World of the Drone

"World of the Drone" by Robert Abernathy is a science fiction novel written in the mid-20th century. The story follows the protagonist, Dworn, a member of a technologically advanced beetle-like race, as he embarks on a tumultuous journey during a critical transformation from youth to adulthood. Amidst a backdrop of mechanical beings and a harsh desert landscape, Dworn's quest for survival seeks to uncover the fate of his people after they encounter a deadly force, the Drones, threatening their very existence. At the start of the narrative, Dworn is introduced as he wakes from a deep slumber within his armored machine, preparing for a vital replenishment of resources to continue his journey toward a reunion with his beetle horde. As he maneuvers through the treacherous terrain, he quickly encounters peril, including a skirmish with another machine species, the caterpillars, which leads to a thrilling escape. However, upon arriving at their rendezvous point, he is met with devastation—the remains of fellow beetles burned and destroyed amidst the chaos of a sudden attack. The opening sets up a rich and dramatic world filled with unique mechanics and the urgency of Dworn's vengeful mission to confront the forces behind this destruction, punctuated by his personal struggles and the unforeseen alliance he forms with a spider-machine named Qanya. (This is an automatically generated summary.)

Robert Abernathy was an American science fiction author during the 1940s and 1950s. He was known primarily for his short stories which were published in many of the pulp magazines that flourished during the Golden Age of Science Fiction. Many of his stories have been included in anthologies of classic science fiction such as the French Les Vingt Meilleurs Récits de science-fiction edited by Hubert Juin.