Project Gutenberg 2021-09-08 Public domain in the USA. 93 Banks, Raymond E. 1918 1996 Banks, Raymond Eugene Ticket to the Stars Produced from Imagination Stories of Science and Fantasy February 1954 Greg Weeks, Mary Meehan and the Online Distributed Proofreading Team at http://www.pgdp.net "Ticket to the Stars" by Raymond E. Banks is a science fiction novel written in the early 1950s. The story explores themes of idealism and the human experience in the face of the unknown, particularly through the lens of deep space travel and the implications of meeting one's ideal companion. With its vivid imagery and thought-provoking narrative, the book examines the psychological toll of venturing into the cosmos and the emotional struggles that come with seeking perfection. The narrative follows Al Hall, who is driven by a deep curiosity about why his friend Kelly has changed after encountering an Ideal—a beautiful woman from deep space who embodies one's perfect partner. As Al navigates his own desire to understand the allure of the Stardust Overdrive, the spacecraft that connects Earth to these Ideals, he grapples with the consequences of desire and idealization. Ultimately, Al realizes that chasing an idealized existence can lead to personal ruin, as he witnesses Kelly's internal struggle, the tragic fate of those lost to Ideals, and his own reflections on love and reality. The culmination of his journey leads him to a profound understanding of what it means to maintain authenticity in relationships versus an enticing fantasy, ultimately choosing to return to his real wife and the complexities of earthly life. (This is an automatically generated summary.) Reading ease score: 85.1 (6th grade). Easy to read. en Science fiction Short stories Man-woman relationships -- Fiction Human-alien encounters -- Fiction Interstellar travel -- Fiction Space travelers -- Fiction PS Text Category: Science-Fiction & Fantasy Category: Novels Category: American Literature 59118 2025-07-26T08:35:42.944377 text/html 35524 2024-10-18T15:59:39 text/html 386312 2025-07-26T08:35:45.114355 application/epub+zip 385151 2025-07-26T08:35:43.455382 application/epub+zip 86903 2025-07-26T08:35:43.148413 application/epub+zip 423060 2025-07-26T08:35:46.388357 application/x-mobipocket-ebook 415762 2025-07-26T08:35:44.755396 application/x-mobipocket-ebook 117594 2022-09-29T19:27:49.867598 application/x-mobipocket-ebook 52487 2025-07-26T08:35:42.820374 text/plain; charset=us-ascii 32693 2024-10-18T15:59:39 text/plain; charset=us-ascii 17938 2025-07-26T08:35:46.524345 application/rdf+xml 22567 2025-07-26T08:35:43.295432 image/jpeg 4262 2025-07-26T08:35:43.219458 image/jpeg 953544 2025-07-26T08:35:42.961479 application/octet-stream application/zip Archives containing the RDF files for *all* our books can be downloaded at https://book.klll.cc/wiki/Gutenberg:Feeds#The_Complete_Project_Gutenberg_Catalog en.wikipedia