Space Tug - Leinster, Murray

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Résumé :
Joe Kenmore heard the airlock close with a sickening wheeze and then a clank. In desperation he turned toward Haney. My God, we've been locked out! Through the transparent domes of their space helmets, Joe could see a look of horror and disbelief pass across Haney's face. But it was true! Joe and his crew were locked out of the Space Platform. Four thousand miles below circled the Earth. Under Joe's feet rested the solid steel hull of his home in outer space. But without tools there was no hope of getting back inside. Joe looked at his oxygen meter. It registered thirty minutes to live....

Biographie:
Murray Leinster (1896-1975), the pen name of William Fitzgerald Jenkins, was a prolific American science fiction writer whose career spanned more than five decades. A central figure in the Golden Age of science fiction, he is credited with pioneering concepts such as parallel universes and early visions of the internet. Known for his clear, idea-driven storytelling and focus on technological plausibility, Leinster helped shape the development of modern science fiction and remains an important influence on the genre....

Sommaire:
A foundational work of mid-twentieth-century science fiction exploring the realities of human labor and ingenuity in orbit. In Space Tug, Murray Leinster continues his pioneering vision of near-future space operations, depicting a working orbital station dependent on routine supply missions, technical skill, and human resilience. When critical systems aboard the space station begin to fail, it falls to the crew of the space tug to navigate a series of escalating emergencies in the harsh and unforgiving environment of Earth orbit. Leinster's approach is grounded in practical problem-solving rather than spectacle, emphasizing engineering challenges, procedural thinking, and the cooperative effort required to sustain life beyond the planet. First published in 1953, the novel stands as an early and influential example of hard science fiction, anticipating many aspects of modern spaceflight long before they became reality. Its focus on work, systems, and human adaptability gives it a distinctive tone within the genre, offering readers a compelling and realistic vision of humanity's first steps into space....