The Beast-Jewel of Mars

"The Beast-Jewel of Mars" by Leigh Brackett is a science fiction novel written in the mid-20th century. The book is set on Mars and explores complex themes of identity, civilization, and the primal instincts buried within humanity. The narrative primarily follows Burk Winters, a troubled Earthman who seeks to escape his pain through a psychedelic substance known as Shanga, which leads him on a journey into the darker aspects of Martian society. The story unfolds as Burk Winters, haunted by the disappearance of his fiancée, Jill Leland, travels to Mars, where he becomes entangled with the seductive and addictive world of Shanga. This place, designed as an escape for weary Terrans, devolves into a chaotic playground of primal instincts that strips away the veneer of civilization. As Winters undergoes a transformation back to a more primitive state, he grapples with his identity and desires. When he finds Jill, transformed by the same drug, Burk faces the challenge of saving her from the perils of Shanga while confronting the Martian society that revels in their degeneration. The climax stresses the struggle between the remnants of civilization and the allure of primal forces, leaving readers to ponder the nature of humanity and the cost of one's desires. (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.