Point of Departure by Vaughan Shelton

"Point of Departure" by Vaughan Shelton is a science fiction novella that was likely written in the mid-20th century, specifically during the 1950s. This work intricately weaves themes of exploration, technological innovation, and ethical dilemmas surrounding scientific advancements. The narrative centers around the mysterious activities of a research foundation and an unauthorized experiment involving ancient artifacts and a groundbreaking power source. The story unfolds as Raymond Donner, the administrative officer of a research foundation, recounts a troubling series of events involving a missing colleague, Porter Hays, and a mysterious figure named Simon Kane. Initially, Kane presents himself as a persuasive figure with grand visions of launching a spacecraft powered by a solar energy device derived from ancient Poseidon tablets. As tensions rise, Donner discovers that Kane's motivations are sinister, rooted in deception and murder. The tale escalates with the revelation of Donner's struggles against Kane's manipulative control over both the technology and the people involved. Ultimately, the narrative culminates in a tragedy when Hays disappears during the spacecraft's maiden flight, leaving behind tragic implications for all involved, including Kane's wife, Nalja, who holds the key to understanding the true nature of the tablets. (This is an automatically generated summary.)

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About this eBook

Author Shelton, Vaughan
Illustrator Weiss
Title Point of Departure
Series Title Produced from Galaxy Science Fiction April 1956
Credits Produced by Greg Weeks, Mary Meehan and the Online
Distributed Proofreading Team at www.pgdp.net
Reading Level Reading ease score: 84.5 (6th grade). Easy to read.
Language English
LoC Class PS: Language and Literatures: American and Canadian literature
Subject Science fiction
Subject Short stories
Subject Space ships -- Fiction
Subject Test pilots -- Fiction
Category Text
eBook-No. 50945
Release Date
Last Update Oct 22, 2024
Copyright Public domain in the USA.
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