A Planet Named Joe: Classic Book Guide and Free Edition
A Planet Named Joe: author and translator credits, catalogue synopsis, subjects and links to the Gutenberg reading formats.

A Planet Named Joe is catalogued by Project Gutenberg with author credits for Hunter, Evan (1926–2005).
Catalogue synopsis
Project Gutenberg supplies this automated synopsis of the opening text:
"A Planet Named Joe" by S. A. Lombino is a science fiction novel that likely takes place in the mid-20th century, a time characterized by a burgeoning interest in space exploration and interplanetary narratives. The story follows Major Polk, who is sent on a humorous yet frustrating mission to locate a Venusian named Joe, a task complicated by the fact that many inhabitants of Venus share that same name. The underlying theme of the novel explores the absurdities of military command and cultural misunderstandings in a richly imaginative setting. The plot centers on Major Polk's journey to Venus, where he is tasked with finding a native trader named Joe who could provide crucial intelligence about a revolt on Mars. Upon arriving, he quickly discovers that the name "Joe" is common among Venusians, complicating his search. As he navigates a jungle filled with locals all named Joe, he encounters various humorous situations while trying to decipher the culture and effectively complete his mission. Eventually, Polk finds himself embroiled in a conflict with Colonel Walsh, who is revealed to have ulterior motives, leading to a dramatic confrontation that uncovers themes of betrayal and the complexity of interspecies relationships. The story is filled with satirical commentary on authority and the naïveté of both humans and aliens, culminating in an unexpected twist that underscores the challenges of understanding one another across barriers of culture and language.
Book and edition facts
- Title: A Planet Named Joe
- Author credits: Hunter, Evan (1926–2005)
- Catalogue language: English
Catalogue subjects
- Human-alien encounters -- Fiction
- Science fiction
- Short stories
- Venus (Planet) -- Fiction
Gutenberg collections
- Category: Humour
- Category: Novels
- Category: Science-Fiction & Fantasy
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View the complete Gutenberg catalogue record. Project Gutenberg identifies this edition as public domain in the United States; that designation does not establish its copyright status in every country.
Source notes
Catalogue metadata is public domain and is supplied through Gutendex, which imports Gutenberg's machine-readable catalogue. The automated synopsis is source-supplied, not an independently verified review. Author dates above describe the credited people; no ebook release date is presented as the book's original publication date.


