Crash Beam

"Crash Beam" by John Barrett is a science fiction tale from the 1940s that tells about a dangerous situation on a space route between Earth and Venus. A major accident puts lives in jeopardy, and themes of technology, sabotage, and a fight to prevent disaster get explored. The plot follows Dan Kearns, an electronics engineer, after a fatal landing mishap claims the lives of two pilots. When Kearns finds proof of sabotage using dangerous light, he races against time to stop the next passenger rocket from suffering the same fate. He takes matters into his own hands, reflecting the harmful beam back, revealing the betrayal that put everyone at risk. It's a thrilling blend of suspense and smart ideas about where human invention and technological dangers meet.