Solar Queen

Almost half a century ago, renowned science fiction and fantasy author Andre Norton introduced apprentice cargo master Dane Thorson in Sargasso of Space, in the first of the star-spanning tales of the Solar Queen series. Dane signed on with the independent cargo ship Solar Queen looking for a career in off-world trade. In Sargasso of Space, the Solar Queen free traders win exclusive rights to trade with the planet Limbo, but the crew arrives to find most of the planet's surface charred, with little sign of life. They find a valley with life, but others may still lurk. Worse yet, a strange force threatens to cripple the Queen. They must solve the planet's mysteries if they hope to escape not only with tradable goods, but their lives.

A fast-moving suspense tale, full of unusual detail and unexpected turns. Several highlights make the book really shine: the sunset gorp hunt on the reefs of an oily sea; a raid on an asteroid's emergency station; and a landing in the Big Burn, resulting in an encounter with the mutant life-forms that reside there...

The Solar Queen and her crew have the trading rights to the wealthy planet Sargol, but to take advantage of them and see any return on their investment they must fight the Reptilian Gorp, negotiate with the cat-like Salariki, and find a cure for the sleeping sickness that has caused the Solar Queen to be called a plague ship and which has other ships looking to destroy them on sight.

''From between the two shuffling dancers padded something on four feet. The canine-feline creature was more than just a head; it was a loose-limbed, graceful body fully eight feet in length, and the red eyes in the prick-eared head were those of a killer.... Words issued from between those curved fangs, words which Dane might not understand.... ''Dane slid his blade out surreptitiously, setting its point against the palm of his hand and jabbing painfully; but the terrible creature continued to advance.... There was no blurring of its lines....'' Dane Thorson of the space-ship Solar Queen knew there was only one way to win out over this hideous thing-a battle to the end between his rational mind and the hypnotic witchcraft of Lumbrilo, the mental wizard of the planet Khatka.

A gripping story of otherworldly mystery and magic from an acclaimed Grand Master of Fantasy. When Captain Jellico and the crew of the interstellar tramp freighter Solar Queen are invited to visit the planet Khatka by Chief Ranger Asaki, they anticipate a brief respite from the boredom of their mail route. But there is more danger on the verdant jungle world than they know. Founded as a refuge by Earth Africans, Khatka is a global safari where hunters pay big money to pursue the biggest game. But lately Asaki's battle against ruthless poachers has been undermined by a vicious witch doctor, Lumbrilo, who takes a mortal dislike to the captain and his men. And when their craft crashes while over wild country, Jellico, Asaki and their friends soon find themselves not only hunted by Khatka's lethal fauna, but by Lumbrilo, who sees his chance to get rid of his enemies once and for all . . .

Three men find themselves lost in a strange jungle. To make it back to the space port they will have to fight their way. Standing between them and civilization are alien animals and a powerful Voodoo priest who has plans for them.

The Solar Queen and her crew have the trading rights to the wealthy planet Sargol, but to take advantage of them and see any return on their investment they must fight the Reptilian Gorp, negotiate with the cat-like Salariki, and find a cure for the sleeping sickness that has caused the Solar Queen to be called a plague ship and which has other ships looking to destroy them on sight.

The Solar Queen series continues with a riotous adventure in space and a battle against a deadly plague. Apprentice cargo-master Dane Thorson and the crew of the Solar Queen travel to the new planet Sargol to trade with the Salariki, a strange race of cat-men, for the fabulous Koros stones. When an Inter-Solar trading ship tries to cut in on their trading rights, they're forced, according to Salariki custom, to fight a duel with a representative of the I-S ship in order to keep face. The Queen's Captain Jellico wins, but the I-S ship leaves with a threat of further action. Then, the Solar Queen takes off for Earth and en route a strange illness strikes them. They suspect the I-S are responsible, but can't prove anything. Outlawed as a plague ship, they're to be destroyed on sight lest they infect civilized planets. Thorson, Jellico, and the rest of their Terran crew must find a cure for the plague and escape imminent destruction. Plague Ship is the 2nd book in the Solar Queen series, but you may enjoy reading the series in any order. This ebook has been professionally proofread to ensure accuracy and readability on all devices.