The Merchants of Venus (1972) by Frederik Pohl is a clever tale set on a habited Venus where the Heechee, an alien race who were on Venus until a quarter of a million years ago have left artifacts that the humans now there sometimes find.
The economy of Venus is like a wild west, with many people getting to Venus only to find they can’t afford it. The hero, a guide who takes rich people on prospecting tours, has a failing kidney. He meets an old rich man and his wife and takes them prospecting.
It’s a good short story and nicely set ups the later Gateway book. It’s worth a read for fans of Frederik Pohl.
ReviewSien 