영어로 읽는 고전 _ 스탠리 뮬렌의 달개의 지배자
스탠리 뮬렌의 「달개의 지배자」는 1950년대 초에 쓰인 공상과학 소설이다. 이야기는 달의 탐광꾼 토드 덴버와 그의 독특한 애완동물인 달개 찰리를 중심으로 전개된다. 그들이 숨겨진 화성 광산, 기업의 음모, 그리고 크리스털 시티라고 알려진 무법천지 달 붐타운의 위험에 휘말리면서 이야기가 펼쳐진다. 그들의 모험을 통해 가혹하고 무정한 달 풍경을 배경으로 동반자 관계, 탐욕, 그리고 생존이라는 주제들이 탐구된다.
줄거리는 토드 덴버가 짜증스럽지만 사랑스러운 동반자인 찰리와 함께 위험한 달 지형을 탐색하는 것으로 시작된다. 숨겨진 보물에 대한 단서를 남긴 채 죽은 광부 레어드 마틴을 발견한 후, 덴버의 삶은 다양한 적대자들, 특히 갱스터 빅 에드 칼티스와 마주치면서 격동의 전환점을 맞는다. 덴버가 찰리를 보호하고 화성 채굴 작업을 둘러싼 미스터리를 풀려고 노력하면서, 마틴의 딸인 솔레일과도 만나게 되어 그의 의도와 감정을 복잡하게 만든다. 이야기가 칼티스와 그의 일당과의 대결에서 절정에 달하면서, 덴버는 자신의 생명과 솔레일과의 미래를 위해 싸우는 과정에서 용기와 수완을 보여준다. 그들의 여정은 예상치 못한 동맹관계와 혼란 속에서도 모험과 사랑의 꿈을 공유하며 새로운 시작의 전망으로 이끈다.
Classics Read in English _ Master of the Moondog by Stanley Mullen
Stanley Mullen's "Master of the Moondog" emerges from the early 1950s as a distinctive blend of space western and adventure tale. The story follows prospector Tod Denver and his remarkable companion Charley, a moondog, as they traverse the treacherous lunar frontier in search of fortune and survival.
The narrative begins when Denver stumbles upon the corpse of fellow miner Laird Martin, whose final clues point toward a legendary Martian mining operation hidden somewhere in the Moon's desolate expanse. This discovery sets Denver on a perilous path that leads him into conflict with the ruthless crime boss Big Ed Caltis, who controls much of the corruption in the lawless settlement of Crystal City.
Denver's relationship with Charley forms the emotional core of the story, as the moondog proves to be both a source of frustration and unwavering loyalty in their shared struggles against the harsh lunar environment. The introduction of Soleil, Martin's daughter, adds romantic complexity to Denver's mission while raising the stakes of his confrontation with Caltis and his criminal organization.
The climax unfolds as a desperate battle for survival, with Denver forced to rely on his wit, determination, and the unlikely partnership with Charley to overcome seemingly insurmountable odds. Through shootouts and schemes in the unforgiving lunar landscape, the story ultimately celebrates the power of companionship and the possibility of redemption, even in the most desolate corners of the solar system.
Among the contents
It was Charley's fault, of course; all of it....
Temperature outside was a rough 280 degrees F., which is plenty rough and about three degrees cooler than Hell. It was somewhere over the Lunar Appenines and the sun bored down from an airless sky like an unshielded atomic furnace. The thermal adjustors whined and snarled and clogged-up until the inside of the space sled was just bearable.
Tod Denver glared at Charley, who was a moondog and looked like one, and Charley glared back. Denver was fond of Charley, as one might be of an idiot child. At the moment they found each in the other's doghouse. Charley had curled up and attached himself to the instrument panel from which be scowled at Denver in malignant fury.
Charley was a full-grown, two yard-long moondog. He looked like an oversized comma of something vague and luminous.
