Breaking Point

"Breaking Point" by James E. Gunn is a science fiction novel written in the early to mid-20th century. The story revolves around a crew of astronauts aboard the spaceship "Ambassador" as they land on an unexplored planet. The narrative explores complex themes of psychology, fear, and human behavior in the face of existential threats posed by unknown alien beings. The plot centers on the crew’s encounter with a mysterious force that manipulates their perceptions and tests their mental limits. As they explore the serene but deceptively dangerous environment of the new planet, tensions arise among the crew members. Each character faces their inner struggles, manifesting fears, hallucinations, and psychological breakdowns, which threaten their sanity and their mission. Ultimately, it is the engineer, Peter Hoskins, who discovers a way to break free from the alien's control by staying true to the truths of his reality, ultimately making a personal sacrifice to ensure the crew's safety. The novel deftly combines elements of speculation about human nature with an engaging science fiction narrative, making it a thought-provoking read for fans of the genre. (This is an automatically generated summary.)

James Edwin Gunn was an American science fiction writer, editor, scholar, and anthologist. His work as an editor of anthologies includes the six-volume Road to Science Fiction series. He won the Hugo Award for "Best Related Work" in 1983 and he won or was nominated for several other awards for his non-fiction works in the field of science fiction studies. The Science Fiction and Fantasy Writers of America made him its 24th Grand Master in 2007, and he was inducted by the Science Fiction and Fantasy Hall of Fame in 2015. His novel The Immortals was adapted into a 1970–71 TV series starring Christopher George.