The Strange World of Planet X story
A monomaniacal scientist creates ultra-sensitive, disruptive magnetic fields, which have unexpected side effects, while also attracting unidentified flying objects from outer space. Strange things begin to happen, including a freak storm, blasts of cosmic radiation that penetrates the Earth's normally protective magnetic shield, and insects and spiders mutating into giant flesh- eating monsters.
14 total · 5 major · 9 minor
| Theme | Level | Motivation |
|---|---|---|
| alien living secretly among us | major | Smith was an alien living secretly as a Human. He is actually an alien emissary from a Planet X, while also informing them that Laird has gone mad and plans to continue his dangerous experiments. Mr.Smith explains that his mission is to warn humanity of the likelihood that Earth's orbit will be destabilized should the magnetic experiments continue. |
| mad scientist stereotype | major | The monomaniacal scientist Dr. Laird created ultra-sensitive, disruptive magnetic fields, which had unexpected side effects, while also attracting unidentified flying objects from outer space. |
| obsession | major | Dr. Laird became obsessed with his experiments with magnetic fields and became blinded as to the risk they posed to life on Earth. |
| out of control scientific experiment | major | The hyper-magnetic fields generated by Gil Graham and Dr. Laird's experiments cause unnatural weather patterns, a weakening of the magnetic shield that protects the surface of the Earth from cosmic rays, gigantic insects and other mutated monsters. |
| the dangers of unfettered scientific advancement | major | A monomaniacal scientist created ultra-sensitive, disruptive magnetic fields, which have unexpected side effects, while also attracting unidentified flying objects from outer space. |
| female independence | minor | Michele Dupont was an independent minded female scientist. |
| flying saucer | minor | Smith controlled a saucer like craft. |
| flying saucer theory of UFOs | minor | Smith came to Earth to interfere in its development for humankind's own good. When it became apparent he was an alien, remarks were made to the effect that the reports of flying saucers were true. Smith also controlled a saucer like craft. |
| human vs. beast | minor | The people versus a giant insects. |
| planet being flung out of its orbit | minor | Mr. Smith was an alien emissary who came to Earth to explain that Dr. Laird's experiments with magnetic fields would lead to the Earth's orbit becoming unstable. |