McDowell, Robert Emmett 1914-1975 creator Napoli, Vincent 1907-1981 text utu 2021 monographic en 1 online resource : multiple file formats "Black Silence" by Robert Emmett McDowell is a science fiction novel written in the mid-20th century. The story follows the crew of the spaceship "Argus", as they return from a disappointing two-year expedition to Mars, only to find Earth struck by a mysterious plague that has rendered civilization lifeless. The central character, Matt Magoffin, grapples not only with the haunting silence of the planet they once called home but also with the challenging dynamics developing among his crewmates in a world turned alien and dangerous. The opening of the narrative introduces readers to the crew's excitement for their return to Earth, abruptly shattered by a chilling broadcast announcing a devastating plague spreading uncontrollably. As they attempt to contact Earth to understand what's happened, a palpable tension builds within the crew, culminating in their descent into a desolate and dark world. Upon landing, they discover the grim reality of their situation: abandoned towns, eerie silence, and troubling signs of a societal collapse. The immediate horrors escalate as encounters with wild animals and unforeseen dangers unfold, setting the stage for Matt's intense struggle for survival and leadership amid chaos. (This is an automatically generated summary.) Release date is 2021-01-18 Greg Weeks, Mary Meehan and the Online Distributed Proofreading Team at http://www.pgdp.net Original publication data not identified Science fiction Space travelers -- Fiction Epidemics -- Fiction Earth (Planet) -- Fiction PS Original publication data not identified https://www.gutenberg.org/ebooks/64326 https://www.gutenberg.org/ebooks/64326 UtSlPG 260607 20260610134500.0 64326