J. Hunter Holly

The thirteen exiles from Earth were hopeful when they landed on the planet Klorath. After all, others had been banished before them and had no doubt established a colony. But when the exiles found a pile of clean-picked human skulls they knew those who had preceded them were dead. They they encountered the giant, man-eating birds and realized they, too, would die if they couldn't control them. The final blow was the appearance of hostile natives, bringing with them a horde of furry animals whose slightest touch seared human flesh like a branding iron...