Calling the Empress

"Calling the Empress" by George O. Smith is a science fiction novel written during the early 1940s. The book focuses on humanity's struggles with interplanetary communication and navigation amidst the backdrop of space travel, highlighting the challenges faced during an epidemic spread across planets. Set against the vastness of the cosmos, the narrative explores themes of ingenuity, urgency, and the intricate nature of space travel. In the story, the spaceship "Empress of Kolain" embarks on a journey from Mars to Venus, but soon finds itself in danger due to an outbreak of Venusian Fever sweeping across Venus, prompting a desperate call for rerouting. Characters Don Channing and Walt Franks at Venus Equilateral face immense challenges as they work against time to establish contact with the ship while it is in-flight—an untested endeavor. As they develop innovative technological solutions to beam messages across the void, they must navigate a series of technical hurdles, ultimately leading to a breathtaking moment of success when a young boy successfully communicates the urgent warning to the crew of the "Empress of Kolain". The novel culminates in a sense of triumph for collaboration and resilience in the face of adversity.