Where are you, Mr. Biggs?

"Where are you, Mr. Biggs?" by Nelson S. Bond is a science fiction short story first published in the early 1940s. The narrative is set in a future where space travel is commonplace, and it follows the adventures of a spaceship crew as they undertake a perilous journey to Uranus. The story revolves around the eccentric but brilliant Lieutenant Lancelot Biggs, whose inventions and blunders lead to unexpected challenges and ultimately heroic actions during a crisis. The plot centers on the crew of the spaceship "Saturn", who are given a directive to pick up a cargo at Uranus. As they embark on this journey, the crew, particularly Captain Hanson and the protagonist Sparks, grow increasingly concerned about Biggs's distracted demeanor due to his upcoming marriage. As they speed through space using Biggs's velocity intensifier, they face a life-threatening situation when their trajectory brings them dangerously close to Jupiter. In a moment of courage, Biggs sacrifices himself to save the crew by altering the ship's velocity, allowing them to escape Jupiter unharmed. His fate is left ambiguous, as he may have entered a different dimension. Through this tale, the author explores themes of love, loyalty, and sacrifice in the face of adversity.

Summary written by Project Gutenberg, by machine.