Planet of the Gods

Planet of the Gods is a science fiction novella by American author Robert Moore Williams.

Far, far in the future Earth has achieved real peace and is sending out interstellar expeditions, not to conquer, but to explore. 

The third such expedition, has made it to the Vega system and discovered to everyone's amazement, not only a solar system but two worlds circling the Vega sun that seem to have atmosphere and water. And apparently intelligent life is there as well because something tries, and almost succeeds, in blasting the expedition ship out of space before it can even get close to either one.

Damaged, with 3 dead men aboard, the expedition ship semi-crashes and seeks to hide from this obviously hostile civilization. The three dead members of the crew are buried and four of the local inhabitants pay a friendly call.

Then during the second night on this planet, one of the dead bodies knocks on the door and wants to come in. Something very strange is going on here…

Planet of the Gods was first published in Amazing Stories December 1942. 

Robert Moore Williams (1907–1977) was an American writer, primarily of science fiction. He was a prolific author throughout his career, his last novel appearing in 1972. His "Jongor" series was originally published in Fantastic Adventures in the 1940s and 1950s, and appeared in book form in 1970. By the 1960s he had published over 150 stories.