Lone Star Planet

Lone Star Planet is a Science fiction novel by H Beam Piper and John J McGuire first published in 1958.

In 1999, the novel won the Prometheus Award, Hall of Fame Award for Best Classic Libertarian SF Novel.

The story of a junior diplomat and his first posting to a planet of Texans whose dinosaur-sized cattle have to be herded with tanks, and whose system of government derives its character from Mencken's 1924 essay "The Malevolent Jobholder," -- a system under which the killing of a practicing politician is considered justifiable homicide!

New Texas: its citizens figure that name about says it all. The Solar League ambassador to the Lone Star Planet has the unenviable task of convincing New Texans that a s'Srauff attack is imminent, and dangerous. Unfortunately it's common knowledge that the s'Srauff are evolved from canine ancestors—and not a Texan alive is about to be scared of a talking dog! But unless he can get them to act, and fast, there won't be a Texan alive, scared or otherwise!

It was first published in the March 1957 issue of Fantastic Universe as Lone Star Planet and first published in book form in in 1958 as A Planet For Texans.

Henry Beam Piper (1904-1964) was an American science fiction author. He wrote many short stories and several novels. He is best known for his extensive Terro-Human Future History series of stories and a shorter series of "Paratime" alternate history tales. Piper's stories fall into two camps: stark space opera, such as Space Viking, or stories of cultural conflict or misunderstanding, such as Little Fuzzy or the Paratime stories.

John Joseph McGuire (1917-1981) was an American author of science fiction. He usually wrote with H. Beam Piper.