Planet of the Damned
A 1962 Hugo-nominated novel by American writer Harry Harrison.
Planet of the Damned, a science fiction novel by American author Harry Harrison, first appeared in 1961 as a serial titled *Sense of Obligation* and was later released as a book in 1962. It was also published under the serial's name in 1967. The work received a Hugo Award nomination.
The story follows Brion Brandd, a resident of the planet Anvhar. Anvhar’s highly elliptical orbit creates a year with a long, harsh winter and a brief, hot summer, to which its people have adapted. To prevent social unrest during the winter, Anvhar runs planet-wide mental and physical contests known as the Twenties. The novel begins with Brandd winning these games. While recovering, he meets Ihjel, a past Twenties champion, who persuades him to join a mission to the desert world of Dis. Dis’s ruling class, the magter, have threatened to deliver cobalt bombs to the neighboring planet Nyjord unless Nyjord surrenders. Consequently, Nyjord is under blockade and faces a preemptive nuclear strike. Ihjel fears that if this genocide occurs, it will cripple Nyjord’s peaceful society.
Brandd travels to Dis with Ihjel and Lea, an Earth scientist. Upon arrival, they are attacked, and Ihjel is killed. Through encounters with locals and other humans, Brandd uncovers the reason for the magter’s seemingly suicidal aggression. He discovers that most life on Dis survives the planet’s extremes through symbiosis. The magter, however, are infected with a parasite that destroys their higher brain functions. Brandd eventually finds the cobalt bombs and disables their transmission mechanism, allowing him to return home.
- Author
- Harry Harrison
- Published
- 1962
- Original title
- Sense of Obligation
- Genre
- Science fiction
- Nationality
- American
- Award nomination
- Hugo Award
Lore & Background
The novel follows Brion Brandd, who lives on the planet Anvhar. Due to an extremely elliptical orbit, Anvhar experiences a year with a long cold winter and a short hot summer, to which the population have become adapted. To avoid social problems during the winter period, Anvhar has initiated a planet-wide series of mental and physical games called the Twenties. The novel starts with Brandd winning the Twenties.
Reader's Guide
As Brandd recovers from the games, he meets Ihjel, a previous winner of the Twenties, who convinces him to join a mission on the desert planet of Dis. The ruling class of Dis, the magter, have threatened to transport cobalt bombs onto the neighbouring planet Nyjord if they refuse to surrender. As a result, Dis is blockaded and under threat of a pre-emptive nuclear strike. Ihjel fears that this seemingly inevitable genocide, if not avoided, will render the peaceful civilization of Nyjord dysfunctional. Brandd travels to Dis with Ihjel and a scientist from Earth called Lea, but on arrival the trio are attacked and Ihjel is killed. After encounters with the local population and other humans, Brandd learns that most life on Dis survives the extremes of the planet by using symbiosis. The magter have been infected by a parasite that destroys the higher functions of their brains. Eventually Brandd locates the cobalt bombs and disables the transmission mechanism, allowing him to return home.
Did You Know?
- The novel was serialised in 1961 under the title Sense of Obligation.
- It was published under the title Sense of Obligation in 1967.
- The novel was nominated for the Hugo Award.
- The protagonist Brion Brandd wins the Twenties, a series of mental and physical games on the planet Anvhar.
Frequently Asked Questions
Who is the main character in Planet of the Damned?
Brion Brandd is the protagonist, a citizen of the planet Anvhar who becomes entangled in the society's annual competitive events.
What is the planet Anvhar like in Planet of the Damned?
Anvhar follows a highly elliptical orbit around its star, producing an extremely long, brutal winter followed by a short, scorching summer. The inhabitants have shaped their culture and biology to cope with these extreme seasonal swings.
What is the Twenti in Planet of the Damned?
The Twenti is a planet-wide series of mental and physical competitions that Anvhar's government organizes to keep the population occupied and prevent civil disorder during the long winter months.
What was Planet of the Damned originally called?
The novel first ran as a 1961 serial under the title *Sense of Obligation* before being collected into book form in 1962. It was later reissued in 1967 under that original serial name.
Did Planet of the Damned win any major awards?
The book earned a nomination for the Hugo Award, one of science fiction's most prestigious honors, though it did not ultimately take the top prize.
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