About this title: It started on earth: Scientist Richard Seaton had discovered the secret of complete release of ultimate energythe key to exploration of the Universe. The powerful, unscrupulous DuQuesne, backed by a great industrial combine, tried every means to gain the
Note: This is a general synopsis. Each listing is described below.
Edition: 1968 5th ptg.
Binding: Mass-market paperback
Publisher: Pyramid Publications, New York
Date Published: 1965
Description: Jack Gaughan. Fair. No dust jacket as issued. Paperback, worn, browned, tanned, tight & clean reading-copy. 240 pp, 18 cm. The Lensman series. "Pyramid books. " 5th printing. Cover art by Jack Gaughan. "X-1455. " read more
Binding: Mass Market Paperback
Publisher: Berkley
Date Published: 1982-07-01
ISBN-13:9780425053836ISBN:0425053830
Description: Fair. Cover quite worn. May have spine creases, small stains, price sticker or slight price sticker residue. Reliable seller. Fast shipping from central Texas (Austin area). All international orders ship by airmail. read more
Binding: Paperback
Publisher: Berkley Publishing Group
Date Published: 1982
ISBN-13:9780425053836ISBN:0425053830
Description: Grade: C. Catalog: Science Fiction General Synopsis: 240 pages. War of the galaxies...Eddore and Arisia fought desperately to control the Universe. The ultimate battleground was a tiny, backward planet... read more
Binding: Paperback
Publisher: Old Earth Books
Date Published: 1997
ISBN-13:9781882968091ISBN:1882968093
Description: Good. A copy that has been read, but remains in clean condition. All pages are intact, and the cover is intact (including dustcover, if applicable). The spine may show signs of wear. Pages can include limited notes and highlighting, and the copy can include "from the library of" labels. read more
Description: Very Good. 0843959495 Mass Market Paperback, Condition: Very Good; this book is in very good condition with light curve to the spine / light reading creases to the covers. read more
Description: Good. 1997-Paperback----Used-Good-Hall Street Books proudly ships from Brooklyn, NY. All orders are processed and shipped within 24 hours, M-F. 100% money back No-Worry guarantee with expedited delivery and delivery confirmation available. read more
Binding: Mass Market Paperback
Publisher: Pyramid Books
Date Published: 1973
ISBN-13:9780515028904ISBN:0515028908
Description: Very Good. No names, no marks, no stickers. Binding is tight and square. Text is clean and bright. We recommend PRIORITY MAIL for even faster delivery! read more
Edition: 6th
Binding: Paper
Publisher: Pyramid, New York
Date Published: 1970
Description: Cover Art. Good. No Jacket. Vintage Paperback. 12mo-over 6¾"-7¾" tall. Cover Price.75 cents-----#T2174----The cover has some shelf wear. The spine has a slight cock...The pages has light yellowing..... read more
Binding: Mass-market paperback
Publisher: Pyramid Publications, New York
Date Published: 1973
Description: Gaughan, Jack. Good. No dust jacket as issued. (060107) Mass Market Paperback is in G+/Very Good condition with 3/4" spine tear upper left corner, bacov spine edge frayed bottom to halfway up, spine fray bottom frocov spine edge, crease at spine edge, light overall... 240 p.; 18 cm. The Lensman series #1 "Pyramid books. " Cover art by Jack Gaughan read more
Binding: Mass-market paperback
Publisher: Berkley
Date Published: 1983
ISBN-13:9780425053836ISBN:0425053830
Description: Mattingly, David. Good. No dust jacket as issued. VG. 240 p. 1983 paperback edition from Berkley. VERY GOOD, creased spine. David Mattingly cover art. read more
"3.0 to 3.5 stars. Classic "space opera" by one of the fathers of the genre. First in the Lensman Series. While a fairly fun read, this seems to be the weakest entry of the Lensman saga but does set the stage well for the later novels."
"I read a few of Smith's books when I was younger and enjoyed them fairly well, but this, the first in the Lensman series, really didn't do much for me. I scanned most of it. The writing is pretty bad, althoguh there was a core of a good story there. The plot, too, wove all over the place and could have been better developed. Maybe the later books in the series were just better."
"I had heard that this series had dated badly but didn't think that would be a problem for me but I think for once it was. It's not just that the science that has dated (and boy has that dated), it's the dialogue too. 1930's American slang really began to grate on me after a while and demonstrates a truism I think; steer clear of the slang (either real or imagined) because, no matter how cool it might seem at the time, it will only look silly in years to come.
But at the end of the day, it's not just that it's dated. It's quite badly written too. The story lurches from one event to the next, crisis to crisis, in an erratic fashion. Plausibility was no constraint on the story telling. Just plain terrible characterisation and dialog.
In a funny sort of way, the characterisation of this book reminded me of that in E. R. Eddison's "The Worm Ouroboros" only with less humour and less eloquence.
It wasn't all bad though, there were epic space battles with imaginative forms of weaponry. There was enough action and suspense to keep me reading and I'll probably check out the next in the series but it won't be for a while."
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