Beanstalk is a science fiction story that could conceivably be the original source for the fairy tale of Jack and the Beanstalk. Young Jack of medieval England is visited by Jasar of the Salviar Federation. He enlists Jack's help to bring down a key outpost of the Hilax Combine—an outpost manned by a giant. All this is, of course, part of an interstellar war between vast empires. Jack is quick on the uptake. He may not know what a spaceship is or how a force-field works, but he can aim a hand-beamer and pull the trigger. He's also handy with a bow, which comes in handy for killing giant "rats" and "cats" and "beetles" on the station when a beamer's power output would trigger the station's alerts.

On the station Jack and Jasar meet Haldar, a "pet" man that the giant (named Garmel) keeps on the station. They also find Silvana, a beautiful woman imprisoned by the giant as a singing plaything, a human songbird. In a disappointing turn of events which lays bare (I think) the moral bankruptcy of the author's worldview, Silvana is an entertainer—entertainer being not just a singer, but a full-service space hooker. You know, to entertain and boost the morale of the men fighting the interstellar war. She is very committed to her patriotic duty. *sigh*

Haldar helps Jasar sabotage the station while Jack rescues Silvana from her cage. Then the four of them destroy the station, defeat the giant Garmel, and escape safely back to Earth. Jasar leaves, conveniently stranding Silvana and Haldar on Earth. Conveniently, because Silvana can leave her duty to "entertain" the troops and instead be Jack's wife, and Haldar can settle down as Jack's step-father. Also conveniently because Earth will remain safely hidden, unknown to both the Salviar Federation and the Hilux Combine.

It's not a great story. The central conceit of a science fiction origin to Jack and the Beanstalk is a mildly interesting idea, but at novel-length the story needs to stand on its own. It didn't for me.