جريمة في الفضاء

2.8/5 ( ratings)

The book started life as a radio play. It’s also the basis for what is considered to be the first British SF film in 1953. It’s an interesting book about a rocket launch and the diappearance of a scientist and his friend’s wife.

Barry Conway is assigned to the B Research Site in Silver Falls, Nevada. His job is Adminstrator and Security Officer. The Director, Dr.Klein, is happy because that means he no longer has to be bogged down in paperwork.

The project is to fire off a satellite rocket into permanent Earth orbit. There’s trouble brewing with two rocket engineers. George Hills and Raymond Colby are best friends. Hills wife Marion is bored being in the middle of nowhere and eventually she and Colby fall for each other. Hills is so into his work he doesn’t seem to care.

Conway hears from his secretary Helen that Marion and Colby are thinking of leaving. Conway tells Marion and Colby it’s his concern about what goes on at the center.

Before the launch Hills shows up with a black eye. He says he got in a fight with Colby over Marion. The rocket is launched. It’s orbit is a lot lower than expected. What went wrong?

Colby is nowhere to be found. Neither is Marion. Hills is eventually charged with their murder. It’s all circumstansial evidence since the bodies haven’t been found. Did Hills find a unique hiding place? He declares his innocence and makes a outlandish offer.

No aliens, rogue robots or other 50′s SF staples, just a good story that’s worth reading. It does what good stories are supposed to do, keep you involved and entertained.