Review: Science Fiction:“A Place in the Sun” by Stephen Marlow

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Once a petty criminal, Johnny Marlow was mortally wounded on a planet in the Saggitarian [sic. Really] Swarm. The white magic of the planet saved him from death, but as a bodiless sentient being, an elan, who can inhabit any body, provided it’s been properly frozen—but only for thirty days. After that, he would die just as surely as any mortal would. Needless to say, the condition has put a crimp in his social life. He’s dedicated what may be his immortal life to the service of the Galactic League, now the Galactic Federation. He’s since taken the name Johnny Mayhem. The Glory of the Galaxy has sent out an SOS. The grand new flagship, on its maiden run, bears the president of the Galactic Federation and his entire cabinet. Its controls are frozen, sending it on a collision course with the sun. Those at the Hub must make a decision: divert Johnny Mayhem from his assignment to Deneb IV, where a body lies frozen, ready for him, or send him to the Glory of the Galaxy, where there is no body ready for him and for which he had received no briefing? They send him to Glory, figuring he’ll find a living body to inhabit. It’s never been done before, but… Aboard the Glory, Secret Serviceman Larry Grange is spoiling his date with secretary Sheila Kelly. He’s getting drunker and she’s getting more annoyed. Earlier, he overheard something that he’s not supposed to know and sure isn’t supposed to tell anyone. But there’s nothing he can do about it. Shelia is ready to leave, but he tells her to go ahead and stay. He suddenly has a terrible headache and leaves to take a cold shower. It’s about to be the strangest shower he takes in a long time. When I first started reading this, I rolled my eyes at the premise. Really? Frozen controls and you’re headed to the sun? Even as I continued to read, I noted the absence of anyone working on trying to free the controls. But this is a fun little read, engaging the reader with the characters and their attempts to keep their ship from plunging into the sun. Of course, Johnny Mayhem saves the day, but only Larry Grange realizes he was there at all, and that by necessity. Great literature, no. Nothing deep, nothing particularly intellectual, but it was a lot of fun. In addition to science fiction, author Milton Lesser wrote mystery novels and fictional autobiographies of Christopher Columbus (The Memoirs of Christopher Columbus 1978), Miguel de Cervantes (The Death and Life of Miguel de Cervantes, 1991), and Edgar Allan Poe (The Lighthouse at the End of the World, 1995). He legally changed his name to Stephen Marlowe. He is probably best remembered for series of detective novels, featuring the detective Chester Drum. This story is available from Project Gutenberg: ______ Title: “A Place in the Sun” Author: Stephen Marlow (Milton Lesser) (1928-2008) First published: Amazing Stories, October 1956 Source: ISFDB