Triplanetary: A Tale of Cosmic Adventure (Lensman Series, Book 1)
by Edward Elmer Smith
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other reviews (showing 1-20 of 196)
Read in July, 2008
Triplanetary is the first book of the Lensman series by E.E. Doc Smith. Like the rest of the series, it's a pulp-era space opera full of action, adventure, and "state-of-the-art" inventions and technology rolled into a non-stop ride through the galaxy (and beyond).
Like a lot of the genre at that time, the book's characters are a little wooden and stereotypical. There's the brave, quick-thinking, and capable secret agent Costigan, the stolid-yet-capable ship's Captain Bradl...more
Like a lot of the genre at that time, the book's characters are a little wooden and stereotypical. There's the brave, quick-thinking, and capable secret agent Costigan, the stolid-yet-capable ship's Captain Bradl...more
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the Lensman books are the greatest widescreen pulp space opera ever written.
I've re-read the whole series probably 10 times since I first ran across it in my voracious youth and it remains as fresh, surprising and enjoyable as ever.
Anyone longing for the swash and buckle of the golden age of SF, when hard boiled spacemen yearned for nothing more than a thick, juicy steak & a pot of strong black coffee after a hard day of saving the universe from a loathsome alien menace bent on devou...more
I've re-read the whole series probably 10 times since I first ran across it in my voracious youth and it remains as fresh, surprising and enjoyable as ever.
Anyone longing for the swash and buckle of the golden age of SF, when hard boiled spacemen yearned for nothing more than a thick, juicy steak & a pot of strong black coffee after a hard day of saving the universe from a loathsome alien menace bent on devou...more
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Read in June, 2006
In this, the first installment of the Lensmen series (may George Lucas credit EE Doc Smith for inventing Star Wars for him?) we are badly bogged down by what Doc thought was important backstory to the the orignal series of 4 titles, which this helped stretch out to 6. Doc could have probly saved time and energy, though lost a little cheddar in doing so, by either combining the first 2 or probably skipping them altogether. Still, truist that I am, I muddled through to get to greater glory conta...more
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Read in September, 1978
recommended to erik by:
no onerecommends it for: space opera fans
I had heard of "Doc" Smith but had avoided reading him because of his reputation as a writer of "space opera". When I spent the late summer of 1978 in Norway, however, there wasn't much to choose from, so I gave him a try.
Triplanetary, the first of his Lensman series, was actually not bad at all so far as entertainment value was concerned. Indeed, although in no wise great literature, it was a page-turner.
Triplanetary, the first of his Lensman series, was actually not bad at all so far as entertainment value was concerned. Indeed, although in no wise great literature, it was a page-turner.
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Read in January, 2008
There is something kind of relaxing about science fiction written almost 80 years ago. In the true
fashion of "hard" science fiction the reality of where we are now is untouched by the possibilities of this story. It is a fun and simple (only in the lack of pain and evil which is so much a part of our modern world) book which I would recommend. And there are six more in the series!!!
fashion of "hard" science fiction the reality of where we are now is untouched by the possibilities of this story. It is a fun and simple (only in the lack of pain and evil which is so much a part of our modern world) book which I would recommend. And there are six more in the series!!!
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Read in January, 1990
Volume 1 in the classic Lensman series: good vs evil in the galactic world - tracing the source of the highest/lowest level in the world of evil travelling under many names... Have re-read the series on numerous occasions and still get a kick out of them.
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Very antiquated Sci-fi in a writing style that almost doesn't exist anymore. My high rating of this book comes not from that it's good, but that I have a massive soft spot for outlandish science fiction.
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This Lensman series is a fun read. It was written before 1950 and while simplistic in style, it captures attention. A space opera of epic proportions. I encourage people to read this series.
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I wouldn't recommend this to anyone who didn't like or want to understand 'Campbellian' SF. It's not bad, especially a book or two into the series. After that, it gets to be a bit much.
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I'm not terribly ashamed to admit I like Doc Smith, since I'm in good company (see Robert Heinlein's "Larger than Life"). Heinlein's apology for Smith covers most of the usual criticisms: the hackneyed dialogue, the Mauve Decade values, the liberal use of space opera stereotypes such as bug-eyed monsters (although note, please, that these hadn't been overused yet during Smith's time).
But I secretly hope that, in a different life, I too might wear the Lens....and in any case, to be ...more
But I secretly hope that, in a different life, I too might wear the Lens....and in any case, to be ...more
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The first book in the Lensman saga, actually an earlier book of Smith's retooled. A bit slow, but with some very cool ideas.
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Read in August, 2008
recommended to James by:
Discovered it when I was a teen in the late 1960srecommends it for: all die-hard scifi fans
This classic work of science fiction is by E.E. 'Doc' Smith and accurately foreshadows all of the major scifi media of the late 20th Century: Star Wars, Star Trek, Battlestar Galactica, etc. Think: space opera meets dogfights in space with advanced, super-high tech devices plus quantum cosmology plus a Harry Potter-like narrative.
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Is terribly british and factoring in having been copyrighted in 1948 is good fun (I will forgive certain scientific and plot inconsistencies). [return:][return:]Oh those manly men![return:][return:]I'm having an urge to read more Biggles.
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