Lorelei of the Red Mist

"Lorelei of the Red Mist" by Leigh Brackett and Ray Bradbury is a science fiction novel likely written in the mid-20th century. The story follows Hugh Starke, a man who, after dying in a violent escape attempt on the planet Venus, awakens in a new body that he quickly discovers is both powerful and cursed by the influence of Rann, a devil-goddess who rules the planet Falga. The narrative blends elements of adventure and mysticism as Starke grapples with his new identity and the treacherous forces at play. The opening of the book introduces us to Hugh Starke's desperate flight and subsequent death, which leads to his awakening in an unfamiliar setting—a world of striking beauty and peril. Initially disoriented, Starke learns that his previous identity is fading and that he is now entangled in a larger conflict involving the inhabitants of this alien realm, particularly Rann who seeks to manipulate him for her own ends. Moreover, the dynamics between Starke, the blind warrior Faolan, and the fierce leader Beudag create intriguing tension as the plot suggests a deep history of betrayal and war. As Starke confronts his new identity and the looming threats, the stage is set for a tale filled with complexity, emotion, and interplanetary intrigue. (This is an automatically generated summary.)

Leigh Douglass Brackett was an American author and screenwriter. Nicknamed "the Queen of Space Opera," she was one of the most prominent female writers during the Golden Age of Science Fiction. As a screenwriter, she was best known for her collaborations with director Howard Hawks, mainly writing Westerns and crime films. She also worked on an early draft of The Empire Strikes Back (1980), elements of which remained in the film; she died before it went into production.