The World with a Thousand Moons

A science fiction novel written in the early 1940s, a time significantly characterized by rapid advancements in technology and the exploration of outer space, which was reflected in contemporary literature. The book's narrative centers around a perilous adventure set in a fantastical universe where the protagonist, Lance Kenniston, embarks on a dangerous quest to rescue his brother and obtain a legendary pirate's treasure, all while navigating a world populated by alien life forms and human pirate factions. In the story, Kenniston and his Jovian partner, Holk Or, must secure a small spaceship to retrieve treasure from the wreck of the notorious pirate John Dark, which is located on the jungle-covered asteroid Vesta. They concoct a tale of treasure to persuade a group of wealthy young thrill-seekers, led by heiress Gloria Loring, to join them for the journey. As the plot unfolds, they face various challenges, including betrayal, the threat of alien Parasites called Vestans, and the ruthless intentions of Dark and his crew. Kenniston's desperation to save his brother from a grim fate at Dark's hands brings tension to the narrative, culminating in an exhilarating escape that tests their wits against the dangers of betrayal and alien creatures on the World with a Thousand Moons.