The Last Planet

Title attributed to Andre Norton

& Also appears in ACE Double Book with A Man Obsessed by Alan E. Nourse

Bibliography ~

¯ (1962) * Published by ACE, PB, # D-542, $0.35, 192pg ~ cover by Barton ~ 1974 cover by unknown

Synopsis ~

In 8054 A.D. the Stellar Patrol was the last remnant of the power of a once flourishing intergalactic empire. It is a time of decadence and dissolution in the Empire. Sector wars are carrying off more and more worlds from Central Control. Individual bureaucrats are usurping their positions to carve out private kingdoms. Only the incorruptible Patrol and its Code remain to stand in their way. Yet, the Patrol has seen better days. Their ships are old and there are no replacements- only cannibalization keeps them running. The supply ships come less and less often. Communications between sectors- and with Central Control itself is breaking down. There are fewer and fewer new recruits. The only thing still as strong as ever is the dedication, honor, and tradition of the Patrol. The Vegan scout Starfire was one of the few ships left to the Patrol Fleet which was dispersed on a useless mission to remap forgotten systems on the edge of the galaxy. The crew of the Starfire realized that there was little chance that they would ever return – yet they performed their duty to the best of their ability. Until Starfire crashed and could go no further. They were stranded on a fertile planet, with breathable air – but it was completely off their charts. There the mixed crew of aliens and humans had to face the dangers of a strange planet, and the greatest threat of all – the breakdown of discipline and the beginnings of anarchy. Quickly scouting around their crash site, they find evidence of a long vanished high tech civilization in the Sealed Cities, along with nomadic hunter-gatherer level groups of humans. Looking for better shelter to tend their injured personnel, the rangers enter one of the cities, only to find it occupied by another group of refugees and ruled by the Acturian Cummi, a master telepath, one who is not above overpowering and directly controlling other people’s minds, who is bent on becoming the sole ruler of the planet. Zinga, a member of the ancient historian race of Zacathans, and the human Kartr, both high order telepaths themselves, though not of the strength of Cummi, end up in a memorable mental battle with Cummi.

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