Vintage Sci-Fi Pulps

The Bright Phoenix

Price: $7.95

By Harold Mead
(Vintage Science Fiction Pulp)

John Waterville was an explorer, part of the Leader Group for the new Colony. Every member of the party—Officers, Colonists, Reconditioneds—had been carefully selected and trained for survival on the Island. But the State had overlooked one fact: The Island was already inhabited.

Deep in the forests lived a primitive race who worshiped savage gods—and who would not surrender their land.

In the fierce conflict that developed, Waterville saw two things: that the Islanders were a free people fighting for survival, that the Colonists were arrogant slaves of a despotic State.

The Bright Phoenix is a superb story of adventure—but more than that, it depicts the age-old conflict between ethics and expediency, between what men want and what they want to be.

In true classic science fiction mode, John Waterville is an adventurer, yet in his quest to be loyal to the State he ends up questioning the ethics and morality of it all. In a place and time where all is guided by Spirit, he learns that the Morality Officers are not so moral. His depth of loneliness  leads him to Jenny and love. However, it is not a smooth road for romance and love.

In a struggle for independence of self and the Islanders he must make decisions that not only affect himself, others are drawn into the volatile situation.

Extremely well-written!