A Planet Named Joe

"A Planet Named Joe" by Evan Hunter is a science fiction story set amidst the space-age excitement of the mid-20th century, where Major Polk embarks on a comically difficult adventure to find a Venusian named Joe, only to discover that identifying the correct Joe is nearly impossible on a planet where everyone seems to share the same moniker which really emphasizes themes of satirical commentary. The mission takes a turn as Polk is plunged into a jungle full of people all named Joe. Polk faces cultural misunderstandings and absurd situations which is exacerbated by the fact that he needs to complete the task, and eventually becomes entangled in a conflict with another officer, Colonel Walsh, whose hidden schemes bring the ideas of betrayal and the complications of relating across distinct species to a head. The novel’s unexpected climax highlights the challenges of bridging cultural and linguistic divides.