Thunder in the void

"Thunder in the Void" by Henry Kuttner is a science fiction story from the 1940s about humanity's initial journeys into space. It reveals a dangerous alien race on Pluto that drains the life from humans. Saul Duncan, the main character, escapes from prison with help from Brent Olcott and steals a spaceship hoping to see his wife, Andrea, to get valuable radium from Mars. But the ominous warning about space sounds true when Saul learns about the Varra, mysterious beings who have lived with humans but hide a dark secret. When Andrea is betrayed and killed by the Plutonians, Saul goes on a vengeful mission, realizing the Varra themselves may be the biggest threat out in space, exploring themes of sacrifice, betrayal, and the dark side of human ambition as he faces the cosmic horrors waiting beyond the stars.