The Secret of the Ninth Planet

Metadata

Gutenberg ID

33644

Title

The Secret of the Ninth Planet

Language

en

Book source

Project Gutenberg

Description max 80 words

In a future where anti-gravity drives enable rapid solar system travel, high school senior Burl Denning investigates a mysterious dimming of the Sun affecting Earth. Joining a crew on the experimental spaceship Magellan, he circumnavigates the solar system to discover a 'Sun-tap' station on Pluto that is draining light from all worlds. The story blends archaeological adventure with hard science fiction, exploring themes of cosmic responsibility and interstellar diplomacy.

Summary up to 500 words

In Donald A. Wollheim's *The Secret of the Ninth Planet*, the narrative begins in the Andes, where archaeologist Burl Denning and his expedition notice a mysterious dimming of the sun and a drop in global temperatures. While Earth initially attributes this to weather or volcanic dust, the phenomenon is revealed to be the theft of solar energy. Burl joins the crew of the *Magellan*, an experimental spaceship equipped with anti-gravity drives, to investigate the source of this crisis. Their journey takes them past Mercury, Venus, and Mars, where they witness the devastating effects of the energy drain: failing crops on Earth, Venus becoming uninhabitable, and Mars freezing over, threatening the lives of its intelligent inhabitants. Upon reaching Pluto, the ninth planet, the crew discovers that the source is not a natural phenomenon but a massive 'Sun-tap' station built by the Martians themselves. Having achieved high engineering levels, the Martians constructed this device to steal sunlight, inadvertently destroying their own world and nearly freezing Mars. Burl and his crew infiltrate the station, located beneath a Martian city, and find it filled with alien exhibits from across the galaxy. They are joined by a diverse group of rescued alien refugees, including purple humanoids and insect-like beings, who turn against the Martians. The story concludes with the Martians realizing their mistake. The aliens form a new alliance, and the potential for a united solar system emerges under the guidance of Earth's explorers, setting the stage for a new era of interplanetary cooperation. The novel explores themes of scientific responsibility, the unintended consequences of technological advancement, and the importance of unity among different worlds. Wollheim grounds the story in the scientific realities of his time, noting that while the circumnavigation of the solar system seemed far-fetched, the development of anti-gravitational control could make such a journey possible within the next century.

LLM editorial rating

4.2/5

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Categories

• Science Fiction
• Pluto