The Solar Queen

The first two star-spanning tales of Dane Thorson and the Solar Queen

Almost half a century ago Andre Norton introduced apprentice Cargo Master Dane Thorson in Sargasso of Space and Plague Ship.

Dane signed on with the independent cargo ship Solar Queen looking for a career in off-world trade. In Sargasso of Space, the Solar Queen free-traders win exclusive rights to trade with the planet Limbo, but the crew arrives to find most of its surface charred, with little sign of life. They find a valley with life, but others may still lurk. Worse yet, a strange force threatens to cripple the Queen. They must solve the planet's mysteries if they hope to escape with not only tradeable goods, but their lives.

In Plague Ship, the Queen travels to Sargol, which promises a wealth of exquisite gems to trade-if the crew can overcome the native feline Salarikis' mistrust. But their troubles have just begun!. When a mysterious illness soon overtakes all the crew except the four youngest, the Galactic Patrol labels the Queen plagued and orders it destroyed on sight. With every ship in the galaxy searching for them, the crew have one chance to save the Solar Queen. But if their bold plan foils it would mean the end of the Solar Queen and its crew!