Planet Story: Harry Harrison

 Private Parrts, afflicted with a psionic sex field, is stationed on a remote outpost on the desolate planet Strabisimus. Marooned...until Strabismus is invaded by an immense track-laying robot, slamming down railway tracks across the planet, through farmland, towns, forest and steppes, in order to provide access for the United States of Earth to a rich mineral deposit.  Private Parrts, afflicted with a psionic sex field, is stationed on a remote outpost on the desolate planet Strabisimus.  He is then caught up - with his delectable girlfriend Styreen - on the inaugural ride on the gold-plated Union Pacific steam locomotive, the modified toy of Admiral Soddy. Harrison takes a satirical swipe at militarism, imperialism, capitalism, sexism - and alienism. The protagonists have silly names and the women are  are preposterously top-heavy. But underneath is the darker parable of the crassness of invading forces everywhere and the infectiousness of violence. Fabulous full-page colour illustrations by Jim Burns.