Arthur K. Barnes Reviews

Added July 27, 2003

The Interplanetary Huntress Returns

Author: Arthur K. Barnes
Publisher: Renaissance E Books
Available At: www.renebooks.com
Publishing Date: Available Now
Genre: Science Fiction: Classic
Format: Ebook download in PDF/HTML/LIT
Price: $4.99
ISBN: 1-58873-082-4
Reviewer: Sharyn McGinty

Are you ready for a trip into the not-so distant past of the 1940's pulp fiction? Grab your gear and prepare to rendezvous with Gerry Carlyle, the Interplanetary Huntress.

Gerry Carlyle is known as the Catch-'em-alive Interplanetary Huntress. As an employee of the London Zoo, it's her job to scour the galaxy looking for alien life forms and bring them back to the Zoo. It's a dangerous job and she loves every minute of it. The thrill of the chase, the excitement at finding a new species, you name it, she loves it. Her life would be perfect if not for the Nine Planets Films, Inc company. They made their money by creating biological robots that resembled the creatures she risked her life to bring back.

The Interplanetary Huntress Returns contains two novellas, each detailing a different assignment.

Assignment One: The Energy Eaters

More than anything Von Zorn, president of Nine Planets Films, Inc wanted Gerry Carlyle to star in one of his pictures. He'd tried everything and failed, then his right hand man Anthony Quade came up with the perfect idea to get Gerry to work for them. They'd give her a never-before-seen creature for the zoo if she'd agree to make one picture for them.

Gerry didn't believe the gall of Quade and Von Zorn. Did they think her an idiot? There was no life on the Hotside of Mercury and even if there was, they had no idea what or how it would react to life elsewhere. As Von Zorn taunts her with his creature, the Promethean, she can't help feeling a tad uneasy as she recognizes some characteristics from a Martian spore.

When Gerry's fears become reality, will Nine Planets Films lose everything? Or will the Huntress triumph?

Assignment Two: The Seven Sleepers

Almussen's Comet would be passing within the solar system in a few weeks. It was larger than any comet every recorded or observed. And it would come through right when Gerry's vessel was down for a major remodel. She knew there was a chance the Comet supported life of some sort, but how to get to the comet to find and bring back whatever was there?

Nine Planets Films had been secretly preparing a vessel to land on the Comet. It was large, bulky, and lacked maneuverability, but it would get them to the comet and protect them from anything the comet could throw at them. Von Zorn was looking forward to having a picture made on the planet and to make it even better Gerry Carlyle, herself, wanted to travel on their vessel.

Von Zorn and Gerry make a deal, she'll find and bring back two of whatever life forms she finds on the comet. She brings back only one creature and the deal is off. Knowing it's the only way, Gerry agrees.

The trip was not an easy one. Lacking maneuverability they couldn't easily dodge asteroids, the comet had storms of its own and the life forms weren't exactly friendly. But with the Interplanetary Huntress on the team, they'll be fine, right?

Reading older stories, especially older pulp fiction has always been a treat. It's helped me build a strong relationship with my grandparents and given me a different view of the past. When The Interplanetary Huntress Returns showed up in my review box, I was intrigued. A bold, brassy, heroine who went on intergalactic missions? Definitely something to hold my attention. Gerry Carlyle is a strong heroine. She knows she can do any job the men around her can, but she's also very aware of her looks. The way she handles problems and looks out for everyone on her missions is amazing. I was entranced by Gerry and am eagerly looking forward to reading the other two Interplanetary Huntress novels.

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