Venusian Invader

"Venusian Invader" by Larry Sternig is a science fiction story from a 1945 issue of Planet Stories that plunges into a high-stakes confrontation with space pirates. The story follows the kidnapping of Leah Barrow, the Director of Comprotown’s daughter, by the infamous Venusian pirate, Tar Norn who crash lands on Callisto. Tar Norn demands a spaceship in exchange for Leah's safety, setting off a frantic rescue operation led by rocketport dispatcher Mart Wells and Director Barrow who must grapple with difficult choices, weighing the cost of releasing a dangerous criminal against the life of an innocent. As Mart uncovers Tar Norn's true plan, a plot involving the freighters, the story turns into a race against time, culminating in a surprising solution that highlights bravery, quick thinking, and the will to put other’s lives before one’s own.