Space Platform Read online

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  Transcriber's Note

  Despite extensive research, no evidence was found that U.S. copyright on this book was renewed.

  _Space Platform_

  _Murray Leinster_

  _POCKET BOOKS, INC. NEW YORK, N. Y._

  _Reaching for the Stars...._

  _Ever_ since ancient man first gazed in wonder at the stars, humanityhas dreamed of traveling to outer space. Now scientists agree thatspace-flight may very soon become a reality.

  _Space Platform_ tells of man's first step into outer space ... of thedifficulties and dangers of reaching for the stars. It is also anexciting adventure. When young Joe Kenmore came to Bootstrap to installpilot gyros in the Platform he hadn't bargained for sabotage or murderor love. But Joe learned that ruthless agents were determined to wreckthe project. He found that the beautiful girl he loved, and men like TheChief, a rugged Indian steelworker, and Mike, a midget who made up forhis size by brains, would have to fight with their bare hands to makeman's age old dream of space travel come true!

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  _This science-fiction novel was originally published by ShastaPublishers._

  _Of other books by Murray Leinster, the following are science-fiction:_

  SIDEWISE IN TIME

  MURDER MADNESS

  THE LAST SPACE SHIP

  THE LAWS OF CHANCE (Anthology)

  GREAT STORIES OF SCIENCE FICTION (editor)

  This Pocket Book includes every word contained in the original,higher-priced edition. It is printed from brand-new plates made fromcompletely reset, clear, easy-to-read type.

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  SPACE PLATFORM

  Shasta edition published February, 1953

  Pocket Book edition published March, 1953

  1st printing January, 1953

  All rights reserved. This book, or any part thereof, may not bereproduced in any manner without written permission of the publisher,except for brief quotations embodied in critical articles or reviews.For information, address: SHASTA PUBLISHERS, 5525 South BlackstoneAvenue, Chicago, 37, Illinois.

  _Copyright, 1953, by Will F. Jenkins. This POCKET BOOK edition ispublished by arrangement with Shasta Publishers. Printed in the U.S.A._

  * * * * *

  Pocket Book]

  _Notice_: POCKET BOOK editions are published in the United States byPocket Books, Inc., in Canada by Pocket Books of Canada, Ltd., and inEngland by News of the World, Registered User of the Trade Marks. TradeMarks registered in the United States and British Patent Offices byPocket Books, Inc., and registered in Canada by Pocket Books of Canada,Ltd.

  ACKNOWLEDGMENTS

  This acknowledgment is necessary if I am to say thanks to some expertsto whom I am indebted. There is Captain Charles Benjamin, who read overthe aviation parts of this book with pursed lips and a belligerentattitude toward questionable statements of fact or observation. There isDr. John Drury Clark, whose authoritative knowledge of rocket fuels wasthe basis for admitted but not extravagant extrapolation on my part.There is the crew of a four-engined transport ship, who argued over mymanuscript and settled the argument by a zestful, full-scalecrash-landing drill--repeat, "drill"--expressly to make sure I haddescribed all the procedure just right. There is Willy Ley, whom I wouldlike to exempt from responsibility for any statement in the book, whileI acknowledge the value of personal talks with him and the pleasureanybody who has ever read his books will recognize. And there is Dr.Hugh S. Rice of the Hayden Planetarium, who will probably be surprisedto find that I feel I owe him gratitude. They are in great partresponsible for the factual matter in this book.

  I think I may add, though, that I worked on it too.

  MURRAY LEINSTER"Ardudwy"Gloucester, Va.

  _Space Platform_