Gods of Space

"Gods of Space" by Ray Cummings is a thrilling science fiction adventure set in the early days of space exploration, where a young astronaut named Roy Atwood ventures to the uncharted Planetoid-150 on a vital mission to find Xarite, a substance that could cure poliomyelitis back on Earth. His journey plunges him into an alien world teeming with strange, glowing forests, monstrous creatures called genes, and the unique Marlans, whose destiny is intertwined with the powerful genes. He encounters Ah-li, a mysterious girl believed to be a goddess, and together, they navigate the dangers of the planetoid, facing a Marlan uprising fueled by jealousy and the ambitions of a power-hungry Marlan named Bohr. As they fight for survival and to secure the Xarite, Atwood discovers a shocking truth about Ah-li—she is actually Gloria Johns, the daughter of his father's colleague—adding a layer of intrigue to their perilous quest, successfully escaping the planetoid with the Xarite in hand.