Sunday 3 April 2011

Asteroid of Fear by Raymond Z. Gallun

Official Blurb

John Endlich needed to clean up his act. Gambling, drinking, a hot temper and wanderlust were the last things Rose and the kids needed. So he went to the Homesteaders Office and signed up to terraform Vesta, a chunk of a once thriving alien planet that had exploded from within; a flat lump of crust which was now the remains of a farm on one side and a mining operation on the other. The miners hated Endlich and sabotaged his plans at every opportunity. They were going to kill him and his family if he didn’t find a way to stop them.

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My Review

When I settled down to write this review it occurred to me that this was a western story set in space. The protagonist is a homesteader in the back of beyond and the "indians" are played by the miners.

Apart from that, the story is pure sci fi. It's set on an alien world that includes a dead ancient civilisation. People flit about in space ships and shoot "blasters" so it has all of the good sci fi stuff.

What it boils down to in the end is 80-90 minutes of classic sci fi story, a man with a history trys to settle a barren land and defend his family and his home from a bunch of bully boys that are armed to the teeth!

Add to that, the story being read by Gregg Margarite and you have a recipe for a great listen. Highly recommended.

Reading 3/3
Production 2/3
Story 2/3

Total Score 7/9

Download it from the Librivox

Listen to the first part