The Burnt Planet

"The Burnt Planet" by William J. Brittain is a science fiction story set on an abandoned alien planet that speaks to the dangers of war and the problems of a lust for conquest. On a mission to colonize, a spaceship crew lands on what seems like an ideal new home, but they soon realize that the planet is far from uninhabited, and that the remaining inhabitants have been driven insane by the aftermath of war. As the crew examines the ruined cities and uncovers the planet's history, they see reflections in the ruins of the dark side of human potential, and the commander starts to realize that he may not be so different than the mad creatures that roam the planet; soon they discover that the planet's extinct inhabitants once referred to themselves as "Men."