''The Undying Fire'' is a science fiction

novel A novel is a relatively long work of narrative fiction, typically written in prose and published as a book. The present English word for a long work of prose fiction derives from the for "new", "news", or "short story of something new", itsel ...

by Fletcher Pratt. It was first published in both

hardcover A hardcover, hard cover, or hardback (also known as hardbound, and sometimes as case-bound) book is one bound with rigid protective covers (typically of binder's board or heavy paperboard covered with buckram or other cloth, heavy paper, or occa ...

and paperback by

Ballantine Books Ballantine Books is a major book publisher located in the United States, founded in 1952 by Ian Ballantine with his wife, Betty Ballantine. It was acquired by Random House in 1973, which in turn was acquired by Bertelsmann in 1998 and remains ...

in 1953. The novel has also been translated into Italian. The book is an expansion of the author's novella "The Conditioned Captain," originally published in the magazine ''

Startling Stories ''Startling Stories'' was an American pulp science fiction magazine, published from 1939 to 1955 by publisher Ned Pines' Standard Magazines. It was initially edited by Mort Weisinger, who was also the editor of ''Thrilling Wonder Stories'', S ...

'' in the issue for May, 1953.

Plot

The story involves an interstellar expedition to steal a neptunium motor from the planet Danaan, punctuated by various political and romantic complications.

Reception

Groff Conklin, writing in '' Galaxy Science Fiction'', called the book "tenuous," rating it "far below the best that Fletcher Pratt can do." He noted that " e astropolitics encountered are involved and the various love motifs energetic, but neither do much to rescue the book from its basic weakness--lack of inventiveness."Conklin, Groff. "Galaxy's 5 Star Shelf," in '' Galaxy Science Fiction'', October 1953, p. 121. The book was also reviewed by the editors of '' The Magazine of Fantasy & Science Fiction'', August 1953, an anonymous reviewer in ''

'', January 1954,

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 ...

in ''

Astounding Science Fiction ''Analog Science Fiction and Fact'' is an American science fiction magazine published under various titles since 1930. Originally titled ''Astounding Stories of Super-Science'', the first issue was dated January 1930, published by William C ...

'', February 1954, Damon Knight in '' Science Fiction Adventures'', March 1954, and L. Jerome Stanton in '' Future Science Fiction'', March 1954.

References

1953 American novels 1953 science fiction novels American science fiction novels Ballantine Books books Novels by Fletcher Pratt {{1950s-sf-novel-stub