The Man Without a Planet

by Lester del Rey, Paul W. Fairman

He was PRTSAC: Permanent Resident Through a Special Act of Congress. A set of initials, a title unique in history. And a human being -- the most homesick human being in history.

Fred Hunter was the permanent resident of the space station...the doughnut...because a hideous accident had rendered him physically incapable of returning to Earth. For ten years he sweated it out, while others came and went on tours of duty only a few months long. For ten years he stayed sane, while space gnawed at the minds of his companions.

Then came the invaders, the strange beings who seemed to be not men, not beasts, not machines. Fred Hunter knew he must face them alone...and what could one crippled man do against their might?

Genres: Science Fiction, Fiction

157 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 1966

About the author

Lester del Rey was an American science fiction author and editor. Del Rey is especially famous for his juvenile novels such as those which are part of the Winston Science Fiction series, and for Del Rey Books, the fantasy and science fiction branch of Ballantine Books edited by Lester del Rey and his fourth wife Judy-Lynn del Rey.

Also published as:
Philip St. John
Eric van Lihn
Erik van Lhin
Kenneth Wright
Edson McCann (with Frederik Pohl)

Reviews

[Craig · Rating 4 out of 5]

Siege Perilous was a paperback original from Lancer Books in 1966 with one of my favorite Frank Kelly Freas covers. It was later published under a different title, The Man Without a Planet, and I've heard that it was written in collaboration by Paul W. Fairman, but del Rey alone is listed on the cover. It's a very humorous book and reminded me somewhat of the works of Eric Frank Russell. Kind of dated now, I'm sure, but I enjoyed it very much. Fast and fun.

[Steve · Rating 3 out of 5]

I bought this vintage book at a used bookstore the other day and read it today. It was very fast paced, interesting and FUNNY. I can only imagine the impression this made on readers 52 years ago when it was published in the Golden Age. I am sure they read the 157 pages cover to cover like I did today.

[Anthony Buck · Rating 3 out of 5]

A fun, breezy read, somewhat marred by a horrendously thin female character who lacks any agency whatsoever.

[Paul · Rating 3 out of 5]

Fred Hunter is the only permanent resident of the American space station/missile platform. A major industrial accident renders him physically incapable of returning to Earth gravity. He has to watch other people come and go on tours of duty only a few months long. The reason for the short duty is that a couple of years previously, Paulson, a former Commander of the station, totally lost his mind, and was that close to launching missiles at Earth.

One day, Hunter sees unknown people, in spacesuits, in the office of Jeffroe, the temporary Commander. All the other station personnel have been rendered unconscious by gas. If this is an invasion, it's a very quiet one, with no explosions or gunfire. Hunter manages to hide, along with Callaghan, a crewman who managed to miss the gassing, and Sandy, a scientist who was working in vacuum at the time.

The invaders are not very smart, and they talk like they have seen far too many westerns and gangster movies. Everyone is either "varmint" or "pally." Tapping into the internal intercom system, one of the invaders removes his helmet. It's Paulson, or someone who looks exactly like him. "Paulson" sends a message to Earth; surrender unconditionally, or we start firing. The three manage to stay away from the invaders, and do their best to keep them on edge, by, for instance, turning the heat way up, or turning on the internal sprinklers.

This is a pretty good novel about three people going up against unknown invaders, and it's worth reading. Just because humans considers movies about war with Mars to be total fiction, that does not mean that an alien civilization will treat them the same way.

[Joe Santoro · Rating 3 out of 5]

Plot: Fred Hunter built the space station that keeps the peace between the US and the Eurasian Combine, but he never thought he'd live there. A construction accident made it so the medics didn't think he could survive on Earth. During a shift change at the station (everyone else only stays for a few months to make sure they don't go crazy) bad guys spouting old movie quotes and using ancient space suits attack the station, and the incoming commander fails to stop them, only Fred, a gung ho soldier named Callaghan, and Fred's favorite scientist lady friend Sandy are free. Can they figure out who the invaders are, and stop armegeddon?

Analysis: Not bad... full of tropes (to the extent that I think Del Rey was making fun of them, though I can't be sure at this early-ish date), but a page turned that made me LOL a couple times. It reminded me quite a bit of David Weber style wise.. makes me wonder if he's ever sited Del Rey as an influence. Probably not good enough to search out, but a good read if you come across it.

[Ari · Rating 2 out of 5]

It reminded me a bit of Heinlein's "The Long Watch" -- though whereas that was a tragedy, this is a farce. Not especially memorable or important, but it was a pleasant enough diversion for an hour or two.

[Erik Graff · Rating 2 out of 5]

Nothing memorable to this collaborative science fiction novel.

[Frank Cavanaugh · Rating 3 out of 5]

A little dated but fun to read. Quick, has good characters, action. Del Rey guessed wrong on the geopolitical alignments but they were reasonable. I recommend it for a quiet afternoon diversion.

[Maria Christensen · Rating 3 out of 5]

Fast, fun, highly dated.