Review: Science Fiction: "A World is Born" by Leigh Brackett

Tweet

In the aftermath of the Second Interplanetary War, thousands of veterans remain in prison, mostly on trivial offences. The Prison Authority won’t let them go because they have no jobs, no homes, and no money awaiting them. Working to change that (and make a little for themselves) are John Moulton and his daughter Jill, who, with “volunteer” conscript labor have built a colony on Mercury. It is on the verge becoming self-sustaining. The men working there have a chance for homes and jobs. The hope is to make Mercury an independent, self-governing member of the League of Worlds. Mel Gray is one of the world-building “volunteers.” He didn’t volunteer. The IPA sent him. Of the one hundred men, ninety-nine want the project to succeed. It means a new life for them. They’ve worked like slaves for that new life. Not Gray. He’s had enough unselfish service. He wants to serve himself now. He’s going to escape. A monkey wrench in the works is the discovery of pitchblende on the planet. Caron of Mars wants to develop it for himself and see the colony fail. Could Gray’s attitude problem mean he’s an agent of Caron’s? One of the men tells him he has… connections. He can help Gray escape. This is a pure adventure story with unlikely science (yeah, good luck with that human colony on Mercury) and some death cheating escapes by our hero, who, of course, also gets the girl. It’s fun for what it is, told in strictly straightforward fashion with over-the-top action. Not to be taken seriously, however. Author Leigh Brackett also worked on screenplays such as The Big Sleep (1945), The Long Goodbye (1973), and The Empire Strikes Back (1980). She was also married to speculative fiction writer Edmond Hamilton. This story is available from Project Gutenberg _____ Title: “A World is Born” Author: Leigh Brackett (1915-1978) First published: Comet Stories1941 Source: ISFDB