Jungle in the Sky

"Jungle in the Sky" by Milton Lesser is a science fiction novel written in the early 1950s. The book explores the life of Steve Stedman, a fresh graduate in Extra-terrestrial zoology, as he embarks on a perilous journey through the solar system aboard the "Gordak" with a crew set on capturing exotic wildlife for exhibition. The narrative delves into themes of ambition, rivalry, and the clash of personal grudges against a backdrop of interstellar adventure. The opening of the novel introduces Steve as he seeks employment with the renowned big game hunter Brody Carmical, who is skeptical about Steve's qualifications and readiness for the dangers of off-planet hunting. Despite the odds stacked against him, Steve persuades Carmical to let him join an expedition that promises to take him to ten distinct worlds, beginning with Mercury. As he boards the "Gordak", he faces hostile crew dynamics, particularly with the captain, T. J. Moore, and a fierce rivalry with the Frenchman LeClarc. Steve's quest is filled with peril as he confronts challenges both from the harsh environments of alien worlds and the enigmatic circumstances surrounding his brother's death on Ganymede, setting the stage for a gripping tale of survival and revelation. (This is an automatically generated summary.)

Stephen Marlowe was an American author of science fiction, mystery novels, and fictional autobiographies of Goya, Christopher Columbus, Miguel de Cervantes, and Edgar Allan Poe. He is best known for his detective character Chester Drum, whom he created for the 1955 novel The Second Longest Night. Lesser also wrote using the pseudonyms Adam Chase, Andrew Frazer, C.H. Thames, Jason Ridgway, Stephen Wilder, and Ellery Queen.