Wind by Charles L. Fontenay

"Wind" by Charles L. Fontenay is a science fiction novella written during the late 1950s. The story is set on Venus, where the main character, Jan Willem van Artevelde, faces the daunting challenges of navigating the harsh, wind-swept terrain to rescue a boy suffering from a deadly space-borne disease known as the Venus Shadow. The narrative explores themes of resilience, ingenuity, and cultural perspectives as Jan pushes his limits to overcome both environmental and technological obstacles. The plot centers around Jan van Artevelde, a stubborn Dutchman, who must travel to the remote settlement of Rathole to bring a sick boy back to a nearby spaceport before a critical spacecraft departure. Despite encountering treacherous earthquakes and fierce winds that complicate his journey, Jan's determination shines through. When he arrives in Rathole, he discovers there is no fuel for a flying platform that could expedite their return, forcing him to think creatively. He dismantles the platform's engines and ingeniously uses wind power to create a makeshift propulsion system from the local windmills. The story culminates in a thrilling yet heartwarming conclusion as he navigates challenges to save the boy's life, showcasing the spirit of resourcefulness and heroism amidst the unique cultural backdrop of Venus. (This is an automatically generated summary.)

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About this eBook

Author Fontenay, Charles L., 1917-2007
Title Wind
Series Title Produced from Amazing Science Fiction Stories April 1959.
Credits Produced by Greg Weeks, Stephen Blundell and the Online
Distributed Proofreading Team at www.pgdp.net
Reading Level Reading ease score: 82.8 (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 colonies -- Fiction
Subject Venus (Planet) -- Fiction
Category Text
eBook-No. 22590
Release Date
Last Update Jan 2, 2021
Copyright Public domain in the USA.
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