Hide and Seek

On the barren, irregular surface of Phobos, a lone intelligence operative known as K.15 faces a seemingly impossible situation. A powerful cruiser is bearing down on him with guided missiles, heavy weapons, and a crew ready to end his mission—and his life—before help can arrive. Armed with nothing but a spacesuit, a small packet of critical intelligence, and the unpredictable landscape of Mars’ inner moon, he must turn physics, terrain, and timing into his greatest allies. What follows is a smart, fast, and tension-filled contest of maneuvering and misdirection as K.15 attempts to survive long enough for rescue to reach him. “Hide and Seek” showcases Arthur C. Clarke’s skill at building suspense through science, logic, and the fundamental limitations of spacecraft and human endurance. Clarke turns the simplest concepts—gravity, momentum, and line-of-sight—into the building blocks of a gripping escape-and-evade drama. It’s a reminder that in space, intelligence can be just as decisive as firepower. Arthur C. Clarke (1917–2008) was one of the most influential voices in 20th-century science fiction. A futurist, inventor, and storyteller, he combined scientific accuracy with imaginative leaps that shaped the genre for generations. His predictions about communication satellites, space travel, and technologies we now take for granted earned him global recognition. Clarke authored classics such as Childhood’s End, Rendezvous with Rama, and 2001: A Space Odyssey, each expanding the boundaries of speculative fiction. His work continues to inspire scientists, dreamers, and readers who crave stories rooted in wonder and possibility.