The Last Planet

The last planet explored by Laure in the Cloud Universe:

unlike the others, it has an atmosphere - thin, mainly noble gases;

he wants to check element distribution on the surface;

the charged ionosphere prevents him from radioing the orbiting Jaccavrie;

nebular friction causes the planet to spiral towards its primary;

surface temperature is about 50 degrees Centigrade;

very little water;

large red dust storms;

a fiery ring of refracted light;

a jumbled plain;

chaotic terrain;

bare mountains;

gleaming black and brown rock;

deep purple sky;

hard ground;

1.22 Gs caused by planetary density;

strong wind;

high radiation;

heavy metals and radioactives -

- suddenly an exploding sky. Our old friend, the lethal unexpected.

As on Satan and Mirkheim, Poul Anderson creates drama in an uninhabited and uninhabitable environment.