Return to the Lost Planet
Encyclopedia
Return to the Lost Planet is a 1954 science fiction novel by Angus MacVicar
, published by Burke, London. It forms part of the Lost Planet series, which was extremely popular in books, radio and TV versions.
There are six novels in "The Lost Planet" series: The Lost Planet
(1953), Return to the Lost Planet (1954), Secret of the Lost Planet (1955), Red Fire on the Lost Planet (1959), Peril on the Lost Planet (1960) and Space Agent from the Lost Planet.
It was the first Science Fiction series ever translated to Hebrew, and had considerable impact on the development of this genre in Israel
.
.
A previous expedition to Hesikos, the wandering 'lost planet' which is now within a few days flight of Earth, has crash-landed, and Dr Lachlan McKinnon (its organiser), Professor Hermanoff and American engineer Spike Stranahan are marooned. McKinnon's colleagues must build and launch a spaceship
from their Scottish base to travel to Hesikos, but to construct the ship they must obtain the expert assistance of Dr Andrieff, a scientist and engineer, who risks exile from his Eastern European country by so doing.
The crew, consisting of McKinnon's nephew Jeremy Grant, Professor Lars Bergman, science student Janet Campbell and cockney
housekeeper Madge, rescue the three explorers, who have survived the harsh winter, and start to explore the planet in a jeep. They find signs that Hesikos was once inhabited, and that atomic bombs were detonated long ago on the surface. Escaping from a deluge of water as a river suddenly rises, they take refuge in a cave
, which leads to a door. The door opens to admit them to underground caverns where the inhabitants of the planet now live.
The people are highly intelligent and human-like, communicating with the visitors by telepathy
, which is facilitated by a machine called the Electronome. They explain that since their planet's orbit was destroyed eons ago by atomic experiments, they have lived a peaceful underground existence, only emerging in the mild summer season to gather fruits and plants. Their current leader is Solveg, with his daughter Asa.
Power for the colony is supplied by hydroelectric generators, but when a rockfall blocks the underground river, all power is lost. The inhabitants have a fatalistic philosophy that allows them to face inevitable destruction stoically, but McKinnon cannot accept this. Grant and Stranahan use the explosives they have saved from the flood to clear the blockage - and Hesikos is saved.
The grateful Hesikans help to repair the visitors' spaceship and they return to Earth, taking Asa with them, who hopes to spread her philosophy of peace.
Angus MacVicar
Angus MacVicar was a Scottish author with a wide-ranging output. His greatest successes came in three separate genres: crime thrillers, juvenile science fiction, and autobiography...
, published by Burke, London. It forms part of the Lost Planet series, which was extremely popular in books, radio and TV versions.
There are six novels in "The Lost Planet" series: The Lost Planet
The Lost Planet (novel)
The Lost Planet is a 1953 science fiction novel by Angus MacVicar, published by Burke, London. It forms part of the Lost Planet series, which was extremely popular in books, radio and TV versions....
(1953), Return to the Lost Planet (1954), Secret of the Lost Planet (1955), Red Fire on the Lost Planet (1959), Peril on the Lost Planet (1960) and Space Agent from the Lost Planet.
It was the first Science Fiction series ever translated to Hebrew, and had considerable impact on the development of this genre in Israel
Israel
The State of Israel is a parliamentary republic located in the Middle East, along the eastern shore of the Mediterranean Sea...
.
Plot summary
The plot follows on precisely from The Lost PlanetThe Lost Planet (novel)
The Lost Planet is a 1953 science fiction novel by Angus MacVicar, published by Burke, London. It forms part of the Lost Planet series, which was extremely popular in books, radio and TV versions....
.
A previous expedition to Hesikos, the wandering 'lost planet' which is now within a few days flight of Earth, has crash-landed, and Dr Lachlan McKinnon (its organiser), Professor Hermanoff and American engineer Spike Stranahan are marooned. McKinnon's colleagues must build and launch a spaceship
Spaceship
Spaceship can refer to:* Another name for a spacecraft* An Unidentified flr5tyqertaerying object * "Spaceship", a song by Puddle of Mudd from their album Vol...
from their Scottish base to travel to Hesikos, but to construct the ship they must obtain the expert assistance of Dr Andrieff, a scientist and engineer, who risks exile from his Eastern European country by so doing.
The crew, consisting of McKinnon's nephew Jeremy Grant, Professor Lars Bergman, science student Janet Campbell and cockney
Cockney
The term Cockney has both geographical and linguistic associations. Geographically and culturally, it often refers to working class Londoners, particularly those in the East End...
housekeeper Madge, rescue the three explorers, who have survived the harsh winter, and start to explore the planet in a jeep. They find signs that Hesikos was once inhabited, and that atomic bombs were detonated long ago on the surface. Escaping from a deluge of water as a river suddenly rises, they take refuge in a cave
Cave
A cave or cavern is a natural underground space large enough for a human to enter. The term applies to natural cavities some part of which is in total darkness. The word cave also includes smaller spaces like rock shelters, sea caves, and grottos.Speleology is the science of exploration and study...
, which leads to a door. The door opens to admit them to underground caverns where the inhabitants of the planet now live.
The people are highly intelligent and human-like, communicating with the visitors by telepathy
Telepathy
Telepathy , is the induction of mental states from one mind to another. The term was coined in 1882 by the classical scholar Fredric W. H. Myers, a founder of the Society for Psychical Research, and has remained more popular than the more-correct expression thought-transference...
, which is facilitated by a machine called the Electronome. They explain that since their planet's orbit was destroyed eons ago by atomic experiments, they have lived a peaceful underground existence, only emerging in the mild summer season to gather fruits and plants. Their current leader is Solveg, with his daughter Asa.
Power for the colony is supplied by hydroelectric generators, but when a rockfall blocks the underground river, all power is lost. The inhabitants have a fatalistic philosophy that allows them to face inevitable destruction stoically, but McKinnon cannot accept this. Grant and Stranahan use the explosives they have saved from the flood to clear the blockage - and Hesikos is saved.
The grateful Hesikans help to repair the visitors' spaceship and they return to Earth, taking Asa with them, who hopes to spread her philosophy of peace.