It’s Murder On The Dancefloor is a science fiction novel released by Boner Publishers in 1958. Murder On The Dancefloor was initially only released in the United States, where it became part of the burgeoning sci-fi novel scene.

The British pop singer Sophie Divot loved the book so much that she changed her surname to Ellis-Baxter and wrote a smash hit single of the same name some 40 years later.

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When a team of intrepid explorers led by Captain Foxtrot sets foot on the mysterious and little explored planet known as Dancefloor in the distant constellation DISCO, they are prepared to expect the unexpected.

As the men begin to investigate their new surroundings, the crew begin to notice strange objects in the sky that are shaped like balls and are covered in reflective mirrors.

As the men move tentatively in their new environment, they begin to hear something beating. Is it the heart of the planet or could be something else. Tony Samba, becomes convinced it sounds like music and the crew begins to feel the urge to move to this strange new sound.

Then fear sets in as the men begin to notice something about the ground they’re standing on and must unite and hatch a daring plan to break free from the clutches of the planet’s thumping bass.

Will the spacemen find whatever or whoever is making the strange music-like sound and get them or it to kill the groove, and escape their dance-induced captivity? Could the crew’s medical officer, Steve Twoleftfeet’s inability to move in time to the beat be the key to escape? Or will they succumb to the rhythm and become eternally trapped on Planet Dancefloor?

Continue reading below for an exclusive extract from It’s Murder On The Dancefloor.

As the airlock hissed open, the spacemen led by Captain Foxtrot stepped out onto the alien terrain of planet Dancefloor. Lieutenant Samba and Corporal Cha-Cha-Cha followed close behind, with Dr. Twoleftfeet bringing up the rear. The four men slowly began to take in their strange surroundings.

In the sky above them large ball-shaped mirrors moved in a circular motion and reflected the light across the ground. All around them, small machines, slowly emitted thick smoke that swirled around their feet.

All around them a faint strobing light changed colour every two or three seconds. Green, red, blue. And then green again. The colours splashed out across the terrain, occasionally blinding the cautious men as they kept moving slowly.

“Look”, said Lieutenant Samba as he pointed into the distance. The men strained their eyes in the direction of Samba’s trembling finger.

“What the… ?” mumbled Captain Foxtrot. There, about 50 feet from where they stood was what seemed like a desk on a raised stage, behind which stood a darkened figure. The figure appeared to be wearing some type of headphone over its ears and dancing slightly.

Then, suddenly, but barely audible they could hear music begin to slowly drifting through the air. The men strained their ears, searching for the source of the sound which seemed to be coming from the strange man that stood behind the desk. Then music began to move slowly through the air like a sloth driving a tractor underwater and unable or unwilling to get the vehicle out of first gear. The music almost seemed to be surrounding them, wrapping around them like a tight blanket.

Slowly, the sound grew louder, and began transforming into a rhythmic beat much like music. The music-like noise began to make the ground vibrate and resonate deep within their chests.

“You guys feel that?” asked Tony Samba, his voice a mix of awe and bewilderment.

I… I feel like the sound is controlling my feet,” replied Cha-cha-cha, as a nervous smile spread across his face.

Suddenly, the air filled with a hypnotic beat and Captain Foxtrot’s left foot began to tap in time with the rhythm. Something about this wasn’t right. He couldn’t control his left foot and he began to feel a creeping sense of alarm.

The darkened figure in the distance raised one arm in the air and shouted, “Can I get a rewind?”

The music abruptly stopped, and the unmistakable sound of a tape rewinding echoed ominously through the air. The men all looked quizzically at each other. They didn’t know what was coming next but they all felt that whatever it was, it wasn’t good.