the danger to the Solar System is past. Burl sees then the people of other planets and of other stars coming together in peace and mutual understanding. Crew of the Magellan Burl Denning: just out of high school, he has acquired an almost magical ability to operate the machinery belonging to hostile aliens. Colonel Lockhart: a former military man and an aircraft company executive, he is Magellan’s captain and chief pilot. Russell Clyde: an astronomer associated with the Mount Palomar Observatory, he serves as chief astrogator and co-pilot. Samuel Oberfield: an assistant professor of astrophysics, he serves as Clyde's assistant and as second co-pilot. Harvey Caton: is one of the ship's engineers. Jurgen Detmar: is another member of the engineering staff. Frank Shea: is the third member of the engineering staff. Roy Haines: an explorer of tropical jungles, he serves as general crew in flight and as part of the ship's combat unit on the ground. Captain Edgar Boulton, USMC: an accomplished fighter, he also serves as general crew and combat support. Leon Ferrati: an Antarctic explorer, he also serves as general crew and combat support. Publication history 1959, USA, John C. Winston Co., Hardback (203 pp) 1960, France, Les Editions Daniber, Apr 1960, Hardback (190 pp), as L’énigme de la neuvième planète (The Secret of the Ninth Planet) 1963, Italy, Casa Editrice La Tribuna, Jan 1963, Magazine (128 pp), as Il Segreto del Nono Pianeta (The Secret of the Ninth Planet) 1965, USA, Paperback Library, Nov 1965, Paperback (155 pp) 1967, USA, Holt, Rinehart and Winston, Jan 1967, Hardcover (203 pp) 1973, USA, Warner Paperback Library, , May 1973, Paperback (154 pp) 1985, Hungary, Móra Ferenc Ifjúsági Könyvkiadó, , Paperback Anthology (96 pp), as A Kilencedik Bolygó Titka (Secret is the Ninth Planet) 2009, USA, Pulpville Press, Paperback (157pp) Reviews The book was reviewed by P. Schuyler Miller at Astounding Science Fiction (July 1960) Floyd C. Gale at Galaxy Magazine (Oct 1960) In Kirkus Reviews for 1959 Sep 14 the reviewer wrote: “When the power of the sun becomes noticeably diminished, young Burl Denning and his expedition take off in an anti-gravitational ship to discover the cause and its location. After a dizzying tour of all the planets, they realize that the trouble springs from Pluto, a belligerent planet which is trying to usurp the life-giving power which the sun gives earth. Making an alliance with the friendly Neptunians,