THE DEATH RAYS OF ARDILLA
First Published on 5th March 1959 - 192
pages
NB - The character "Multavo"
from the last book is inexplicably spelt "Multova"
in this and all subsequent books. One can only assume it was a careless error
made by Johns or the publishers.
Judkins
the butler introduces two unexpected guests. Vargo
and Multova have arrived at Glensalich
Castle, ostensibly to fetch more tea, but they also tell our heroes, the
Professor Brane, Tiger, Toby and Rex, about
continuing problems with the planet Ardilla. The
effects of the rays have been getting worse. A spaceship on a survey mission to
the planet Petroconda has gone missing. Amongst the
crew was a friend of Vargo's called Quantos and he, Vargo, now
intends to lead a rescue mission. Our heroes ask to go with him. Returning to
the Tavona, a 12 year old boy called Donald
Macdonald is caught trying to stow away on the ship. He is sent on his way. Multova tells everybody of the strange world of Dacoona where nobody seems to die. The planet has a low
birth rate and high accident mortality rate to compensate. The people work for
a period of time equivalent to eight months of the year and sleep for four
months. The people have an unusual gland that acts as a super-repair device. Landing for a short time on Mars, where the work to reinhabit the planet has continued to progress, the Tavona then goes on to Mino, and from there on to Petroconda. Here the lost spaceship is found,
deserted. A search is organised and three bodies are found, savagely beaten to
death. Quantos is not amongst the dead. Storm clouds
start to quickly gather in the sky. Borron is seen in
the distance with a figure. It is Quantos. They are
signalling for everybody to return to the ship. Everybody reaches the ship just
in time before huge lumps of hail fall, like bricks. Quantos
tells his story, the hail had killed his companions and he had been trapped. Borron tells everybody about a previous visit he had made
to the moon of Petroconda, which had been named Selinda. The place had been highly civilised but had been
laid waste by something mysterious. After hearing the account, the Professor
suspects it may have been radioactivity that was responsible and a decision is
made to go and investigate. On Selinda a volcano is discovered
that ejects black smoke every 15 seconds. The remains of the last survivor of Selinda are found. A form of radioactivity has killed the
population and laid waste to the planet. The Tavona
returns to Petroconda and then on to Mino. The
Professor sets his mind to dealing with the problem of the rays emanating from Ardilla. The trip to Terromagna
is now extremely difficult as the rays have extended their influence and Multova departs to return home. The Tavona
follows as Rolto, a space captain known to our
heroes, has also disappeared whilst trying to find a way through. A strange
planet is found on the journey, that is not on any of
the space charts. Landing on the planet, it is found to be exceptionally cold,
but strange tunnels are also found. Here strange ant- like creatures are found. Whilst moving on to another planet to look for Rolto, which the Professor names Aquania,
Rex and the others begin to feel the effects of Ardilla's
rays. Gator comes up with the idea of out-distancing the ray,
that is, travelling faster than the ray. Rolto
is not found on Aquania, but it is discovered that he
had been there, before the Tavona is almost
swept away by a tidal wave. Landing on another unknown planet, our heroes are
attacked by birds. Arriving at Terromagna, Multova is there to meet them. He tells them that the
scientists of Terromagna have worked out a way of
emitting a reflecting medium at Ardilla, to reflect
back the rays. A satellite will be sent up by rocket to orbit Ardilla. Our heroes go to see the launch of the satellite.
The project is successful and all of the rays are blocked. A message is then
received from Rolto, who was being held prisoner on Ardilla. The people of Ardilla
are in a state of panic now that their rays are being reflected back on
themselves and they want peace. The problem solved, our heroes discuss their
plans for the return journey home.
Click
here to see the story illustrations from this book
Click here to see an original
advertising leaflet for the Science Fiction books
The Death Rays of Ardilla
Subtitle - The further adventures of Rex Clinton and his friends,
with the crew of the spaceship TAVONA and how they helped to fight the evil
intentions of the inhabitants of Ardilla.
Publication Details - published by Hodder and Stoughton
First Edition
Frontispiece
Click on the Frontispiece to enlarge it
Original first edition boards
There is, in fact, a band from Sheffield called “The Death Rays of Ardilla” – you can find out more at the link below
https://www.facebook.com/tdroa