The Pirates of Ersatz

The Pirates of Ersatz

Murray Leinster

Science Fiction & Fantasy

The Pirates of Zan is a science fiction novel by Murray Leinster, originally serialized in Astounding Science Fiction in 1959 as "The Pirates of Ersatz". It was nominated for the 1960 Hugo Award for Best Novel. It first appeared in book form in 1959 as one component of an Ace Double, bound with Leinster\'s The Mutant Weapon; This edition was reissued in 1971. A German translation was issued in hardcover in 1962, an Italian translation appeared in 1968, and the Dutch translation was published in 1972
Read online
  • 1 165
The Forgotten Planet

The Forgotten Planet

Murray Leinster

Science Fiction & Fantasy

Beneath dense gray clouds through which no sun shone lay a forgotten planet. It was a nightmare world of grotesque and terrifying animal-plant life. Gigantic beetles, spiders, bugs and ants filled the putrid, musty earth—ready to kill and devour anything in sight. There were men amidst this horror—men who cringed and ran from the ravening monsters and huddled in the mushroom forests at night. Burl was one of these creatures. But one day inspiration hit Burl. He would find a weapon—he would fight back. And with this idea the first step was taken in man\'s most desperate flight for freedom in this most horrible of all worlds. But it was only a first step. --This text refers to the Paperback edition. --This text refers to the Paperback edition.
Read online
  • 1 138
The Fifth-Dimension Tube

The Fifth-Dimension Tube

Murray Leinster

Science Fiction & Fantasy

William Fitzgerald Jenkins is an obscure name in literary circles, and it certainly doesn’t seem appropriate for an author who wrote thousands of short stories in science fiction, alternate fantasy, and other types of “weird” fiction genres. Perhaps that’s why Jenkins chose a more eccentric pen name, Murray Leinster, to publish over 1,500 short stories and articles, 14 movie scripts, and hundreds of radio scripts and television plays.Leinster is not as well known as the 20th century’s biggest names in the genre, like Lovecraft or Hitchcock, but he left a lasting mark on science-fiction. Leinster is still credited as the first to write stories about parallel universes, which had an influence on subsequent writers’ stories, including Isaac Asimov’s The End of Eternity. Incredibly, Leinster’s short story First Contact was even the subject of a lawsuit against Paramount Pictures’ Star Trek: First Contact movie, with Leinster’s heirs claiming copyright infringement. The courts threw out the heirs’ suit, noting that the phrase “first contact” had become so common in science-fiction circles that it could no longer be considered protected. Perhaps that’s the most fitting tribute of all to Leinster.  
Read online
  • 841

Med Ship Man

Med Ship Man

Murray Leinster

Science Fiction & Fantasy

His work was healing the sick-but this planet was already dead! Calhoun regarded the communicator with something like exasperation as his taped voice repeated a standard approach-call for the twentieth time. But no answer came, which had become irritating a long time ago. This was a new Med Service sector for Calhoun. He\'d been assigned to another man\'s tour of duty because the other man had been taken down with romance. He\'d gotten married, which ruled him out for Med Ship duty. So now Calhoun listened to his own voice endlessly repeating a call that should have been answered immediately.
Read online
  • 798
Creatures of the Abyss

Creatures of the Abyss

Murray Leinster

Science Fiction & Fantasy

A radar expert named Terry Holt is recruited as part of a scientific expedition in the Philippines; his mission: to build specific types of underwater listening devices that are to be used as part of an unknown agenda. Frustrated that he is expected to work on his inventions without being given any answers, Holt looks for the truth on his own, and what he finds is completely unexpected!Creatures of the Abyss is a novel remnant of the works of giants such as H.G. Wells and Jules Verne, Murray Leinster managing to take sci-fi to the next level without the addition of robots, spaceships or anything else you might expect to see in a modern day science fiction book or movie.The nature of the illusive plot and the unique setting are enough to cloud this novel in complete darkness for the reader to gradually discover its many facets and mysteries. We are thrown into a world where unusual catches of fish and a mysterious disappearing vessel have attracted the attention, as well as the caution of the scientific community, bent on finding out the truth behind the strange "orejas de ellos" (things who listen) that were given as the sole explanation behind these happenings, by local fishermen.If you\'re interested in sci-fi even remotely, you will be completely captivated by this brilliant novel. Although overall basic and lacking the complexity of many sci-fi works you may be accustomed with, you will find its simplicity to be all but addictive, and the unknown and unpredictable events encountered by the main protagonists will play an important role in creating one of the most intriguing and exciting plots in modern sci-fi history.Creatures of the Abyss is well worth reading by anyone who may be interested in an adventure and mystery novel as well, its less pronounced association with "standard" science fiction stereotypes giving it an added dimension of imaginative expression and sheer fun.
Read online
  • 750
Planet of Dread

Planet of Dread

Murray Leinster

Science Fiction & Fantasy

Armchair fiction presents the seventh entry in a new line of classic science fiction double novels. The first novel, "Planet of Dread," is an outer space horror story. It tells the tale of a spaceship with one too many passengers—a stowaway. The stowaway is given two choices: be sentenced to death, or be marooned on a nearby planet. He chooses to be marooned. His one problem is that the planet is crawling with millions of giant insect monstrosities. The second novel, "Twice Upon a Time” is a wonderful story of space opera and time travel. Because of the long years it took to travel between the worlds of the galaxy, interplanetary peace could only be maintained by a small band of men known as The Deathless Legion. And of these cosmic policemen, Chaan Fritag of Earth was the first to cross the path of the man who wanted to be Napoleon of the stars. You\'ll find lots futuristic thrills in both of these terrific novels, penned by sci-fi veterans, Murray Leinster and Charles L. Fontenay.
Read online
  • 726
Operation: Outer Space

Operation: Outer Space

Murray Leinster

Science Fiction & Fantasy

Jed Cochrane is about to take off on man\'s first interstellar voyage. His mission: Make sure it\'s good television! “The indefatigable Leinster! This is his fourth 1954 novel – and another 1954 item is on hand for review next month, too! What a man! The current tale, which has never been serialized, takes an entirely new look at faster-than-light travel to the stars: a fast-paced, sardonic job that is primarily a satire on the future of mass communications. Fella discovers faster-than-light communications technique. TV producer says, ‘Why not physical objects, too?’ Filthy rich neurotic buys ‘fame-rights’ to the invention. Luxurious spaceship built as a giant hoax to hook investors in a non-existent expedition to Mars (the Moon is already colonized) becomes the first, almost involuntary faster-than-light vessel, with as screwy a crew as has ever been cooked up (including the inevitable and delightful Leinster heroine), and the whole jaunt to the stars is turned into raw material for the TV producer’s regular ‘space opera’ show – with commercials – and what commercials! It’s a jolly tale indeed.” -Groff Conklin, Galaxy Magazine, March 1955
Read online
  • 667
The Wailing Asteroid

The Wailing Asteroid

Murray Leinster

Science Fiction & Fantasy

Three Complete Classics by Hugo Award Winning Author. In book one, Research scientist Joseph Burke and his secretary Sandy Lund discover their love for each other and plan to marry, when strange signal from an unknown asteroid puts their passion on hold. The alien message screams of doom for Earth. But what doom? When the two lovers join a courageous crew of humans using a scientific breakthrough to reach the asteroid, what they find upsets their world even more than the screaming messages! In book two, TV producer Jed Cochrane sets out to cover the discovery of a faster-than-light drive, then faster than you could say "Einstein," Jed finds himself trapped inside a spacecraft with his kooky secretary and a reluctant psychiatrist, being hurled far beyond the confines of the Solar System. In book three, Joe Kenmore has a simple sounding assignment: Deliver supplies and atomic weapons to the new U.S. space station, then help prepare for the first practical moon base. But physics and enemy agents place seemingly impossible obstacles in his way! Murray Leinster is the winner of both the Hugo Award and the Retro-Hugo Award. He was one of the most distinguished writers associated with John W. Campbell\'s Astounding Science Fiction and the golden age of the sf pulps.
Read online
  • 639
The Mad Planet

The Mad Planet

Murray Leinster

Science Fiction & Fantasy

When the twenty-first century drew to a close the whole human race began to revert to conditions closely approximating savagery. The low-lands were unbearable. Thick jungles of rank growth covered the ground. The air was depressing and enervating. Men could live there, but it was a sickly, fever-ridden existence. The whole population of the earth desired the high lands and as the low country became more unbearable, men forgot their two centuries of peace. Murray Leinster, called the dean of modern science-fiction, was writing amazing super-science adventures in the early twenties before there ever was such a thing. His short stories, novelettes, and serial novels have appeared in most of the major American magazines, both slick and pulp, and many have been reprinted all over the world. He has made a distinguished name for himself in the fields of adventure, historical, western, sea, and suspense stories.
Read online
  • 585
Space Tug

Space Tug

Murray Leinster

Science Fiction & Fantasy

Armchair fiction presents extra-large paperback editions of the best in classic science fiction novels. “Space Tug” by sci-fi master Murray Leinster is another space opera adventure featuring Joe Kenmore, the hero of Leinster’s prequel, “Space Platform” (also available from Armchair Fiction). There were only 30 minutes to live! Joe Kenmore heard the airlock close with a sickening wheeze and then a clank. In desperation he turned toward Haney. "My God, we\'ve been locked out!" Through the transparent domes of their space helmets, Joe could see a look of horror and disbelief pass across Haney\'s face. But it was true! Joe and his crew were locked out of the Space Platform. Four thousand miles below circled the Earth. Under Joe\'s feet rested the solid steel hull of his home in outer space. But without tools there was no hope of getting back inside. Joe looked at his oxygen meter. It registered thirty minutes to live. “Space Tug” is the exciting sequel to Murray Leinster’s “Space Platform,” which is also available in an Armchair Fiction edition.
Read online
  • 558
Pariah Planet

Pariah Planet

Murray Leinster

Science Fiction & Fantasy

William Fitzgerald Jenkins is an obscure name in literary circles, and it certainly doesn’t seem appropriate for an author who wrote thousands of short stories in science fiction, alternate fantasy, and other types of “weird” fiction genres. Perhaps that’s why Jenkins chose a more eccentric pen name, Murray Leinster, to publish over 1,500 short stories and articles, 14 movie scripts, and hundreds of radio scripts and television plays.Leinster is not as well known as the 20th century’s biggest names in the genre, like Lovecraft or Hitchcock, but he left a lasting mark on science-fiction. Leinster is still credited as the first to write stories about parallel universes, which had an influence on subsequent writers’ stories, including Isaac Asimov’s The End of Eternity. Incredibly, Leinster’s short story First Contact was even the subject of a lawsuit against Paramount Pictures’ Star Trek: First Contact movie, with Leinster’s heirs claiming copyright infringement. The courts threw out the heirs’ suit, noting that the phrase “first contact” had become so common in science-fiction circles that it could no longer be considered protected. Perhaps that’s the most fitting tribute of all to Leinster.  
Read online
  • 534
137