Planet of the Gods by Harry Leon Wilson Science Fiction Adventure Fantasy

<p><strong>What do you make of it? Commander Jed Hargraves asked huskily.</strong></p><p>Ron Val busy at the telescope was too excited to look up from the eye-piece. There are at least two planets circling Vega! he said quickly. There may be other planets farther out but I can see two plainly. And Jed the nearest planet the one we are approaching has an atmosphere. The telescope reveals a blur that could only be caused by an atmosphere. And--Jed this may seem so impossible you won't believe it--but I can see several large spots on the surface that are almost certainly lakes. They are not big enough to be called oceans or seas. But I am almost positive they are lakes!</p><p>According to the preconceptions of astronomers formed before they had a chance to go see for themselves solar systems were supposed to be rare birds. Not every sun had a chance to give birth to planets. Not one sun in a thousand maybe not one in a million; maybe with the exception of Sol not another one in the whole universe.</p><p>And here the first sun approached by the Third Interstellar Expedition was circled by planets!</p><p>The sight was enough to drive an astronomer insane.</p>