Query re: kids' SF books, early '70s

Cafe Society
1

I’ve been trying to remember the titles of two science fiction books I read in my youth. Any help would be greatly appreciated.

  • One was a time-travel story. In the near future, the President is assassinated at Camp David with a laser rifle. The authorities realize that the assassin, who has disappeared, actually came from the future. Around this time, an Asian regime (a thinly-veiled People’s Republic of China) is preparing a superbomb that could destroy the Earth. The protagonist travels to the future to find the assassin, and discovers that humanity was nearly wiped out by the superbomb’s eventual detonation - those who survived are all bald due to genetic mutation over generations. A young woman accompanies the protagonist back to the past; they prevent the assassination AND the detonation of the superbomb, preserving a better future for humanity.

  • The other was about the first manned mission to Pluto, using a very fast new space drive. A Wesley Crusher-type kid goes along for the mission, which leaves from a big space station in Earth orbit. I remember very little about this book other than (I think) the ship was named the Lodestar.

Anyone remember these books’ authors or titles? Thanks.

2

No responses yet? Damn.

I guess I’ll use my one resurrection allowed under the SDMB rules, and see what happens.

3

Hi, William:

The second novel may be The Secret of the Ninth Planet by Donald A. Wollheim. Because its copyright lapsed, this book is freely available as an HTML file; PDF versions exist as well.

Despite all the specifics and details you provided, my quests for the title of the first novel have collapsed into lists of comic books, bad movies, and role-playing games. With a little luck, another Doper will experience an aha! moment or specify the right set of search parameters.

Peace.

4

No, the first isn’t the book you suggested - I’m sure of that, but thanks for the HTML link. I appreciate your help!

5

I meant, of course, to write that the second book (the one about the voyage to Pluto) isn’t the book you suggested. Thanks again, anyway.

6

They sound like Heinlein juveniles. You might check out some of those titles.

7

And thus is Fenris’ Law proven again, but I can guarantee that neither of those is a Heinlein juvie. But you should read them anyway.

8

You might try loganberrybooks.com. Excellent resource for finding half-forgotten kids’ books.

9

Thanks, everybody, but I’ve read virtually all of Heinlein’s books, and I, too, am certain that neither was a Heinlein. I’ll keep looking.