Terror Out of Space

"Terror Out of Space" by Leigh Brackett is a science fiction novella published during the early 1940s. The story unfolds in a chilling landscape beneath the black seas of Venus, where a terrifying, unknowable force evokes madness and despair in those who encounter it. The narrative primarily explores themes of alien influences, the human psyche, and the haunting allure of unattainable ideals. The plot follows Lundy, a pilot for the Tri-World Police, who finds himself embroiled in a desperate struggle against an alien entity that ensnares the minds of men, driving them to obsession. After a disastrous encounter, Lundy must confront his fears as he navigates the mysterious undersea environment, contending with otherworldly dangers and the seductive presence of a being known only as "It". This entity possesses the ability to hypnotically captivate those who glimpse her veiled beauty, resulting in madness for those driven to pursue her. Lundy's journey reveals the thin line between admiration and destruction, culminating in a profound revelation about the price of desire when he finally confronts the truth behind the alluring enigma. (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.