02576cam a22003733u 4500 50945 UtSlPG 20260610134154.0 m cr n 260607r2016||||utu|||||o|||||||||||||| d UtSlPG en iso639-1 PS Shelton, Vaughan Point of Departure Salt Lake City, UT : Project Gutenberg, 2016 1 online resource : multiple file formats text txt rdacontent computer c rdamedia online resource cr rdacarrier Produced from Galaxy Science Fiction April 1956 Release date is 2016-01-17 Produced by Greg Weeks, Mary Meehan and the Online Distributed Proofreading Team at http://www.pgdp.net "Point of Departure" by Vaughan Shelton is a science fiction novella that was likely written in the mid-20th century, specifically during the 1950s. This work intricately weaves themes of exploration, technological innovation, and ethical dilemmas surrounding scientific advancements. The narrative centers around the mysterious activities of a research foundation and an unauthorized experiment involving ancient artifacts and a groundbreaking power source. The story unfolds as Raymond Donner, the administrative officer of a research foundation, recounts a troubling series of events involving a missing colleague, Porter Hays, and a mysterious figure named Simon Kane. Initially, Kane presents himself as a persuasive figure with grand visions of launching a spacecraft powered by a solar energy device derived from ancient Poseidon tablets. As tensions rise, Donner discovers that Kane's motivations are sinister, rooted in deception and murder. The tale escalates with the revelation of Donner's struggles against Kane's manipulative control over both the technology and the people involved. Ultimately, the narrative culminates in a tragedy when Hays disappears during the spacecraft's maiden flight, leaving behind tragic implications for all involved, including Kane's wife, Nalja, who holds the key to understanding the true nature of the tablets. (This is an automatically generated summary.) Original publication data not identified Science fiction Short stories Space ships -- Fiction Test pilots -- Fiction Weiss Produced from Galaxy Science Fiction April 1956 https://www.gutenberg.org/ebooks/50945 91783 91783