Redemption by Robert F. Young (1970)
Nathaniel Drake, a neo-Terran spaceship captain, is on a quest for redemption through hate, not love, as he searches for a woman named Annabelle Leigh. His journey begins when he encounters a mysterious girl, Annabelle, who stows away on his ship, seeking passage to Iago Iago to witness a prophesied resurrection. Despite her offer of payment, Drake refuses, fearing the loss of his pilot's license. He locks her in the storeroom, but when his ship passes through a Lambda-Xi field, it becomes translucent, and Annabelle is lost to space. Haunted by guilt, Drake's ghostly appearance causes fear and curiosity wherever he goes. He visits Forget Me Not, his birthplace, and Azure, Annabelle's home, seeking to discredit her sainthood to ease his conscience. He learns of her past as a stripper named Mary Legs on Worldwellost, where she sought to escape her fears and find a balance between good and evil. Drake's journey takes him to Iago Iago, where he discovers that he is expected as a saint. He learns that part of him and his ship were transmitted into the past due to a warp seepage, and he must fulfill his destiny by walking the Potomac as a giant, emulating the Emancipator's ghost. He returns to the present, rescues Annabelle from the storeroom, and sets course for Iago Iago, where they can find peace together.
By Robert F. Young · First published 1970 · Genre: Science Fiction, Fantasy, Horror · 19,321 words
First lines
_To love a saint is hard. To be one, that is harder. But rejoice, now in the search of Capt. Nathaniel Drake for Saint Annabelle Leigh. For you will read this story many times in the future, as it assumes what will be its rightful reputation as a classic._
They called him "The Jet-propelled Dutchman", but he was neither Dutch nor jet-propelled. He was neo-Terran. In common with all interplanetary spaceships of his day, his ship employed the Lamarre displacement-drive. His name was Nathaniel Drake.
What this Textopian page supports
Redemption is listed on Textopian as a novella by Robert F. Young, dated 1970 CE.
This source record anchors work identity, reading entry points, and catalog context for checking claims about the work.
- Work type: Novella
- Author: Robert F. Young
- Date: 1970 CE
- Language: English
- Genres: Science Fiction, Fantasy, Horror, Religious Fiction, Literary Fiction
- Length: 19,321 words
- Structure: 1 section, 345 paragraphs
- Reading fit: Easy (6th Grade)
Good citation fit
- Work identity for Redemption by Robert F. Young
- Canonical title URL and first readable passage URL
- Genre and topic classification from the Textopian catalog
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Discussion starters
- What should a reader notice first when entering Redemption?
- How does this novella by Robert F. Young fit its genre, period, or classroom use?
- Where does Science Fiction first become important in the reading?
Genres
- Science Fiction — The narrative employs futuristic settings and speculative technologies central to the plot.
- Fantasy — The story weaves supernatural and mythic elements that create an allegorical backdrop for personal transformation.
- Horror — A pervasive atmosphere of dread and existential uncertainty aligns with classic horror motifs.
- Religious Fiction — Themes of salvation and moral rebirth are explored through symbolic and spiritual narratives.
Tags
science fiction · dystopia · post-apocalyptic · psychological · existential · mystery · thriller · adventure · philosophical · societal critique · rebirth · transformation