In the first book Pirates of Venus, Carson Napier, a human from Earth, crash-lands on Venus (Amtor) and is immediately thrust into the chaotic world of warring factions. He encounters the sophisticated Vepajans, who have advanced technology but are under threat from the Thorists, a revolutionary group that overthrows their society, killing or driving out the educated elite. Napier also deals with pirates and dangerous wildlife while learning the complexities of Amtorian politics and culture. In Lost on Venus, Napier embarks on a journey to rescue Princess Duare, who has been kidnapped by various factions. He encounters a variety of strange creatures and hostile tribes, including the Angans, winged humanoids who serve the Thorists. His travels bring him deeper into the mysteries of Amtor, including its distorted geography and flawed cosmology. In Carson of Venus, the political situation on Venus escalates with the rise of the Zanis, a fascist group inspired by Nazi Germany. Napier becomes embroiled in spy intrigue and war as he navigates the shifting allegiances of various factions. The Zanis’ brutal tactics and fascist ideology contrast with the earlier, more chaotic revolutionary forces, marking a shift in the novel’s political satire. The book Escape on Venus consists of four interconnected stories, each focusing on different aspects of Venusian life and society. Napier faces various challenges, including being enslaved by fish-men, encountering a fire-worshipping cult, and dealing with the living dead. The stories showcase the diversity of Venus’s environments and the ongoing struggles for power among its inhabitants. The Wizard of Venus is the final entry of the series, where Carson Napier confronts a mad “wizard” on Venus who controls the local population through hypnotic powers. Napier, possessing similar abilities, must outwit the tyrant and free the oppressed people. This novella, written during WWII, features Napier’s use of his own powers in a more direct, confrontational way, and concludes his adventures on the strange and dangerous world of Amtor.
First Appearance “The Pirates of Venus” in Argosy All-Story Weekly (6-parts, September 17, 1932 to October 22, 1932)
First Publisher A. C. McClurg
Appearance List Novels: Pirates of Venus (1932), Lost on Venus (1933), Carson of Venus (1938), Escape on Venus (1946), The Wizard of Venus (1964, novella)
Description In the first book Pirates of Venus, Carson Napier, a human from Earth, crash-lands on Venus (Amtor) and is immediately thrust into the chaotic world of warring factions. He encounters the sophisticated Vepajans, who have advanced technology but are under threat from the Thorists, a revolutionary group that overthrows their society, killing or driving out the educated elite. Napier also deals with pirates and dangerous wildlife while learning the complexities of Amtorian politics and culture. In Lost on Venus, Napier embarks on a journey to rescue Princess Duare, who has been kidnapped by various factions. He encounters a variety of strange creatures and hostile tribes, including the Angans, winged humanoids who serve the Thorists. His travels bring him deeper into the mysteries of Amtor, including its distorted geography and flawed cosmology. In Carson of Venus, the political situation on Venus escalates with the rise of the Zanis, a fascist group inspired by Nazi Germany. Napier becomes embroiled in spy intrigue and war as he navigates the shifting allegiances of various factions. The Zanis’ brutal tactics and fascist ideology contrast with the earlier, more chaotic revolutionary forces, marking a shift in the novel’s political satire. The book Escape on Venus consists of four interconnected stories, each focusing on different aspects of Venusian life and society. Napier faces various challenges, including being enslaved by fish-men, encountering a fire-worshipping cult, and dealing with the living dead. The stories showcase the diversity of Venus’s environments and the ongoing struggles for power among its inhabitants. The Wizard of Venus is the final entry of the series, where Carson Napier confronts a mad “wizard” on Venus who controls the local population through hypnotic powers. Napier, possessing similar abilities, must outwit the tyrant and free the oppressed people. This novella, written during WWII, features Napier’s use of his own powers in a more direct, confrontational way, and concludes his adventures on the strange and dangerous world of Amtor.
