Planets in science fiction and it is extremely hostile to life. Various planets of the Solar System were used as settings for science fiction stories in the first half of the 20th century; but dissatisfaction with the limits imposed by science led many writers early on to forsake the Solar System for fictional planets around distant stars. As increasing knowledge of the Solar System made the prospects of life in the vicinity of Earth marginal at best, the extrasolar planet has become almost the only venue for contemporary science fiction. In many works of science fiction, planets are only described casually, as points of
Gustav Holst Guide": "The Planets" (recordings under Boult on HMV and Nixa, and another under Sir Malcolm Sargent on Decca); the "Perfect Fool" ballet music; the "St Paul's Suite"; and three short choral pieces. In the stereo LP and CD eras numerous recordings of "The Planets" were issued, performed by orchestras and conductors from round the world. By the early years of the 21st century most of the major and many of the minor orchestral and choral works had been issued on disc. The 2008 issue of "The Penguin Guide to Recorded Classical Music" contained seven pages of listings of Holst's works