Break a Leg

In space, accidents are fatal. That's what makes Charlie Baxter so dangerous. He's what's called an Accident Prone - a man whose very presence seems to invite catastrophe. When Captain Jackson's crew embarks on a re-survey of the alien world Moran III, they bring Baxter along, believing his curse might finally prove useful in an unpredictable frontier environment. But on the planet's surface, surrounded by hostile natives and volatile geothermal hazards, Baxter's reputation becomes a self-fulfilling prophecy. Every near-disaster, every tumble and tumble and near-miss chips away at his confidence until he must confront an uncomfortable question: Is he doomed to cause chaos, or has he simply believed the story about himself for too long? This 1950s sci-fi gem explores the strange territory between superstition and self-fulfilling prophecy, asking whether we are the authors of our own disasters. For readers who enjoy classic space adventure with a psychological edge, and anyone who's ever felt defined by their worst moments.