The Mercurian

The Mercurian is a science fiction novella by Frank Belknap Long, written in the early 20th century. Set on the harsh planet Mercury, it follows a group of miners extracting uranium who encounter a living creature that challenges their understanding of life on the planet. Long, known for his contributions to the Cthulhu Mythos, received multiple awards for his work, making this story notable for its exploration of human-alien encounters in an extreme environment.