Circle of Confusion

Circle of Confusion is a science fiction novel by George O. Smith, published in the early 1940s. The story follows John McBride, the Station Chief on Pluto, as he confronts a crisis caused by reckless pilot Sandra Drake, who attempts to navigate her ship through a man-made lens designed to illuminate the planet. This act triggers catastrophic events, highlighting themes of technological hubris, gender roles, and the fragility of civilization in the face of human ambition and environmental engineering.