One Against the Stars

"One Against the Stars" by Bill Garson unfolds in a future where a devastating radio plague threatens to wipe out humanity, leaving Earth's fate hanging on a perilous mission to Venus. The story centers on John Bairn, a pilot leading a team seeking a cure, and Joe Wilding, a stowaway drawn to the cosmos by a sense of destiny. Tension escalates as Joe's presence becomes a potential source of infection, forcing the crew to grapple with difficult choices regarding his fate and their own survival. Ultimately, the narrative culminates in an act of self-sacrifice, emphasizing themes of duty and the heavy price of destiny as humanity faces extinction.