Slaves of Mercury

"Slaves of Mercury" by Nathan Schachner is a science fiction tale set in the aftermath of an alien invasion. The plot centres around Hilary Grendon, a space traveler who comes back to Earth after being away for five years, but instead of a joyful homecoming he finds his planet under the iron fist of cruel Mercutians. The story follows Hilary's shock as he sees the enslaved state of humanity, and his growing sense of responsibility to fight back against the alien oppressors and rescue his beloved, Joan, revealing a future filled with both danger and the spark of rebellion. The narrative unfolds with a sense of urgency as Hilary quickly understands the dire situation and decides to confront the Mercutians.