Dust Unto Dust

"Dust Unto Dust" by Lyman D. Hinckley is a science fiction story written in the mid-20th century, likely during the 1950s. The narrative follows a group of space explorers who come across a mysterious and seemingly abandoned city on a barren planet. The book delves into themes of alien architecture, the remnants of a lost civilization, and the existential dread faced by the characters as they encounter the city and the secrets it might hold. The plot centers around three space-scouters—Martin, Wass, and Rodney—who land on a desolate world during their eleventh expedition. As they explore the eerie, geometric buildings of the city, they find themselves trapped by a mysterious barrier. Efforts to communicate with their ship yield no success, leading to increasing tension among the men. They discover a bank of alien seeds and a functional control panel, but the real horror unfolds when one of them becomes trapped and meets a grim fate. Ultimately, Martin and Rodney manage to escape through a hidden pipe, revealing the city's dark secrets while grappling with the loss of their companion and the overwhelming alienness of their discovery. (This is an automatically generated summary.)

Information on this author is scarce, but their work continues to inspire readers.