Other editions of book The Secret of the Ninth Planet

On the day that the theft of the solar system’s light begins, Burl Denning is with an archaeological expedition in the Andes, only a few miles from the source of the “disturbance." Within hours the United States Air Force has ordered the expedition to investigate the strange phenomenon that is causing a dimness and a drop in temperature throughout the world.This is the start of a fantastic adventure that eventually takes Burl, a high-school senior, on the first circumnavigation of the solar system. On planet after planet, he and the crew of the Magellan, a gleaming, powerful, and virtually untested spaceship, discover the weird trappings of a brilliantly-designed Sun-tap station. Each planetfall brings unexpected hazards, as the ship draws closer and closer to solving the mystery of the theft.This book originally was published in 1959 as part of the Winston Science Fiction series. This new edition includes an article, “The Winston Science Fiction Series and the Development of Children’s Science Fiction” by Francis Molson, originally published in EXTRAPOLATION; Spring 1984, Vol. 25 Issue 1. Dr. Molson, a noted scholar in the field of children's science fiction and fantasy, discusses the history of the Winston series and its impact.

The Mysterious Ninth WorldWhile the circumnavigation of the solar system seems farfetched, it may not be once the problem of effective anti-gravitational control is solved. In this book I have assumed that the many researchers now actually at work on this problem will achieve such a result in the next decade. It is not at all impossible that they may—for we all know that the more minds that work at a problem, the sooner it will be solved. The discovery of a means of negating, reversing or otherwise utilizing the immense force of gravitation for space flight purposes is now thought to be within the bounds of probability. It should occur some time within the next hundred years, possibly in even the short period I assume here...

On the day that the theft of the solar system’s light begins, Burl Denning is with an archaeological expedition in the Andes, only a few miles from the source of the “disturbance." Within hours the United States Air Force has ordered the expedition to investigate the strange phenomenon that is causing a dimness and a drop in temperature throughout the world. This is the start of a fantastic adventure that eventually takes Burl, a high-school senior, on the first circumnavigation of the solar system. On planet after planet, he and the crew of the Magellan, a gleaming, powerful, and virtually untested spaceship, discover the weird trappings of a brilliantly-designed Sun-tap station. Each planetfall brings unexpected hazards, as the ship draws closer and closer to solving the mystery of the theft. This new edition includes an article, “The Winston Science Fiction Series and the Development of Children’s Science Fiction” by Francis Molson, originally published in EXTRAPOLATION; Spring 1984, Vol. 25 Issue 1. Dr. Molson, a noted scholar in the field of children's science fiction and fantasy, discusses the history of the Winston series and its impact.

While the circumnavigation of the solar system seems farfetched, it may not be once the problem of effective anti-gravitational control is solved. In this book I have assumed that the many researchers now actually at work on this problem will achieve such a result in the next decade. It is not at all impossible that they may—for we all know that the more minds that work at a problem, the sooner it will be solved. The discovery of a means of negating, reversing or otherwise utilizing the immense force of gravitation for space flight purposes is now thought to be within the bounds of probability. It should occur some time within the next hundred years, possibly in even the short period I assume here. Once solved, the severe handicaps imposed on space exploration by the weight and chemical limitations of rockets would no longer apply. The whole timetable of our conquest of the planets in our solar system would be tremendously speeded up, from hot Mercury all the way out to frigid Pluto. In describing the visits of the spaceship Magellan to the planets, I have endeavored to adhere to known facts and the more reasonable assumptions about each of these worlds. The planet Pluto, however, deserves further comment, occupying as it does both an important role in this adventure and a unique one in actual astronomical lore.

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While the circumnavigation of the solar system seems farfetched, it may not be once the problem of effective anti-gravitational control is solved. In this book I have assumed that the many researchers now actually at work on this problem will achieve such a result in the next decade. It is not at all impossible that they may - for we all know that the more minds that work at a problem, the sooner it will be solved. The discovery of a means of negating, reversing or otherwise utilizing the immense force of gravitation for space flight purposes is now thought to be within the bounds of probability. It should occur some time within the next hundred years, possibly in even the short period I assume here...

First Edition, 1959, first printing, an EX-LIBRARY cloth-bound hardcover, without a dust jacket, from The John C. Winston Co., by Donald Wollheim. The book is in very good condition with the usual ex-library attributes: empty card pouch on the inside cover, stamped "grades 7-8" in the upper left corner of the inside front cove, slightly soiled/foxed first and last pages and inside boards, secure library binding, library name stamp on the title page, red "1" at the bottom of the copyright page, slight wear to the cover. Excellent reading copy of this young adult novel in the classic Winston science fiction series for young readers published between 1952 and 1961.

On the day that the theft of the solar system's light begins, Burl Denning is in the Andes with an expedition. Within hours the U.S. Air Force has ordered the expedition to investigate the strange phenomenon that is causing a dimness and a drop in temperature throughout the world. This is the start of a fantastic adventure that eventually takes Burl on the first circumnavigation of the solar system. Each planet-fall brings unexpected hazards, as the ship draws closer and closer to solving the mystery of the theft.

Fans of sci-fi will love this exciting little novel written by Donald Wollheim. A simple writing style, an exciting plot and a few impressively well-defined characters will be enough to keep you glued to your seat as you read about a future alien threat that's both original and quite interesting, to say the least.Danning Burl and his father are immediately sent on an important mission to circle the solar system after it has been determined that certain strange machines deposited on Earth and the other planets in the Solar System are acting as sun tapping devices, and reducing the amount of light that reaches the Earth from the Sun. Danning himself was assigned to the mission due to his unique ability of shutting down the devices through a special type of energy he possesses.Although Burl and the crew are on board the Magellan – an experimental ship – and en route to Pluto (the Ninth Planet), where undoubtedly the alien race that planted the devices is waiting for them, they fearlessly move forward, overcoming traps and challenges in what can be named as a truly fabulous science fiction adventure.Wollheim has written this novel in a somewhat liberal and light manner, allowing readers to enjoy it thoroughly without the need to challenge their own beliefs or look up complex words and learn about rocket science. Instead, the book is quite accessible to just about anyone with a basic knowledge of the Solar System, and can be very entertaining as well, Burl's adventure and all parts of the plot offering plenty of eye-opening exciting scenes that will keep you on your toes.Some might say that they don't make sci-fi books as they used to, and when it comes to evaluating The Secret of the Ninth Planet, this seems to be very close to the truth. Published for the first time in 1959, it paved the way for plenty of modern day sci-fi ideas through its impressive originality.