The invading asteroid

In Short

Set in the year 2675, this science fiction novella captures the early 20th-century fascination with space travel and the imagined dangers of our planetary neighbors. After discovering a disguised Martian "asteroid" that is actually a massive artificial warship, three friends infiltrate the enemy base to sabotage it from within. It is a quintessential example of the "pulp" era, blending scientific speculation with the camaraderie and bravado typical of the period’s adventure fiction. Its enduring interest lies in its earnest, fast-paced vision of a future shaped by interplanetary conflict.

The Story

In the year 2675, Earth is locked in a bitter war with Mars. Three young Terrestrial pilots—Neil, Bull Mike, and Sukune—take a squadron scout ship on an unauthorized trip into deep space. While drifting near the moon, they encounter a Martian scout. After a brief skirmish, they capture the pilot, a Martian named Yaxa, who reveals that his people have constructed a massive, artificial planetoid. This "asteroid" is a hollow, mobile fortress—a colossal ship designed to drift toward Earth undetected, carrying thousands of soldiers to launch a surprise attack.

The three friends bring this information to Terrestrial intelligence. Suspecting the military’s conventional fleet may be insufficient to destroy the heavily armored asteroid, the intelligence officers devise a risky plan: they allow Neil, Bull Mike, and Sukune to "defect" and return to the asteroid with Yaxa. Their mission is to infiltrate the base and sabotage it from the inside. Though Neil appears to be a traitor, his true goal is to reach the asteroid’s central gravity-stabilization cable, which holds the four massive sections of the vessel together.

Upon arrival, the three are initially imprisoned but quickly manage to escape. As the Terrestrial fleet launches a massive assault on the asteroid’s exterior, the three friends fight their way through the corridors of the Martian base. They reach the central pillar housing the gravity cable, but they are swarmed by Martian guards. In a final, desperate act, Neil uses a disintegrator tool to weaken the casing, and Bull Mike sacrifices his life to rip the magnetic cable apart with his bare hands. The severed cable causes the colossal structure to fail.

The blast and the resulting chaos leave the asteroid crippled, allowing the Terrestrial fleet to secure victory. Neil survives the destruction, awakening in a hospital on Earth. He is awarded the Terrestrial League’s highest honor for his service. In a final moment of reflection, he finds himself in a hospital bed next to Yaxa, who has also survived the conflict. Having both lost much in the war, the former enemies choose to let go of their hatred, finding a fragile, mutual peace as they recover from their wounds.

How It Unfolds

The unauthorized voyage Three bored student-pilots take a government scout ship on a joyride into space to escape the tedium of wartime training. Their flight takes them far from Earth, where they accidentally cross paths with a lone Martian scout.

A startling discovery After capturing the Martian pilot, the trio learns that a massive, artificial asteroid is secretly drifting toward Earth. This hollow, armored world serves as a staging ground for a devastating surprise invasion.

The infiltration mission Terrestrial intelligence orchestrates a deceptive mission where the three friends pose as deserters to return to the asteroid. Their goal is to gain access to the core mechanisms that keep the artificial world intact.

The sabotage As the Terrestrial fleet begins a massive external assault, the three friends fight through the Martian interior to reach the central gravity cable. They succeed in severing the connection, causing the structure to break apart.

A final resolution The war ends for the participants as the asteroid is destroyed. Neil awakens in a hospital to receive a medal, eventually reconciling with his former Martian captor, Yaxa, as they both recover from their injuries.

The People

Neil Andresson is a handsome, intelligent pilot who serves as the tactical mind of the trio. He is the most conflicted about the war, harboring secret doubts about the Terrestrial cause, yet he remains loyal to his friends and his duty. His ability to negotiate and his willingness to risk his life for the mission ultimately secure Earth's safety.

Bull Mike Tishinev is a massive, athletic former star student whose physical strength and bravado drive much of the group’s action. He is the heart of the team, often providing comic relief and unwavering, if occasionally reckless, courage. His ultimate sacrifice in the final battle serves as the catalyst for the asteroid’s destruction.

Sukune is a sharp-witted, knowledgeable pilot who acts as the navigator and technical expert. He is well-versed in astronomical lore and uses his knowledge of "jiu-jitsu" and nerve centers to subdue the Martian prisoner. He is a steadfast friend who fights alongside his comrades until he is mortally wounded.

Yaxa is a Martian scout whose capture sets the story in motion. Initially a proud enemy, he is forced to act as a guide for the Terrestrials. Over time, he develops a genuine camaraderie with Neil. His evolution from an arrogant invader to a broken, reflective man parallels Neil’s own journey, humanizing the "enemy" by the story's conclusion.

In Its Own Voice

"It was a fighting ship that was mounting upward, one of the many that sped through space in the days of 2675, when Earth and Mars were in the throes of that gigantic and regrettable conflict, the Interplanetary War."

This description sets the scene for the story, establishing the high-tech, militarized future in which the three protagonists live.

"Then a long jointed arm of metal extended from his ship to grapple and hold the supposedly disabled Terrestrial."

This moment captures the tense, mechanical nature of the encounter between the Terrestrial scouts and the Martian raider.

"For they had both fought a good fight. Both had done their best. Both would be honored for their efforts. And, best of all, neither of them would ever need to fight again."

These final sentences provide a somber resolution to the carnage, emphasizing the shared humanity of the two survivors.

What It's Really About

The central theme is the futility of war and the shared experience of those who survive it. While the narrative is framed as a high-stakes adventure, the underlying argument is that conflict forces otherwise decent people—Terrestrial and Martian alike—into roles of violence and destruction that they eventually outgrow. The book also explores the idea that true "victory" is not just the defeat of an enemy, but the ability to transcend the labels of "friend" and "foe." By mirroring the experiences of the Terrestrial Neil and the Martian Yaxa, the author questions the necessity of the "gigantic and regrettable" interplanetary struggle, suggesting that peace is found only when the machinery of war is dismantled.

Why Read It Today

Readers who enjoy the brisk, straightforward pacing of 1930s pulp science fiction will find much to admire here. The story moves with a relentless momentum that favors quick action and immediate consequences over lengthy exposition. Those interested in the historical development of the genre will appreciate the specific tropes of the era, such as "truth-rays," "disintegrator rays," and the casual, often blunt attitudes toward war and combat.

However, modern readers should be prepared for the period-typical bravado and the simplified, black-and-white morality that initially characterizes the conflict between Earth and Mars. The dialogue can feel stilted to contemporary ears, and the casual brutality displayed by the characters reflects a mid-1930s perspective that may feel jarring today. Despite these conventions, the story’s core—a desperate, claustrophobic mission inside a dying, artificial world—remains a compelling read. It captures a specific sense of wonder about the solar system that was central to the science fiction of the time. What stays with you is the final image of two broken enemies in a hospital room, setting aside their weapons for the quiet, shared realization that they have finally done enough fighting.