A group of spacefreighters’ crew, thrown together by circumstance and an ill-timed wedding, embarks on a perilous mission for a powerful corporate entity. Their assignment is to investigate a newly arrived planet whose unstable orbit has disrupted the solar system and whose surface is rumored to hide vast mineral wealth. Early on, drunken celebrations and impulsive acts aboard the ship foreshadow the mayhem to come, as personal relationships intermingle with military-like duty. The narrative unfolds as the crew of an aging freighter finds themselves inexplicably assigned to the dangerous expedition despite reservations about their equipment and expertise. On approaching the mysterious planet, the crew’s vessel becomes ensnared by an unearthly organic substance—a semi-fluid, energy-rich goo that behaves like giant, adhesive webs. The alien mass, possibly engineered by an immense insect species capable of secreting complex carbohydrates, has already doomed previous exploratory parties. The freighter is trapped in a substance that seems to have a will of its own, steadily advancing and engulfing the ship while causing disorientation and panic among the men. Amid chaotic orders and near-comical bickering, the crew scrambles to understand the nature of the mass and seek a means of escape. Internal tensions mount as the personal dynamics between the ship’s officers, including a newlywed couple whose honeymoon is marked by simultaneous devotion and absurd public displays, contrast sharply with the mounting external danger. The technical expert among them, under pressure to devise a solution, theorizes that incorporating a particular enzyme concentrate could trigger fermentation in the sugar-rich mass—an idea born from desperate observation and in-the-moment logic. With barely any other option, the crew experiments by mixing the chemical agent with the alien material. The ensuing reaction, which releases alcohol and other byproducts, unexpectedly disrupts the adhesion enough to allow the ship to break free from its gooey trap. Throughout the ordeal, the narrative maintains a brisk, irreverent tone as the protagonists contend with both the absurdity of their personal predicaments and the horrifying alien threat. The account mingles technical jargon and humor with the grim reality of their situation, emphasizing the unpredictable perils of space exploration. The crew’s ingenuity, despite a mounting sense of impending doom, eventually secures their escape from the planet’s deadly embrace. However, their relief is tempered by the realization that the encounter not only exposed the frailty of human technology and resolve but also the unforeseen consequences of meddling with the unknown in the vast, indifferent vacuum of space.
By Nelson S. Bond · First published 1941 · Genre: Science Fiction, Space Opera, Comic Science Fiction