The Pluto Lamp by Charles A. Stearns
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"The Pluto Lamp" by Charles A. Stearns is a science fiction novella published in the mid-20th century. The narrative revolves around the misfit character Knucklebone Smith and his ironic destiny of being chosen to install a beacon on the distant and inhospitable planet of Pluto. The tale is both a space adventure and a commentary on fate and personal worth, exploring themes of heroism and the unexpected contributions individuals can make. The
story unfolds as Knucklebone Smith, an awkward and underappreciated human, is assigned to work with Professor Salvor-Jones to set up the Pluto Lamp, a self-sustaining warning beacon for starships. Initially disenchanted with his fate, Knucklebone's character evolves as he confronts various mishaps during their isolation, leading to a critical meteor storm. In a moment of unforeseen bravery, he attempts to assist Salvor-Jones during a crisis, ultimately sacrificing himself to save the beacon and the ship, thereby ensuring its vital function. The legacy of their endeavor results in a monument honoring both men, suggesting that every individual, no matter how unremarkable, plays a significant role in the grand tapestry of life. (This is an automatically generated summary.)
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About this eBook
| Author | Stearns, Charles A. |
|---|---|
| Illustrator | Vestal, Herman B., 1916-2007 |
| Title | The Pluto Lamp |
| Series Title | Produced from Planet Stories Fall 1954 |
| Credits |
Greg Weeks, Mary Meehan and the Online Distributed Proofreading Team at www.pgdp.net |
| Reading Level | Reading ease score: 75.1 (7th grade). Fairly easy to read. |
| Language | English |
| LoC Class | PS: Language and Literatures: American and Canadian literature |
| Subject | Science fiction |
| Subject | Short stories |
| Subject | Pluto (Dwarf planet) -- Fiction |
| Category | Text |
| eBook-No. | 63676 |
| ISBN (HTML) | 979-8-238-63676-4 |
| Release Date | Nov 8, 2020 |
| Last Update | Oct 18, 2024 |
| Copyright | Public domain in the USA. |
| Downloads | 334 downloads in the last 30 days. |
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