Chad Oliver - The Hidden Planet (Ace SF, D-354)

The world of Venus may be THE HIDDEN PLANETto astronomers but it's no secret to the vividimaginations of good science-fiction writers! Instead, it's the locale of asexciting and adventure-packed a group of stories as have ever been gathered inone book.

You'll read the short novel of the man whomade Venus the breeding ground of his experiments with people, until theproduct proved too hot for Earth to handle. There's the story of the adventurerwho probed too deeply beneath the depths of Venus's mighty ocean. There arethe explorers who met the philosophical plants and the jungle travelers whofound that what Venus had to offer made Darkest Africaseem pale.

There's lots of exciting adventure on The Hidden Planet, such as only Chad Oliver, Leigh Brackett,Lester Del Rey, and the others can write.

DONALDA. WOLLHEIM, whoedited THE HIDDEN PLANET, has the distinction of having conceived and editedthe very first science-fiction anthology ever published (1943). An authorityon science-fiction for over a quarter century, he has written and sold storiesto many periodicals, he has edited magazines of fantasy, and is the author ofseveral published novels.

A native New Yorker, he and his wife anddaughter share their home with one of the world's most extensive collections offantasy literature.

Previous science-fiction and fantasyanthologies edited by Donald A. Wollheim for Ace Books include THE END OF THE WORLD (S-183), THEEARTH IN PERIL (D-205), MEN ON THE MOON (D-277), and THE MACABRE READER(D-353).

THE HIDDEN PLANET

Science-fiction Adventures on Venus

Edited by DONALD A. WOLLHEIM

ACE BOOKS, INC. 23 West 47th Street, New York36, N. Y.

thehidden planet

Copyright , 1959, by AceBooks, Inc. AllRights Reserved

tableof contents

Field Expedient by Chad Oliver

Copyright, 1954, by Street & Smith Publications, Inc.

Venus Mission by J. T. Mcintosh

Copyright, 1951, by Love Romances Pub. Co., Inc.

The Luck of Ignatz by Lester Del Rey

Copyright,1940, by Street & Smith Publications, Inc.; 1948 by Prime Press.

The Lotus Eatehs by Stanley G. Weinbaum

Copyright,1935, by Street & Smith Publications, Inc; 1936 by Margaret Weinbaum .

Terror Out of Space by Leigh Brackett

Copyright, 1944, by Love Romances Pub. Co., Inc.

Library of Congress Catalog Card Number:59-8650 Printed in U.S.A.

INTRODUCTION

Everyone is familiar with the Evening Star, whose brilliant,steady rays dominate for an hour or two the evening sky just after sunset.Those who rise at dawn will also know the Morning Star which, at other times ofthe year, heralds the rising of the sun. Modern men know that these are one andthe same vision, the planet Venus, most beautiful and brilliant of celestialobjects, by virtue of being the closest planetary neighbor to our own Earth.

For thousands of years men have marveled atits glow and wondered at its mystery. Yet it is to be given to us, to thosefortunate to be alive in 1959 and the next decade, to learn some of theanswers. For it has already been announced as government policy that rocketprobes will begin their efforts to cross the thirty million miles of space thatseparates the two worlds at their nearest approach, and inform their humansenders of what may lie beneath the veil of the Hidden Planet.

What we know of Venus is little yettantalizing. We know it to be by weight and size a near twin of the Earth:7,700 miles in diameter to our 7,900. We know that on Venus a person of 100pounds would weigh 85.

Weknow it has an atmosphere and a thick one. Closer to the sun than Earth, stillits temperature on some parts of its surface should not be prohibitive to life.And yetno one can say what that surface is like. For Venus is coveredeternally by a thick blanket of unyielding clouds. The very length of its dayis unknownopinions of astronomers vary from an estimate of 22 hours to one of46 daysl The nature of itssurface, whether desert, ocean, or morass is totally unknown. Even the constituentsof its atmosphere are still subject to debate.

These are some of the things that only aprober rocket can answer. That and the question of whether there is oxygen inits air and water on its surface, without which life on Venus would be highlyunlikely. But meantime, while we are waiting for the probes to begin their hazardousflame-driven journeys, we can project some of the possible secrets of theHidden Planet against the screen of the imagination. In the five adventures onVenus included in this book there are certain to be some points that will proveaccurately prophetic. So read The Hidden Planet not only for the thrill of good science-fiction but also for a"sneak preview" of things to come.

Donald A. Wollheim

by ChadOliver I.

The cold wind swept in from the gray Pacific, drenching Los Angeles undersheets of driving rain. Keith Ortega, pushing his way through the uneasypuddles of Wilshire Walk, began to regret leaving his copter at the Center. Hewas dry enough in his rain-bender, but the air coming in from underneath theforce lines was tasting decidedly stale.

The broad walkway was deserted around him,although he could see a few lights spilling out wetly from store windows. Aviolet government airsign hung in the rain, glowinggently just above his head: DON'T ROCK THE BOAT.

He turned left at the empty Santa Monicacross and two blocks later he reached the Vandervort Tower. A flashing orangeneon sign above the ornate street doorway said: WE WANT YOUR BABY.

Keith Ortega stepped through the door andhurriedly shut off his rain-bender. He took a deep breath of relatively freshair and felt much better. There was no one in the street lobby; he had alreadyguessed that business would be slow this afternoon. He went across to theelevator, his feet light and awkward without the rain-benders on his shoes, andwent up to the tenth-floor interview room. Surprisingly, it was in use.

Ellen Linford , who looked like the epitome ofAmerican motherhood, had another young couple on the hook. She was bouncing ababy on her knee and smiling, and even Keith's knowledge that Ellen detestedbabies failed to spoil the warmth of the scene. Ellen was a good actress. Shehad to be.

Keith assumed what he trusted was a kind andpaternal expression and sat down next to Ellen. "Good afternoon, Mrs. Linford ," he said. He beamed at the baby and chuckedit under its chin. "What have we here? How are you, little fellow?"

"It's a girl," Ellen corrected him.She turned to the nervous couple before her. "Well, aren't we in luckl This is Mr. Ortega personally."

Brother, thought Keith.

Thecouple brightened, confronted with Fame in the flesh.

"I'd like to have you meet Mr. and Mrs.Sturtevant," Ellen said. "They've decided to leave their little Hazelto the Foundation. Isn't that nice?"

"Wonderful," Keith Ortega agreedheartily. He shook hands with the parents. "You've made a very wisedecision."

They hesitated. Then the woman blurted outthe inevitable question. "I still don't understand all the conditions,sir," she said in a too-high voice. "Why couldn't we see Hazel justonce in a while? I mean... we wouldn't want to rock the boat or anything ... but just to make sure she's all right-"

"I'vebeen trying to explain," Ellen began.

"Well now, Mrs. Sturtevant," Ortega cut in, "please letme assure you that we are in complete sympathy with your request. Your reactionis perfectly normal for an American mother, and we're glad that you areconcerned about your child. Unfortunately, it just would not be wise for you tosee Hazel again, even for a little while."

Mrs. Sturtevant looked at her husband forsupport, didn't get any, and faltered ahead on her own. "But why?"

Keith frowned and made precise pyramids withhis hands. "Facts are facts, my dear," he said slowly. "If youwish to keep Hazel, that is certainly your privilege.You have come to the Foundation of your own free will, and you surely haveinvestigated us enough to learn that we are an absolutely reliable concern. Webelieve that children entrusted to our care are entitled to a life of theirown, and we have found that repeated contacts with the original parents justmake it tough on the child. Now then, you want Hazel to lead a full, normal,happy life, don't you?"