Venus Boy

Lee Sutton (1916 - 1978)

If you ever make a trip to the green planet of Venus, the first thing you'll see will be the fifty-foot high statue of Venus' greatest hero. It stands on the very top of towering New Plymouth Rock at the edge of the old colony of New Plymouth. Even from the rocket cradle, anyone can tell that the statue is of a twelve-year-old boy smiling up at the Venusian jewel bear perched on his shoulder. Cut into the huge rock below the statue are the words,

"Virgil Dare (Johnny) Watson
And the Marva, Baba.
May their Friendship Endure!"

Virgil Dare Watson, called Johnny by his friends, was the first human being born on Venus. He was named after Virginia Dare, the first pioneer child born in North America, and for a long time he was the only child on all Venus. And that would have been a lonely thing to be if it had not been for Baba. Baba, the bear, was not only Johnny's pet, but his best friend, too, and the only one who knew about his three secrets.

Because of these secrets, Johnny got himself, his jewel bear, Baba, and the whole colony of New Plymouth into desperate trouble. And because of these secrets, he also became a hero worthy of a statue—Venus' greatest hero. - Summary by Preface

Genre(s): Science Fiction

Language: English

Section Chapter Reader Time
Play 00 Introduction Shasta
00:02:48
Play 01 The First Two Secrets Shasta
00:16:06
Play 02 The Treasure of Venus Shasta
00:16:10
Play 03 A Dangerous Target Shasta
00:15:00
Play 04 The Third Secret Shasta
00:17:51
Play 05 A Mystery Indeed! Shasta
00:22:48
Play 06 Inside New Plymouth Shasta
00:15:00
Play 07 The Rhinosaur Stampede Shasta
00:21:23
Play 08 One Secret is Revealed! Shasta
00:09:11
Play 09 The Price of a Brother Shasta
00:19:39
Play 10 Alone in the Jungle Shasta
00:32:28
Play 11 The Friends are Separated Shasta
00:17:55
Play 12 The Price of a Boy Shasta
00:16:56
Play 13 Outwitting the Outlaws Shasta
00:23:54
Play 14 Captured! Shasta
00:20:21
Play 15 A City in the Trees Shasta
00:29:11
Play 16 The Thunder of Rhinosaur Hooves Shasta
00:32:33
Play 17 Teachers Can't Play Hookie Shasta
00:11:11
Play 18 Facts About Venus Shasta
00:09:47