Quote:
Originally Posted by dmspen
If you can find them, and are looking for some original space opera, check out the Lensman series from Doc E.E. Smith. True 40s space opera stuff. Fairly light reading...
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Earlier than the 40's - the first one, _Triplanetary_, started serial appearance in Amazing Stories in 1934.
The Lensman books are more or less the canonical example of space opera. The take place against the backdrop of a cosmic struggle between the Arisians and the Eddorians. The Arisians were the first intelligent species to appear in our galaxy, billions of years ago. In origin, they were much like humanity, but have since evolved beyond details like physical bodies or ties to a particular world. The Eddorians are rapacious non-human entities consumed by lust for power. After millenia of warfare on their own world had killed every Eddorian who could be killed, the survivors began searching for a place where they could expand thier dominion, and every Eddorian could gain as much power as it could handle. Their own continuum lacked habital worlds to conquer, so they cast father afield, discovering ours. The Arisians become aware of them, and set in place a millennium long plan to create the force needed to oppose Eddore.
The force is the Galactic Patrol, originally created and manned by humanity, but extended to other species, and led by Lensman. Lensmen get their name from possession of the Lens, created for them by the Arisians. Each lens is unique, created for its wearer, and tied to its wearer's life force. It serves as an identifier that cannot be counterfeited - a lens will kill anyone who attempts to wear it that is not the one it was created for, and if the owner dies, will rapidly sublimate and disappear. The lens is telepathic, and allows lensman to communicate mentally with each other, even across interstellar distances, and to read the minds of other entities. Each Lensman is tested and vetted by the Arisians before being given a lens, and guaranteed to be moral and incorruptible.
The Eddorians set up shop in our continuum, operating through proxies under the name of Boskone, and use dirty politics, drugs, and military force to extend their dominion.
Smith is great at pulling rabbits out of his hat. Every time you think "He can't possibly top
this!", rest assured there's a topper up his sleeve, and a topper for the topper behind it.
I don't believe they are legitimately available as ebooks. Small press publisher Mike Walsh, doing business as Olde Earth books, had a lovely trade paperback reissue of the Fantasy Press editions, but these are out of print. It should be possible to find used PB copies.
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Dennis