Alpha Centauri or Die!
Alpha Centauri or Die! is a science fiction novel by Leigh Brackett, published in 1963. It combines two earlier Brackett stories, The Ark of Mars (Planet Stories, 1953) and Teleportress of Alpha C (Planet Stories, 1954–55). In a future where crewed interstellar travel is forbidden and only government robotic ships are allowed, former starship pilot Kirby and his wife Shari build a new freighter, the Lucy B. Davenport, from the Ark of Mars. With their crew, they break through space blockades and even defeat a robotic pursuer, beginning a five-year journey to a habitable planet around Alpha Centauri. When they arrive, they discover they are not alone.
The novel first appeared as half of Ace Double F-187, paired with Legend of Lost Earth by G. McDonald Wallis. Critics have had mixed views; for example, Rich Horton felt it lacks the magical intensity of Brackett’s best work, calling it mediocre but still readable and enjoyable.
This page was last edited on 2 February 2026, at 07:07 (CET).