Outpost on Pluto (Paperback)
Language: English
Published by Mate Istvan-Matyas, 2026
- Softcover
- New
Seller: CitiRetail, Stevenage, United KingdomCitiRetail
AbeBooks seller since June 29, 2022
Condition: New
£ 15.99
Quantity: 1 available
Add to basketItem description from seller
Paperback. Synopsis: Outpost on Pluto Outpost on Pluto is a darkly absurdist military science fiction story that blends cosmic horror with the gritty, practical humor of Szekler soldiers. Set on the frozen, God-forsaken surface of Pluto, the narrative follows a squad of the Honorable Hungarian Space Army's Extreme Border Guard Battalion.The story begins with Corporal Pista Tanko, a soldier struggling more with a persistent wart on his foot and the crushing boredom of guard duty than any external threat. This mundane existence is shattered by the arrival of "The Thing"-a pitch-black, indestructible rectangular block that begins hovering silently above their barracks.As communications with Earth are severed, the squad descends into a surreal madness. The alien object exerts a strange psychological influence, driving soldiers to strip off their protective gear in the lethal -2320C cold or fall into cult-like worship of the entity, which they name "Franciska". Pista, forced into a leadership role by the gruesome suicides and mental collapses of his superiors, attempts to maintain military order with sausages, duct tape, and sheer stubbornness.The novella explores themes of isolation and the fragility of human identity through a lens of grim, "trench" humor. Whether the soldiers are attempting to lasso the alien craft or towing their entire portable base across the ice to escape it, their efforts highlight a desperate struggle to remain human in an indifferent universe.Ultimately, the story is a visceral account of first contact gone wrong-not through war, but through the absolute psychological dissolution of those meant to stand guard at the edge of the dark.Key Elements: Setting: A desolate, nitrogen-ice covered Pluto. Tone: A unique mix of Szekler folk-wisdom, military grit, and Lovecraftian dread. Conflict: A battle for sanity against an entity that refuses to even acknowledge the soldiers as more than a brief curiosity. This item is printed on demand. Shipping may be from our UK warehouse or from our Australian or US warehouses, depending on stock availability.…
Seller Inventory # 9798233327148
- Title
- Outpost on Pluto (Paperback)
- Author
- Mate Istvan-Matyas
- Publisher
- Mate Istvan-Matyas
- Publication year
- 2026
- Condition
- new
- Binding
- Paperback
- Language
- English
- ISBN 13
- 9798233327148
Synopsis: Outpost on Pluto
Outpost on Pluto is a darkly absurdist military science fiction story that blends cosmic horror with the gritty, practical humor of Szekler soldiers. Set on the frozen, God-forsaken surface of Pluto, the narrative follows a squad of the Honorable Hungarian Space Army's Extreme Border Guard Battalion.
The story begins with Corporal Pista Tankó, a soldier struggling more with a persistent wart on his foot and the crushing boredom of guard duty than any external threat. This mundane existence is shattered by the arrival of "The Thing"-a pitch-black, indestructible rectangular block that begins hovering silently above their barracks.
As communications with Earth are severed, the squad descends into a surreal madness. The alien object exerts a strange psychological influence, driving soldiers to strip off their protective gear in the lethal -232°C cold or fall into cult-like worship of the entity, which they name "Franciska". Pista, forced into a leadership role by the gruesome suicides and mental collapses of his superiors, attempts to maintain military order with sausages, duct tape, and sheer stubbornness.
The novella explores themes of isolation and the fragility of human identity through a lens of grim, "trench" humor. Whether the soldiers are attempting to lasso the alien craft or towing their entire portable base across the ice to escape it, their efforts highlight a desperate struggle to remain human in an indifferent universe.
Ultimately, the story is a visceral account of first contact gone wrong-not through war, but through the absolute psychological dissolution of those meant to stand guard at the edge of the dark.
Key Elements:
-
Setting: A desolate, nitrogen-ice covered Pluto.
-
Tone: A unique mix of Szekler folk-wisdom, military grit, and Lovecraftian dread.
-
Conflict: A battle for sanity against an entity that refuses to even acknowledge the soldiers as more than a brief curiosity.
"Synopsis" may belong to another edition of this title.
CitiRetail
Stevenage, United Kingdom
AbeBooks seller since June 29, 2022
Shipping rates from United Kingdom to U.S.A.
| Item | 7 to 14 business days | 7 to 60 business days |
|---|---|---|
| First item | £ 37.00 | £ 37.00 |
Payment methods
Store description
Online business
Seller's business information
ABC BOOKS LIMITED
10 John Street
London, United Kingdom WC1N 2EB
Terms of sale
Orders can be returned within 30 days of receipt.
Right of withdrawal
If you are a consumer you can withdraw from the contract in accordance with the following. Consumer means any natural person who is acting for purposes which are outside his trade, business, craft or profession.
Information regarding the right of withdrawal
Statutory right to withdraw
You have the right to withdraw from this contract within 14 days without giving any reason.
The withdrawal period will expire after 14 days from the day on which you acquire, or a third party other than the carrier and indicated by you acquires, physical possession of the last good or the last lot or piece.
To exercise the right of withdrawal, electronically fill in and submit a clear statement on our website, under "My Purchases" in "My Account". We will communicate to you an acknowledgement of receipt of such a withdrawal on a durable medium (e.g. by e-mail) without delay.
To meet the withdrawal deadline, it is sufficient for you to send your communication concerning your exercise of the right of withdrawal before the withdrawal period has expired.
Effects of withdrawal
If you withdraw from this contract, we will reimburse to you all payments received from you, including the costs of delivery (except for the supplementary costs arising if you chose a type of delivery other than the least expensive type of standard delivery offered by us).
We may make a deduction from the reimbursement for loss in value of any goods supplied, if the loss is the result of unnecessary handling by you.
We will make the reimbursement without undue delay, and not later than 14 days after the day on which we are informed about your decision to withdraw from this contract.
We will make the reimbursement using the same means of payment as you used for the initial transaction, unless you have expressly agreed otherwise; in any event, you will not incur any fees as a result of such reimbursement.
We may withhold reimbursement until we have received the goods back, or you have supplied evidence of having sent back the goods, whichever is the earliest.
You shall send back the goods or hand them over to CitiRetail, Stevenage, United Kingdom, without undue delay and in any event not later than 14 days from the day on which you communicate your withdrawal from this contract to us. The deadline is met if you send back the goods before the period of 14 days has expired. You will have to bear the direct cost of returning the goods. You are only liable for any diminished value of the goods resulting from the handling other than what is necessary to establish the nature, characteristics and functioning of the goods.
Exceptions to the right of withdrawal
The right of withdrawal does not apply to:
- The delivery of newspapers, journals or magazines with the exception of subscription contracts; and
- The supply of digital content which is not supplied on a tangible medium (e.g. on a CD or DVD) if you accepted when you placed your order that we could start to deliver it, and that you could not withdraw once delivery had started.
Shipping terms
Please note that titles are dispatched from our US, Canadian or Australian warehouses. Delivery times specified in shipping terms. Orders ship within 2 business days. Delivery to your door then takes 7-14 days.