits
Produced by Greg Weeks, Mary Meehan and the Online Distributed Proofreading Team at http://www.pgdp.net
Release date
2020-10-06
Rights
Public domain in the USA.

1922–2002
A sharp-eyed force in science fiction, he was known not just for his stories but for helping shape the field as a critic, editor, and mentor. His work helped launch writing communities that influenced generations of speculative fiction authors.
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