On Mercury: How do you outrun the dawn and its lethal sunrise? On Jupiter: When humans transfer their minds into the local fauna to explore the surface, why do they never return? On Pluto: How long must an astronaut wait for rescue at the furthest reaches of the system? We have always been fascinated by the promise of space and the distant lure of our fellow planets orbiting the Sun. In this new collection of classic stories, Mike Ashley takes us on a journey from the harsh extremes of Mercury to the turbulent expanses of Saturn and beyond, exploring as we go the literary history of the planets, the influence of contemporary astronomy on the imagination of writers, and the impact of their storytelling on humanity's perception of these hitherto unreachable worlds. Featuring the talents of Larry Niven, Robert Silverberg, Clare Winger Harris and more, this collection offers a kaleidoscope of innovative thought and timeless adventures.