Wind by Charles L. Fontenay (1958)
A stubborn Dutchman named Jan Willem van Artevelde embarks on a perilous journey across the treacherous terrain of Venus to rescue a boy suffering from the deadly Venus Shadow disease. With a tight deadline to return to his colony, Jan faces fierce winds and seismic activity as he navigates the rocky landscape. After a challenging drive, he reaches Rathole, a small settlement inhabited by families of laborers. There, he learns that the boy, Diego, must be evacuated immediately to save his life. However, Rathole lacks the necessary fuel for the flying platform that could facilitate the rescue. Jan's determination leads him to devise a plan to use the windmills that power Rathole to create a makeshift windmill-powered flying platform. Despite the odds, he successfully constructs a contraption that allows him to transport Diego back to his colony just in time for the scheduled spaceship departure to Earth. The narrative explores themes of resilience, ingenuity, and the human spirit's capacity to confront adversity, all set against the backdrop of a harsh and unforgiving alien environment. Ultimately, Jan's resourcefulness and commitment to saving a life highlight the interconnectedness of humanity, transcending cultural differences in the face of a common struggle.
By Charles L. Fontenay · First published 1958 · Genre: Science Fiction, Adventure, Mystery · 6,877 words
First lines
_When you have an engine with no fuel, and fuel without an engine, and a life-and-death deadline to meet, you have a problem indeed. Unless you are a stubborn Dutchman -- and Jan Van Artevelde was the stubbornest Dutchman on Venus._
Jan Willem van Artevelde claimed descent from William of Orange. He had no genealogy to prove it, but on Venus there was no one who could disprove it, either.
What this Textopian page supports
Wind is listed on Textopian as a novel by Charles L. Fontenay, dated 1958 CE.
This source record anchors work identity, reading entry points, and catalog context for checking claims about the work.
- Work type: Novel
- Author: Charles L. Fontenay
- Date: 1958 CE
- Language: English
- Genres: Science Fiction, Adventure, Mystery
- Length: 6,877 words
- Structure: 1 section, 182 paragraphs
- Reading fit: Standard (8th-9th Grade)
Good citation fit
- Work identity for Wind by Charles L. Fontenay
- Canonical title URL and first readable passage URL
- Genre and topic classification from the Textopian catalog
- Readability and classroom-planning context
- Passage-specific claims should cite the exact /read/ URL for the relevant chapter or paragraph
Discussion starters
- What should a reader notice first when entering Wind?
- How does this novel by Charles L. Fontenay fit its genre, period, or classroom use?
- Where does Science Fiction first become important in the reading?
Similar titles
- Seven Year Sleepers by Grant Allen
- Strange Exodus by Robert Abernathy
- Troubled Star by George O. Smith
- Operation Haystack by Frank Herbert
- Time For Survival by George O. Smith
- Spaceman Lost by George O. Smith
Genres
- Science Fiction — The plot and themes of the book are aligned with futuristic and expansive concepts common in the science fiction genre.
- Adventure — The book includes elements of thrilling journeys and missions, resembling characteristics of the adventure genre.
- Mystery — The book also incorporates a level of intrigue and suspense that is typical in mystery genre.
Tags
science fiction · adventure · dystopia · survival · exploration · climate change · human resilience · future society · technology · environmental themes · isolation · conflict