Synopsis
Pelican West is a spacefarer left on Ceres for dead. He survives to run into a woman being pursued by space pirates. He rescues her and together they try to find a way off Ceres.
History
First publication: Astounding Stories, February 1937
Review
A pretty typical 30s space opera, complete with the standard hero, the woman needing to be rescued and space pirates. Some good moments of humor and an interesting alien snake are included. Russell was noted for his imaginative alien creatures and this snake just might have been the inspiration for Alan Dean Foster’s mini-drag. The only people today who would be interested in this story are those who love the typical 30s space opera with it's cliche characters and plots. But the story is enjoyable.
