Spacewrecked on Venus is a science fiction story by Neil R. Jones."A beam of electricity leaped from the ship. Instantly shafts of light spread from the nearest projectile to the ones on either side of it...!

The mammoths of the ancient world have been wonderfully preserved in the ice of Siberia. The cold, only a few miles out in space, will be far more intense than in the polar regions and its power of preserving the dead body would most probably be correspondingly increased. When the hero-scientist of this story knew he must die, he conceived a brilliant idea for the preservation of his body, the result of which even exceeded his expectations. What, how, and why are cleverly told here

Another adventure of the intrepid Professor Jameson. ExcerptProfessor Jameson clung more tightly to his precarious perch on the sloping mountainside. His metal tentacles curled about treacherous knobs of slippery rock. His mechanical eyes circling the coned metal head regarding Gloph, the intelligent space creature who, too, fought for his life against the face of the looming peak. Around them shone the stars of space, and several little moons moved visibly in ever-changing phases. Out of the darkness, a blazing sun threw sharp etched shadows all about them. Far beneath them, they saw the haze of the planet's low-lying, dense atmosphere up out of which the towering mountains reached beyond and into space, a bleak region, a veritable top of the world, where only Gloph and his species lived. The space ship of the Zoromes was gone. It had fallen when a part of the mountain peak had slid away. Weathering had weakened the mountain peak beneath the atmosphere line. The professor remembered 65G-849 remarking about this characteristic as they had approached and examined the strange world from out in space."There is no weathering on the mountain tops in space, other than what results from temperature changes when the sun shines," 65G-849 had assured his fellow Zoromes. "It is different, however, below the atmosphere line. Because of the presence of atmosphere and moisture, a good many of the mountain peaks are undermined around the edges."Besides the space ship and those inside it, the five machine men who had come out of the space ship with the professor to talk with friendly space creatures had gone hurtling to their doom. The professor had seen 6W-438, 119M-5, 29G-75, 777Y-46 and 7H-88 grab frantically for something to stay their plunge. Only the professor and 119M-5 had been successful in gaining a hold, and 119M-5's respite had been but a brief one. The machine man's hold on the slippery surface had been even more insecure than the professor's 119M-5 had shot by the professor, radiating a departing farewell.Among the group of space creatures accompanying the machine men, all had fallen, too, except Gloph, who with the professor and 119M-5 had been farthest from the edge of the great break. Before the catastrophe, the space creatures had formed a funeral cortege in the performance of strange rites for the two of their dead, and the machine men had watched. At the climax of the rites, it was the custom, the machine men had learned, to hurl the two dead bodies off the precipice and into the atmospheric sea far below. It was never just one. There always had to be two.Professor Jameson looked across at Gloph and envied the latter's soft, shaggy feet which gave him some measure of support in avoiding the inevitable. "Are you all right?" he radiated. "For the moment," the long, thin creature with the luminous eyes formed the thought. "But I can get nowhere from here." He gazed up helplessly at the steep slope they were on. His four long arms clung to scanty holds on the steep face of the mountain; four shaggy hooves settled against uneven spots on the slippery rock, while the long, gray body hugged the wall closely."We can't get up farther," the machine man told him. "If we could only climb down. It would be easier to climb if we were below the atmosphere line."

Professor Jameson and the other metal Titans of his band of Zoromes return to free the industrious race of Moeps from the oppression of the tyrannous Aemtsexcerpt"We have seen no intelligent on this world yet," the professor remarked, "but still there seems to be a manifestation of mind force, thoughts close lo us which are partly veiled." "It grows stronger up here," said 6W-438.29G-75 bent over the edge of the pro jecting rampart and looked into the valley-far below. The space ship was many miles down the valley and lost to sight. 119M-5 was first to reach the plateau to which they were climbing and loosed a mental exclamation.""What is it?"" asked the professor, scrambling up beside him and staring at a metal spheroid which glinted hack the rays of the sun.""Spaceship or aircraft of some kind.""All four were now on the plateau, sur prised to find this striking example of civilization on what they had come to con sider an uncivilized world."Dare we go any closer?" 29G-75 sug gested."If any intelligent creatures inside had sinister aims against us, they would prob ably have executed them already while we stood watching."Professor Jameson suited this thought with a slow, deliberate approach. As the machine men came nearer, they saw that two metal doors were swung open, as if whoever had left the ship had not re turned. A sense of emptiness and loneliness pervaded the exterior of the craft. The four Zoromes stood and peered in through the doorways. Strange mechan isms and strange objects met their inquisitive sight, but they saw nothing living."I shall go inside," the professor de cided. "Stay out here until we are sure everything is all right."

Professor Jameson and his immortal band of robot-bodied Zoromes find a derelict space-ship-and in it the deadliest, mind-destroying danger of their careers!ExcerptWith a metal tentacle, Professor Jameson pointed to the world in the rear of their passage. At a distance astern of less than twenty thousand miles, the planet still loomed large and commanding, occupying a large section of the star-sprinkled sky within its halo of atmosphere."It seems strange, 6W-438, that we found no intelligent life on that world.""There are still three inner planets to explore. We may yet find an intelligent species in this system.""Life, even of low intelligence, is the exception rather than the rule," 744U-21 reminded them. "We have found life on but seven worlds in the last twenty-eight planetary systems we have visited, and all but one of these worlds were divided up among two systems. We did gather interesting scientific data, however, in a good many cases.""This system shows signs of being peculiarly well adapted for life forms," the professor pointed out. "We may strike something of interest among the inner worlds.""First, we must explore this lone satellite of the fourth world. It is strange that there is but one moon among all five worlds. Possibly, on closer approach to the inner world, we shall see smaller ones we missed through distant observation."The satellite in question grew on their vision as the mother world behind gradually dwindled. 20R-654 piloted the space ship in a broad, sweeping curve around the little moon. As detectors and divinators of all kinds were trained upon the little moon, Professor Jameson, by the side of 744U-21, who was estimating the satellite's diameter and density, saw that their earlier approximation of seventeen hundred miles diameter was only slightly in excess of the exact."There is a strong concentration of metal at one spot we passed," 65G-849 announced."Return that way and we shall seek it out," 744U-21 relayed to 20R-654 at the controls. "Cruise closer to the surface."Close to the surface, in their parlance, meant at an initial safe distance of several miles above any possible spires of rock or mountainous terrain rising up suddenly from beyond the moon's close horizon. They dropped gradually nearer the rough, airless expanse of desolate surface and slowed their speed as 65G-849 reported stronger emanations. At one point, he re ported the metallic concentration to be highly localized. Then the ship passed beyond it, for the emanations diminished in strength quite rapidly. 65G-849 made a confusing report, however, as they returned to the point of highest recording. The radiations were weaker."We have strayed off the line to one side or the other.""No, we were above the same topographical features both times.""Check your instruments again and give specific directions to 20R-654."This was done, and a startling discovery was made."We are not over this metal concentration! We are under it!"Surprise and interest was immediately manifested by all thirty-eight machine men."A sub-satellite!"The mysterious object was quickly found. It was small, they noticed, as the ship maneuvered to sunward."Another space ship-smaller than ours!"

In "Doomsday on Ajiat," Neil R. Jones crafts a thought-provoking narrative that intertwines science fiction with existential philosophy. Set on a distant, dying planet, the novel delves into themes of survival and the ethical dilemmas posed by technological advancement. Jones employs a vivid literary style, adopting rich descriptive language and intricate world-building to immerse readers in the haunting yet mesmerizing landscape of Ajiat. Through character-driven stories, he compels readers to confront the moral implications of humanity's choices in the face of impending doom, exploring the boundaries of both science and humanity as they grapple with their fate. Neil R. Jones, known for his insightful contributions to science fiction, often reflects on contemporary issues within his works. His background in both engineering and literature informs his ability to weave complex scientific concepts into accessible storytelling. "Doomsday on Ajiat" stands as a continuation of his exploration of the intersection between technology and human nature, mirroring his concerns about societal progress and ecological sustainability. This book is highly recommended for readers seeking a deeper understanding of the ethical challenges presented by technological advancement and environmental degradation. Jones's masterful storytelling will resonate with fans of thought-provoking science fiction, bridging the gap between entertainment and meaningful discourse.

Desperate, lost, the machine men of Zor took off on the most perilous mission they had ever faced-against a foe that could not die!ExcerptSince reaching Zor, this new expedition had embarked upon a roundabout direction, which Professor Jameson expected would ultimately lead him back in the direction of his own world and the nearby system of Sirius, where the strangely evolutionized descendants of humanity had fled millions of years ago when Earth had become chill and the sun had grown subdued. As the present narrative opens, however, we find them upon the third world of a system comprised of five planets.Orange sunlight streamed down upon the hull of the spaceship, moored upon a plain of waving, yellow grasses. The sun was not far above the horizon, and was slowly sinking. Fantastic animals and birds uttered strange cries and noises, but showed little curiosity in regards to the machine men.Professor Jameson and 744U-21 stood and watched machine men flying in from different directions on their metal wings. They were about to leave this third world of the orange sun. There were two outer planets in opposition at their present orbital phases, and it had been the agreed design of the machine men to explore these nearer worlds before proceeding to those closer the sun."I have a strange curiosity, developed since we came to this third world, to see what the second planet is like," said the professor. "Now that we are about to leave here for the fourth and fifth planets, this curiosity seems to have grown stronger.""A coincidence," 744U-21 observed, "for I feel the same way, but it is more logical to visit the outer worlds first."The professor was inclined to agree with him. It was strange that they should both become so unreasonably obsessed with the same idea, 6W-438 and 8L-404 approached."I think we are making a mistake going to those outer worlds before we have explored the worlds closest the sun," said 6W-438."What makes you think that?" 744U-21 asked."I don't know. But SL-404 thinks the same, and so do others with whom I have talked."

A war older than Man, fought among ageless stars. . . Long after Man's day was done his last strange son answered its dread challenge on an invisible world of flaming terror!ExcerptRaising one of his six metal tentacles, 6W-438 pointed to the great comet stretching off into space more than a half million miles. "We have been up near the head, and on all sides of it by virtue of our superior speed. Why not fly through it?"744U-21, who with Professor Jameson, headed this later expedition, expressed negation. "We don't know enough about it. The long tail is of a gaseous nature. That we do know. What we do not exactly know is whether its effects on metal might, or might not, be harmful. 168P-75 reports an element in the comet which he believes would corrode the alloy of which we are made. Its effect on the spaceship would be much the same, even though the metallic composition varies somewhat from that of our own bodies.""There is nothing especially worth learning by passing through the tail of the comet," the professor pointed out. "What interests us is watching the comet pass through the planetary sytem which lies in its path. As 65G-849 has told us, there will be no collision with any of the worlds. They are too few and strung out too far, yet their presence is bound to have an effect on the comet even though it may only result in a change of direction. The green sun itself being the largest body of the system, will probably exert the most change and might even bend the course of the comet a hundred and eighty degrees so that it would eventually return this way."Already the metal Zoromes who had once been flesh and blood creatures back on their own planet Zor in a far distant corner of the universe, had taken as much scientific data as possible, short of entering the long gaseous tail. The nucleus was solid, like a small world careening through space. That it carried or sustained any life they seriously doubted, even though they had occasionally found strange life under even stranger conditions during their travels from system to system, world to world, on their eternal exploration for the unusual.

Meteors may contain strange and valuable elements. It is the exploration for such things that our author has used as a basis for his aviation story of outer space.ExcerptHigh up, on the top floor of a hundred-story building sat a man at a desk. Before him was an array of dials, a system of switches and intricate electrical appliances. Several hundred glass bulbs of various sizes flashed on and off intermittently in the wall over his desk. Fitting over the top of his head and around his ears was a shining, silver cap with a wire leading from the top to the apparatus before him. He was one of the world's interplanetary radio operators of the twenty-sixth century, sending and receiving daily messages between Mars and the Earth.One of the largest glass bulbs suddenly shot into brilliance, and with a fierce crackling, an electric spark closed the gap between two metal cylinders, which paralleled one another about a foot apart. At the same time, the operator leaned forward, and with practiced hand, quickly manipulated several of the dials to various points, after which he threw one of the switches into place. A low droning sound filled the room, and a large cylinder upon which was rolled a continuous sheet of thin aluminum began to slowly revolve. As the brilliant blue-white flare in the glass bulb died away, the droning noise turned to a high keyed whine which broke off abruptly. The cylinder stopped while the multitude of tiny glass bulbs again glowed separately at intervals, as they had been doing just before the message had come in.The operator shoved a lever at his side, and a small roller cut across the large cylinder, releasing a sheet of the thin aluminum which fell on to the desk before him. Cut through its thin metal texture was the message from Mars in the three universal languages of the Earth. The radio operator now turned his attention to a smooth plate which rested in the shape of a semi-circle about two feet long and half as wide. On the flat side of the thick composition plate, a black screen arose several feet in a vertical plane at a right angle to the plate, so that the screen faced the operator. Placing the aluminum sheet upon the plate, the operator threw another switch, simultaneously pressing a button marked "Meteorological Bureau." The screen suddenly glowed, throwing an series of orange-hued rays on a slant down upon the plate bearing the narrow sheet of aluminum which grew indistinct, finally fading, until it disappeared from sight. The radio man threw back the switch once more and the screen grew black again. The plate was now as empty and bare as before he had laid the message upon its surface.In the Meteorological Bureau, two thousand miles away, the officials read the message from the aluminum sheet which had been transmitted by radio. One of them, an elderly man, walked over to the end of the room, the wall of which was bordered into a squared shape by panels. The color of the wall inside the dark paneling was a dull gray. He advanced to a round, metal, inlaid section of the floor. As soon as his feet came in contact with the metal, a picture suddenly flashed upon the surface of the wall, and the sounds of exclamations and loud laughter broke in upon his cars. The elderly scientist was looking into a comfortable room fitted up with lounges and easy chairs. Four young men were the sole occupants, being engaged in a game at one of the tables in the room.The game ceased as the four came to sudden attention, facing their superior who now spoke."Jan Trenton.""Here, sir."

In 'Spacewrecked on Venus,' Neil R. Jones immerses readers in a gripping tale of survival and extraterrestrial wonder set on the enigmatic and perilous surface of Venus. The narrative unfolds with a seamless blend of science fiction and adventure, as the protagonist grapples with the harsh conditions of a hostile environment while exploring themes of isolation and the human spirit's resilience. Jones employs a vivid and evocative literary style that captures the imagination, rich with meticulous descriptions and thought-provoking concepts that resonate with the concerns of the early 20th century regarding space exploration and the potential for human advancement amidst existential threats. Neil R. Jones, a noted author and pioneering voice in science fiction, drew from his profound fascination with astronomy and the burgeoning interest in space during the 1930s. His background as a writer and thinker was shaped by the rapid technological advancements of his time, prompting him to explore the cosmic unknown through a narrative lens. This experience provided Jones with a unique perspective on the relationship between human aspiration and the vast, unpredictable cosmos, which is palpably reflected in his work. Readers captivated by classic science fiction and those yearning for thought-provoking explorations of humanity's place in the universe will find 'Spacewrecked on Venus' a compelling addition to their literary repertoire. Jones's imaginative storytelling and richly rendered world invite a deeper contemplation of not just survival, but the very essence of what it means to be human in the face of the unknown.