The Cosmic Derelict: Classic Book Guide and Free Edition
The Cosmic Derelict: author and translator credits, catalogue synopsis, subjects and links to the Gutenberg reading formats.

The Cosmic Derelict is catalogued by Project Gutenberg with author credits for Broome, John (1913–1999).
Catalogue synopsis
Project Gutenberg supplies this automated synopsis of the opening text:
"The Cosmic Derelict" by John Broome is a science fiction novel likely written in the early 1940s. The story revolves around Captain Christopher Douglas and his crew aboard the spaceship "Lucifer", as they navigate the dangerous Pass of the Twin Witches in order to deliver a cargo of precious platinum on time. As they venture into uncertain territory, the crew must confront both external threats and internal superstitions that challenge their scientific understanding of space travel. In the narrative, Captain Douglas faces significant delays caused by his bo'sun, Tug Skelly, who inadvertently brings chaos to the ship by chasing a stowaway. As tensions rise, they consider an ancient and risky route, the Cross Straits, rumored to be guarded by mythical witches. Tug's reliance on superstition leads him to perform a "ritual of purification," resulting in the ship's hull being painted with the valuable platinum meant for cargo. As they navigate through the perilous Straits, Douglas and his crew confront both the consequences of superstition and the unyielding nature of scientific principles, ultimately arriving at a greater understanding of their experiences and the importance of empirical knowledge.
Book and edition facts
- Title: The Cosmic Derelict
- Author credits: Broome, John (1913–1999)
- Catalogue language: English
Catalogue subjects
- Science fiction
- Short stories
- Space ships -- Fiction
Gutenberg collections
- 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.


