First Landing

Castle’s first landing on Venus was meant to be a methodical scientific survey — a straightforward assignment for a cautious man who trusted data more than instinct. But when his helicar crashes in the planet’s fog-drenched night, he discovers he’s not alone among the towering fungi and endless wind. Strange, small figures hunt him through the murk, driving him toward something he never expected to find. Each step forward challenges his assumptions about the planet, its inhabitants, and his own role as humanity’s first representative on this untamed world. First Landing is classic Roger Dee—tight, tense, and filled with the slow build of discovery that defined so much early planetary adventure. Dee uses the alien ecology of Venus not just as a backdrop, but as a force shaping Castle’s every decision. And as the mystery deepens, Castle’s objective survey becomes something far more personal. Roger Dee (Roger D. Aycock) was an American science-fiction author best known for his thoughtful, character-driven stories that appeared throughout the 1950s and 60s. His work often blended frontier exploration with psychological tension, using alien environments to push ordinary people into extraordinary circumstances. Dee’s fiction appeared in If, Galaxy, Planet Stories, and other beloved magazines of the era. Though never one of the loudest voices of the Golden Age, he became a favorite among readers who appreciated grounded speculation over spectacle. His stories endure today for their clarity, pacing, and subtle emotional depth.