Eric is the “Brain” of the first ship to explore Venus. Howie is his human crewmember. When a fault develops, forcing the ship down onto the hostile Venusian surface, Howie must figure out the problem with Eric, be it mechanical or psychological. “Becalmed in Hell” first appeared in Fantasy and Science Fiction in July 1965.
Larry Niven is the New York Times bestselling and multiple Hugo, Locus, and Nebula Award–winning author of science fiction short stories and novels, including the Ringworld series and The Burning City, as well as many other science fiction masterpieces.View all by Larry Niven