Half Around Pluto

"Half Around Pluto" by Manly Wade Wellman is a science fiction novella published in the late 1950s. The story revolves around the inhospitable and frigid environment of Pluto and the survival challenges faced by a small team of astronauts. The tale highlights themes of isolation, human resilience, and the emotional complexities of relationships in extreme circumstances. The narrative follows Lieutenant Wofforth and his crewmates, Jenks and Corbett, who are stranded on Pluto after their scout rocket crashes. While trying to make their way back to Base Camp, Wofforth faces not only the harsh elements but also the tensions that arise among the crew due to their dire situation. As they journey across the desolate landscape, they must contend with dwindling supplies and the psychological strain of isolation. After a tragic conflict leads to the death of his companions, Wofforth continues alone, ultimately reaching Base Camp, only to find it locked and inaccessible. However, he is unexpectedly reunited with Lya Stromminger, the ship's first mate, who had chosen to stay behind. Together, they find hope in the possibility of survival on Pluto, setting the stage for a new beginning. (This is an automatically generated summary.)

Manly Wade Wellman was an American writer. While his science fiction and fantasy stories appeared in such pulps as Astounding Stories, Startling Stories, Unknown and Strange Stories, Wellman is best remembered as one of the most popular contributors to the legendary Weird Tales and for his fantasy and horror stories set in the Appalachian Mountains, which draw on the native folklore of that region. Karl Edward Wagner referred to him as "the dean of fantasy writers." Wellman also wrote in a wide variety of other genres, including historical fiction, detective fiction, western fiction, juvenile fiction, and non-fiction.