Patrick Moore- Planet of Fear

[ray gower]

When Scott Saunders first observes Minor Planet 6547 (Christened Bertie for short) approaching Earth, he thinks there is something strange about it. Now he's about to discover its terrifying power. For Minor Planet 6547 is not a planet at all...

Another case of a Scientist attempting to pass his knowledge using fiction. Though unlike Prof Lowe, this one (from 1977) is quite good and well thought out, if written in Enid Blyton Famous Five fashion.

Well hidden, behind a lot of serious books about space and astronomy. Sir Patrick Moore, has also produced a short series of childrens sci/fi novels. In this case the Scott Saunders Adventures.
Planet of Fear is the second book of the series.

 

[Dave]

Well it's true, you do learn something here every day!

I never knew Patrick Moore had written fiction. His non-fiction books are fine, so why not?

I imagine that these must be real HARD SF. I get the impression that he hates bug-eyed monsters, and he is absolutely fanatical about denouncing the evils of Astrology, as opposed to the Astronomy he loves.

 

[ray gower]

Don't know if you would describe them as Hard Science Fiction. Especially as these are written for the consumption of ten year olds. Perhaps 'technically correct' would be better?

This one didn't have aliens as such, but the asteroid was a ship that had travelled for so long it looked like an asteroid because it was covered in space debris, as well as a crew of an exploration ship that had crashed upon it (sent them at least halfway around the bend, from which two recovered).

I think there are six books in the Scott Saunders Series, none of which I have read, so I can't comment further.

Nor were they his first delve into writing fiction. Look out for 'Master of the Moon' (1952) and 'Mission to Mars' (1956) billed: "The book for boys with an earnest interest in space travel", it became the first of his 'Mars quintet'. Not related AFAIK to the film or TV series of the same name.

Patrick Moore himself contributes his interest in Astronomy to a science fiction novel by Fenton Ash called 'A Son of the Stars' that appeared in the boys comic 'Young England' originally published in 1908. (I don't know them either, but I'll find them). Apparently it was about a race of bats on Mars.

There is an excellent (and funny) interview and biography on The Zone

BTW. Did you know he composed as well as played the xylophone?
I didn't!

 

[Dave]

Thanks for the biography.

I knew about the missed place at Cambridge, being a WWII RAF navigator, and the girlfriend who died, but not the other stuff.

I've watched him on 'The Sky at Night' since I was a schoolboy myself.

I have a few of his non-fiction astronomy books, and he was used by NASA on the Apollo missions because he was the undisputed world expert on Lunar geography.

I think that TV shows have often tried to make fun of his xylophone playing, they don't succeed IMHO because he his quite good at it, but they want to show him as some sort of geek, whereas I think he he is an interesting guy, who has led an interesting life, with it's share of tragedy.

Did you know that 'The Sky at Night' is the longest running TV show in the world?

 

[ray gower]

I did.
I remember the Beeb extending the fortieth anniversary show and several appearances by Patrick Moore on chat shows.
I also knew he was in the RAF.
But nothing else until I read the biography.

I do agree about the Xylophone playing though. He is very good with it!

 

[ray gower]

Complete list of Novels by Sir Patrick Moore for anybody with access to a good secondhand book shop:

Series
Maurice Gray
1. Mission to Mars (1955)
2. The Domes of Mars (1956)
3. The Voices of Mars (1957)
4. Peril on Mars (1958)
5. Raiders on Mars (1959)
The Domes of Mars

Scott Saunders
1. Spy in Space (1977)
2. Planet of Fear (1977)
3. The Moon Raiders (1978)
4. Killer Comet (1978)
5. The Terror Star (1979)

Novels

Master of the Moon (1952)
The Frozen Planet (1954)
The Island of Fear (1954)
Destination Luna (1955)
Quest of the Spaceways (1955)
Wheel in Space (1956)
World of Mists (1956)
Captives of the Moon (1960)
Wanderer in Space (1961)
Crater of Fear (1962)
Invader from Space (1963)
Caverns of the Moon (1964)
Planet of Fire (1969)