A. Harcourt Burrage

Hurtlers Through Space is a 1950s novel falling roughly into the science fiction and boys adventure genres.

Set post world war 2 on the Shetland Islands on the fictional island of Eldrith Yird the story is about a young boy, Alvar Rawlings, who is visiting his father on the island, however his father goes missing and shortly thereafter a strange rocket like plane is witness overhead. A man from a neighbouring island visits and tries to convince Alvar that he was hallucinating, in a very fishy and evasive manner.

Upon investigation Alvar uncovers mysterious goings on involving the neighbouring island who appear to be involved in a scheme with the exiled dictator of Rovoli, Marshal Tasso. This country and character appears to have been shaped loosely on Hitler's Germany, and Hitler himself, although not specifically as elsewhere in the novel Hitler's actions do in fact get a mention.

Alvar also uncovers that these scientists with the backing of Marshal Tasso and the wealth stolen from Rovoli have been constructing a rocket able to transverse the globe in mere minutes travelling at 5,000mph utilising atomic energy. There's also a secret base in the Amazon Rainforest.

Overall, it's a fun enjoyable adventure novel with some scifi aspects that appears to be targeted towards the young market, but is nonetheless an entertaining read for adults.… (mehr)