A Zloor for Your Trouble!

In Short

This science fiction story follows Napoleon "Nap" Prescott, a rugged professional hunter hired by a duplicitous contractor to capture a "zloor," a mysterious, rabbit-sized Martian animal. While other hunters have been lured into an expensive, multi-year trap by the same contractor, Nap eventually cracks the puzzle of the creature’s biology. A classic example of mid-century pulp science fiction, the book endures because it blends the grounded, gritty reality of professional contract work with a clever, satisfying solution to an seemingly impossible alien mystery.

The Story

Napoleon Prescott is a hard-bitten hunter who prefers his reliable .257 Roberts rifle to the high-tech weaponry favored by his peers. He is approached by Westley Marks, an arrogant, well-dressed man who offers him a contract to capture a live zloor on Mars. Despite his initial reluctance, Nap is goaded into a high-stakes, thousand-credit wager by Marks’s condescending attitude. He heads to Mars, where he discovers he is not the first hunter to take the bait. He finds a colony of his peers at Fort Mars, all of whom have been similarly manipulated by Marks into a perpetual, underpaid state of limbo, trapped by their own bruised egos and the desire to win their bets.

Nap quickly discovers why the zloor is so elusive: the creature is effectively indestructible. It ignores high-powered rifle fire, is physically immovable, and seems to possess a density that defies natural law. The hunters on Mars share stories of failed attempts to cage, poison, or transport the beasts, all of which resulted in broken equipment and frustration. Through the local community of hunters, Nap learns that scientists believe the zloor may be an alien life form from a planet orbiting a white dwarf star—a "guinea pig" left behind by an advanced civilization.

After years of trial and error, Nap abandons the idea of force. He observes the creatures' feeding habits and discovers they have a unique, refined palate for the pits of certain Earth fruits, such as peaches and apricots. By using these pits as bait, he manages to domesticate two zloors, "Frankie" and "Johnny," making it simple to lead them onto a return rocket.

Two years later, Nap returns to Earth to settle his account. He finds a visibly rattled Marks in his office. Nap reveals he has brought back two live specimens, securing his bonus and winning the thousand-credit wager. As he collects his payment, he leaves Marks with a final, chilling revelation: he has shared the secret of the peach pits with the other hunters still on Mars. The market is about to be flooded with zloors, and Marks—obligated by his contracts to pay every returning hunter—is headed for financial ruin. Nap leaves the office, savoring his victory over the man who treated his profession as a mere game.

How It Unfolds

The recruitment Westley Marks visits Nap in his hangar, using a mix of condescension and a challenge to his professional pride to goad the hunter into a high-stakes bet. Nap agrees to the contract, believing he can succeed where others might fail, and sets off for the Martian colony.

The Martian impasse Upon arriving at Fort Mars, Nap encounters a group of fellow hunters who have all been similarly swindled by Marks. He learns that the zloor is functionally indestructible, possessing an impossible density that causes even standard rifle fire to bounce harmlessly away.

The breakthrough After years of failing to capture the beasts through traps or force, Nap realizes the solution lies in the creature's diet. He discovers that they are obsessed with the pits of Earth fruits, allowing him to bypass their strength and lead them onto a spacecraft.

The final settlement Nap confronts Marks in his office, demanding payment for his success. He reveals that he has not only secured his prize but has also ensured that every other hunter in the "Zloor Club" will soon return with their own specimens, bankrupting the contractor.

The People

Napoleon "Nap" Prescott A red-headed, plain-spoken, and highly skilled hunter who values his tools and his reputation. He is initially driven by a desire to prove himself against Marks’s arrogance, but he eventually matures into a strategist who outsmarts his employer.

Westley Marks An aristocratic, smooth-talking contractor who views hunters as disposable assets. He is motivated by greed and the desire to exploit government contracts, but he fails to anticipate the ingenuity of the men he manipulates, leading to his eventual downfall.

Mike Holiday A fellow hunter stationed on Mars. He serves as the bridge between Nap and the local community, providing the backstory of the "Zloor Club" and helping Nap understand the futility of using force against the alien creatures.

In Its Own Voice

"There's more than one way of skinning a zloor, as well as a cat."

Nap determines that if his rifle cannot kill the beast, he must find a more creative way to capture it.

"I reached down and grasped it by the ears and started to pick it up."

Nap discovers the true nature of the creature’s incredible, unexplained mass when his attempt to lift it nearly results in a back injury.

"The next few rockets from Mars are going to be loaded with zloors, Westley, old man."

Nap delivers the final blow to Marks, explaining that the hunter community has turned his own scheme into a source of collective profit.

What It's Really About

At its core, the story is a classic parable about the triumph of patience and observation over brute force and ego. The zloor represents the "impossible" problem that cannot be solved by a hammer—or a high-powered rifle—but yields to someone willing to understand its specific nature. The book also explores the power dynamics between the "expert" worker and the exploitative middleman. The "Zloor Club" is a cautionary tale about the high cost of pride, but the story ultimately argues that those who are exploited can turn the tables on their oppressor by fostering solidarity and sharing knowledge.

Why Read It Today

Readers who enjoy the brisk, no-nonsense style of 1950s science fiction will find this a rewarding, quick read. The tone is distinctly masculine and hard-boiled, reflecting the era’s "tough guy" archetypes and the jargon of the time. The humor is dry and cynical, particularly in the way the hunters bond over their shared, self-inflicted misery.

However, modern readers should be prepared for the period-typical attitudes that permeate the dialogue, including a rigid view of gender roles and the casual, often brusque way characters interact. The story does not dwell on complex world-building; it focuses entirely on the puzzle of the zloor and the satisfaction of the payoff. If you appreciate a story where the "little guy" outsmarts the suit in the corner office through pure, stubborn intelligence, this will feel like a classic. The ending is particularly satisfying for anyone who has ever held a grudge against someone who thought they were the smartest person in the room. The pacing is rapid, and while the science is pure "pulp" invention, the central mystery remains engaging enough to carry the reader through to the final, triumphant page.