R P J Crichton

Alternate Earth R P J Crichton

Set in the not too distant future, space travel continues to be a dangerous activity but it has become routine and mostly safe. The discovery of a new planet in our solar system excites the scientific community. The protagonists in the story are two astronauts who embark on a reconnaissance mission to the planet. Their spacecraft develops a fault mid-flight, but they are able to land their craft. They are marooned on an alien world, injured, and with no way of getting help. The story is told from the perspective of one of the astronauts, and it tells of their adventures with the aliens on the planet. The strange insect-like creatures welcome the visitors. While on the planet they are introduced to many technological and social experiences. Their encounters with the aliens take them into a world of sensual delights, bizarre sexual experiences, and terror. Their experience on the planet leaves them changed in ways that affect them when they return to Earth. As a result of their condition they are forced to live in seclusion. Their forced isolation sees them taking up residence on a remote property with a large acreage. The property is in an idyllic setting, but the old house has secrets. The house has been the location for erotic parties. They discover a hidden cellar full of strange contraptions and sex machines which becomes the source of new adventures. They returned to Earth with alien technology and their misuse of it has shocking results. Their lives are disturbed when trespassers arrive on the property. The intruders are thugs who are up to no good. Their encounter with them leads to a terrifying conclusion.