FW: [FWD: [PW] Children's SF book or short story]

This request for a  SF title appeared on the Wombat listserv. Does this sound familiar to anyone on the list?
Sandi LangDirectorNorth Canton Public Library

From: [email protected]
To: [email protected]
Subject: [FWD: [PW] Children's SF book or short story]
Date: Wed, 18 Nov 2015 06:30:51 -0700






-------- Original Message --------

Subject: [PW] Children's SF book or short story

From: Holly Campbell-Polivka <[email protected]>

Date: Tue, November 17, 2015 7:42 pm

To: "[email protected]" <[email protected]>



Hi Great Brain,



I am hoping you all may be able to help me with a stumper.



The juvenile science fiction book (or short story) begins with a guy being interviewed by a computer. He is sent to some sort of desert planet or desert world that is inhabited by beings with leather skin. It is very hot there, but there is a fruit he can eat that helps him tolerate the heat and also makes him be able to go very fast.



The patron remembers reading the story in the mid-1970s.



I did a google search and was able to find somebody else on a science fiction forum searching for what I believe may be the same book. The clue I got from that was that the person thinks the planet or world may be called something like Alpha. But I'm not sure if this is just a false lead or not. I'm wondering if the author possibly could be Robert Silverberg, and if the story may be Revolt on Alpha C, but I can't find enough of a description to find out whether it matches the patron's description, and when he reads the description, it doesn't ring a bell with him.



And suggestions I got from another listserv include: Dorsai novellas by Gordon R. Dickson; The Immortals of Mercury, by Clark Ashton Smith; or Planet of Adventure stories, by Jack Vance. Yay or nay on any of those? I also got the suggestion of Dune, and I'm absolutely positive that is not the one.



Dennis Lien, your name was specifically mentioned as someone who may know. Are you out there?

Thank you in advance!



Holly Polivka

Youth Services Librarian

Tigard Public Library

Direct line: 503.718.2811

Children's Desk: 503.718.2673

[email protected]

Regular hours: Sun 12-5, Wed 2-9:30, Fri 9:30-6





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