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Down to Earth
After twelve years, the spaceship Silver Bird returns to Earth. Graham Standish, Susan Barclay and their eleven-year-old son Roger are home at last. But there is no one at the spaceport. The crowds have gone, the huge communal apartment blocks are empty. The atmosphere is devoid of oxygen, and Earth is dead. Or so it seems.
Scattered survivors still live in the old underground hydroponics farms. But the farms are disintegrating and the occupants desperate. They ground the ship and kill its pilot. The ship’s vital stores are to be removed, and Standish is taken to help to repair the farm’s mechanical failures. He is forcibly separated from Susan, who is to be used for less pleasant purposes. And Roger is left behind. How can they all escape?
This is the third of the “Barclay” stories, which began in Nowhere on Earth and continued in The Perfumed Planet.
Scattered survivors still live in the old underground hydroponics farms. But the farms are disintegrating and the occupants desperate. They ground the ship and kill its pilot. The ship’s vital stores are to be removed, and Standish is taken to help to repair the farm’s mechanical failures. He is forcibly separated from Susan, who is to be used for less pleasant purposes. And Roger is left behind. How can they all escape?
This is the third of the “Barclay” stories, which began in Nowhere on Earth and continued in The Perfumed Planet.
184 pages, Kindle Edition
Published June 18, 2025
About the author
Michael Elder
53 books2 followersMichael Elder was a Scottish actor who also wrote documentaries and other largely fact based programmes for BBC Scotland amongst others. He was a member of the Citizens' Theatre, Glasgow, Byre Theatre, St. Andrews, The Gateway Theatre, Edinburgh (1953 - 1960), and the Fraser Neale Players.
In film and television, he is known for his roles in The Flight of the Heron (1976), The Prime of Miss Jean Brodie (1978) and Sam (1973). He played Dr. Wallace in the Scottish Television series Take the High Road.
Elder had a long association with the town of St. Andrews, moving there when he and his sister, Alison, travelled north for schooling after their home was bombed during the blitz in the Second World War.
During the 1950s, he was a member of the Edinburgh Gateway Company. His many television credits included the classic drama series, Dr Finlay's Casebook. A prolific writer from a very early age, Elder had many books published, from children's titles and poetry, to an impressive list of 14 science fiction novels. He also completed several scripts for television, including High Road.
In film and television, he is known for his roles in The Flight of the Heron (1976), The Prime of Miss Jean Brodie (1978) and Sam (1973). He played Dr. Wallace in the Scottish Television series Take the High Road.
Elder had a long association with the town of St. Andrews, moving there when he and his sister, Alison, travelled north for schooling after their home was bombed during the blitz in the Second World War.
During the 1950s, he was a member of the Edinburgh Gateway Company. His many television credits included the classic drama series, Dr Finlay's Casebook. A prolific writer from a very early age, Elder had many books published, from children's titles and poetry, to an impressive list of 14 science fiction novels. He also completed several scripts for television, including High Road.
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