Critical difference by Murray Leinster
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"Critical Difference" by Murray Leinster is a science fiction novel written in the mid-20th century. The story revolves around the challenges faced by a Colonial Survey officer named Massy as he undertakes his first independent survey on the icy planet Lani III. The book delves into themes of survival, communication, and the effects of cosmic phenomena on human existence, particularly focusing on a critical drop in solar output affecting the habitability of
Lani II, the colony's home planet. The narrative follows Massy's journey as he discovers alarming signals indicating that the solar constant is rapidly decreasing due to coinciding sunspot cycles. This trend poses an existential threat not only to the inhabitants of Lani III but also to his home world, Lani II. As conditions worsen, Massy, alongside a small group of colonists including the determined Riki Herndon, devises a plan to release metallic vapor clouds into the atmosphere to capture solar energy, serving as a makeshift shield against the intense cold. Through a combination of ingenuity, teamwork, and an evolving sense of responsibility toward his fellow colonists, Massy strives to create a viable future for them as he navigates personal connections, particularly with Riki, amidst the imminent cosmic peril. The story culminates in a hopeful transformation of Lani III, setting the stage for a potential revival of life in harsh conditions. (This is an automatically generated summary.)
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About this eBook
| Author | Leinster, Murray, 1896-1975 |
|---|---|
| Illustrator | Van Dongen, H. R., 1920-2010 |
| Title | Critical difference |
| Original Publication | United States: Street & Smith Publications, Inc.,1956. |
| Series Title | Produced from Astounding Science Fiction, July 1956 |
| Series Title | Colonial Survey |
| Credits | Greg Weeks, Mary Meehan and the Online Distributed Proofreading Team at www.pgdp.net |
| Reading Level | Reading ease score: 85.3 (6th grade). Easy to read. |
| Language | English |
| LoC Class | PS: Language and Literatures: American and Canadian literature |
| Subject | Science fiction |
| Subject | Man-woman relationships -- Fiction |
| Subject | Life on other planets -- Fiction |
| Subject | Space colonies -- Fiction |
| Subject | Climate change mitigation -- Fiction |
| Category | Text |
| eBook-No. | 68686 |
| ISBN (HTML) | 979-8-238-68686-8 |
| Release Date | Aug 5, 2022 |
| Last Update | Oct 18, 2024 |
| Copyright | Public domain in the USA. |
| Downloads | 479 downloads in the last 30 days. |
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