Turnover Point

Illustrated by Ed Emshwiller

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"Turnover Point" by Alfred Coppel is a science fiction novella written during the early 1950s. This tale explores themes of revenge and personal redemption set against a backdrop of space travel and the harsh realities of life on the margins of society. The story centers around a character named Pop Ganlon, whose existence as an aging spaceman takes a grim turn following the death of his son, a Patrol officer, at the hands of a criminal named John Kane. The plot unfolds as Pop, drifting through life after his son’s tragic death, unwittingly finds himself transporting Kane—a violent outlaw—on a mission off Mars. As they travel in Pop's ship, "The Luck", their paths converge dramatically when Kane reveals his true nature as a killer, having taken the life of Pop's son. Faced with mortality, Pop experiences a profound transformation from resignation to a burning need for vengeance. In a gripping climax, Kane’s hubris leads to his own downfall as he underestimates the depths of Pop's desperation. Through a clever turn of events, Pop’s fate blends with Kane’s, leaving readers to ponder the cyclical nature of vengeance and the ultimate cost of living in isolation among the stars.

Summary written by Project Gutenberg, by machine.