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THE JUNGLE by David Drake

THE JUNGLE

by David Drake

Pub Date: Sept. 24th, 1991
ISBN: 0-312-85197-9
Publisher: Tor

A sequel, Drake (Fortress, 1986) carefully explains, to the late (and lamentably unregarded) Henry Kuttner's long story ``Clash by Night,'' reproduced here, in which Earth has been destroyed and humanity lives in ``Keeps'' beneath the oceans of a terraformed Venus. The land masses are rife with vicious, predatory animals and vegetables; the Keeps conduct proxy wars by means of the mercenary Free Companies, who alone will brave the manifold perils of the land. The plot is simple: the hovercraft commanded by Ensign Brainard is damaged in action. Brainard must beach the craft, then lead his crew up a hill swarming with dire beasties in order to signal for help. Through his inspired leadership, most of the crew survive, and Brainard is vindicated against prior accusations of cowardice. Various flashbacks pad the proceedings. Military science-fiction reduced to a reassuringly familiar action formula.*justify no*