The Beast-Jewel of Mars by Leigh Brackett
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"The Beast-Jewel of Mars" by Leigh Brackett is a science fiction novel written in the mid-20th century. The book is set on Mars and explores complex themes of identity, civilization, and the primal instincts buried within humanity. The narrative primarily follows Burk Winters, a troubled Earthman who seeks to escape his pain through a psychedelic substance known as Shanga, which leads him on a journey into the darker aspects of Martian society.
The story unfolds as Burk Winters, haunted by the disappearance of his fiancée, Jill Leland, travels to Mars, where he becomes entangled with the seductive and addictive world of Shanga. This place, designed as an escape for weary Terrans, devolves into a chaotic playground of primal instincts that strips away the veneer of civilization. As Winters undergoes a transformation back to a more primitive state, he grapples with his identity and desires. When he finds Jill, transformed by the same drug, Burk faces the challenge of saving her from the perils of Shanga while confronting the Martian society that revels in their degeneration. The climax stresses the struggle between the remnants of civilization and the allure of primal forces, leaving readers to ponder the nature of humanity and the cost of one's desires. (This is an automatically generated summary.)
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About this eBook
| Author | Brackett, Leigh, 1915-1978 |
|---|---|
| Title | The Beast-Jewel of Mars |
| Series Title | Produced from Planet Stories Winter 1948 |
| Credits |
Produced by Greg Weeks, Mary Meehan and the Online Distributed Proofreading Team at www.pgdp.net |
| Reading Level | Reading ease score: 84.1 (6th grade). Easy to read. |
| Language | English |
| LoC Class | PS: Language and Literatures: American and Canadian literature |
| Subject | Science fiction |
| Subject | Missing persons -- Fiction |
| Subject | Martians -- Fiction |
| Subject | Mars (Planet) -- Fiction |
| Category | Text |
| eBook-No. | 63872 |
| Release Date | Nov 24, 2020 |
| Last Update | Oct 18, 2024 |
| Copyright | Public domain in the USA. |
| Downloads | 360 downloads in the last 30 days. |
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