Planet Explorer

A science fiction novel written in the mid-20th century. The story follows an outer-space service officer named Bordman, who embarks on an independent survey of the ice-planet Lani III, a challenging and unfamiliar environment. The opening suggests a narrative rich with themes of exploration, survival, and the unforeseen consequences of colonization as Bordman grapples with his responsibilities amid alarming meteorological shifts that threaten human survival on the planet. At the start of the story, Bordman awakens to frigid conditions on Lani III and confronts the unease of being in charge of a colony's establishment as a Senior Colonial Survey Officer. He learns of erratic communications from the parent planet and discovers that the solar constant, crucial for sustaining life, is rapidly declining. As he collaborates with his junior officer Herndon and Riki, Herndon's sister, they try to decode a message warning of dire changes that could make both Lani III and the home planet uninhabitable. The opening captures Bordman's rising tension as he must find ways to combat the chilling threat while also becoming more engaged with the human connections developing around him.