''Missing Men of Saturn'' is a juvenile

science fiction Science fiction (sometimes shortened to Sci-Fi or SF) is a genre of speculative fiction which typically deals with imaginative and futuristic concepts such as advanced science and technology, space exploration, time travel, parallel uni ...

novel, published first in 1953, by astronomer and author Robert S. Richardson (as Philip Latham) with cover illustration by

Alex Schomburg Alexander A. Schomburg, born Alejandro Schomburg y Rosa (; May 10, 1905Alejandro Schomburg Y Rosa

. The story concerns Dale Sutton's mission to the dreaded planet Saturn from which no one has ever returned. ''Missing Men of Saturn'' is a part of the

Winston Science Fiction ''Winston Science Fiction'' was a series of 37 American juvenile science fiction books published by the John C. Winston Company of Philadelphia from 1952 to 1960 and by its successor Holt, Rinehart & Winston in 1960 and 1961. It included 35 no ...

set, a series of juvenile novels which have become famous for their influence on young science fiction readers and their exceptional cover illustrations by award-winning artists.

Plot introduction

Dale Sutton, a recent graduate from the Space Academy, is assigned to the ''Albatross'', a decrepit old spaceship. When the ''Albatross'' is assigned to explore the mysterious ringed planet Saturn, Dale remembers the story of Captain Dearborn who had commanded the first and last mission to Saturn. When the ''Albatross'' reaches Saturn's moon Titan, the superstitious fears of the crew are realized as equipment begins to disappear, and eventually people.

Reception

New York Times ''The New York Times'' (''the Times'', ''NYT'', or the Gray Lady) is a daily newspaper based in New York City with a worldwide readership reported in 2020 to comprise a declining 840,000 paid print subscribers, and a growing 6 million paid ...

'' reviewer Villiers Gerson praised the novel as "an excellent tale."

P. Schuyler Miller Peter Schuyler Miller (February 21, 1912 – October 13, 1974) was an American science fiction writer and critic. Life Miller was raised in New York's Mohawk Valley, which led to a lifelong interest in the Iroquois Indians. He pursued this as ...

identified it as the best of the early run of Winston juveniles, citing both its scientific accuracy and the relatively realistic stature of its hero."The Reference Library", '' Astounding Science Fiction'', November 1954, p.145

Characters in "Missing Men of Saturn"

* Dale Sutton - Recent graduate of Space Academy where he was a "big man on campus", sent on expedition to Saturn.

Publication history

*1953, United States, The John C. Winston Company, Pub date 1953, Hardback

References

1953 American novels American science fiction novels Children's science fiction novels 1953 science fiction novels Fiction set on Titan (moon) Space exploration novels {{1950s-sf-novel-stub