Lost In Space
Just finished reading "Lost In Space" by Dave Van Arnam and Ron Archer, published by Pyramid Books in October 1967.
As frequent readers of my reviews here on Facebook, Goodreads, and other online venues know, several years ago I started when I can the "Great Re-Reading of My Favorite Books When I was Young" project.
I first came across this novel based on the original late 1960s popular television series at Twice Told Tales, a used bookstore that was open during the 1970s in Jacksonville, North Carolina across the street from the New River Shopping Center. I found my reading copy at Chamblin Bookmine in Jacksonville, Florida - the greatest bookstore in the entire Eastern United States.
"Lost In Space" is not a novelization of episodes from the original series. Dave Van Arnam and Ron Archer - a.k.a. Ted White - chronicled original adventures of the Jupiter 2 crew, and yet this book, which was supposed to be the first in a series of Lost In Space books which sadly never materialized for various reasons - probably poor sales - does not exactly follow the television show and in some instances follows the Space Family Robinson Gold Key Comic Book.
John Robinson and Don West in this novel are astrophysicists who were conducting routine tests aboard the Jupiter 2 with Professor Robinson's family aboard when the Jupiter 2's hyperdrive carried the ship to the far reaches of the universe. Dr. Smith of course was a stowaway in this novel, but not so much the buffoon, not quite evil, greedy, but more of a scientist. Why Dr. Smith stowed away was never explained in the novel like it was shown in the original television series. Yet it's Dr. Smith's actions that ultimately causes humanity to be judged not worthy and condemns the Jupiter 2's crew to more wandering in their quest to return back to Earth - the goal of reaching Alpha Centauri is never mentioned.
Now because of the concept of "the worthy" which comprises the last outing of the Jupiter 2's crew in this novel, I couldn't help but wonder if Bill Mumy, who played Will Robinson in the original series, read this novel because he co-wrote with Peter David, a three-part Star Trek comic series titled "The Return of The Worthy" which features a family of space explorers - the Worthys.
"Lost In Space" is an original novel set in the Lost-In-Space Universe, it's more set in the series' first season. It's a fun read, but if you're looking for further development into the Robinson Family, Don West, the Robot, and Dr. Smith, you won't find it in this novel.
Great Fun!
Highly Recommended!
Ten Stars!
https://www.amazon.com/Lost-Space-Dav...
As frequent readers of my reviews here on Facebook, Goodreads, and other online venues know, several years ago I started when I can the "Great Re-Reading of My Favorite Books When I was Young" project.
I first came across this novel based on the original late 1960s popular television series at Twice Told Tales, a used bookstore that was open during the 1970s in Jacksonville, North Carolina across the street from the New River Shopping Center. I found my reading copy at Chamblin Bookmine in Jacksonville, Florida - the greatest bookstore in the entire Eastern United States.
"Lost In Space" is not a novelization of episodes from the original series. Dave Van Arnam and Ron Archer - a.k.a. Ted White - chronicled original adventures of the Jupiter 2 crew, and yet this book, which was supposed to be the first in a series of Lost In Space books which sadly never materialized for various reasons - probably poor sales - does not exactly follow the television show and in some instances follows the Space Family Robinson Gold Key Comic Book.
John Robinson and Don West in this novel are astrophysicists who were conducting routine tests aboard the Jupiter 2 with Professor Robinson's family aboard when the Jupiter 2's hyperdrive carried the ship to the far reaches of the universe. Dr. Smith of course was a stowaway in this novel, but not so much the buffoon, not quite evil, greedy, but more of a scientist. Why Dr. Smith stowed away was never explained in the novel like it was shown in the original television series. Yet it's Dr. Smith's actions that ultimately causes humanity to be judged not worthy and condemns the Jupiter 2's crew to more wandering in their quest to return back to Earth - the goal of reaching Alpha Centauri is never mentioned.
Now because of the concept of "the worthy" which comprises the last outing of the Jupiter 2's crew in this novel, I couldn't help but wonder if Bill Mumy, who played Will Robinson in the original series, read this novel because he co-wrote with Peter David, a three-part Star Trek comic series titled "The Return of The Worthy" which features a family of space explorers - the Worthys.
"Lost In Space" is an original novel set in the Lost-In-Space Universe, it's more set in the series' first season. It's a fun read, but if you're looking for further development into the Robinson Family, Don West, the Robot, and Dr. Smith, you won't find it in this novel.
Great Fun!
Highly Recommended!
Ten Stars!
https://www.amazon.com/Lost-Space-Dav...
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