"A Thunder of Stars" by Dan Morgan and John Kippax,
Just finished reading "A Thunder of Stars" by Dan Morgan and John Kippax, released by Ballantine Books back in 1970.
"A Thunder of Stars" is the first novel in the Venturer Twelve space opera series co-written by Morgan and Kippax. Sadly Kippax's unexpected death brought an end to the series after he wrote the fourth book in the series. Mogan and Kippax planned on writing several solo novels in the series apiece before reuniting to co-write further adventures of the crew of the Venturer Twelve. Keep in mind that the Venturer Twelve is vintage science fiction that envisions Earth sending out colony ships at sub-light speeds to nearby star systems. The Space Corps is in charge of all matter beyond Earth orbit and the men and women who join basically give up all hope of a normal family life due to the effects of time dilation at near light speeds.
The Venturer Twelve series explores the lives and circumstances of Commander Tom Bruce and his second-in-command and former lover Helen Lindstrom and their crew. "A Thunder of Stars" sets up the Venturer Twelve universe and introduces the notion that something dark and sinister - an unknown alien race - is destroying the colony worlds and in some cases leaving surgically altered humans behind who are less than human with no self-awareness or intelligence.
"A Thunder of Stars" is a bit stereotypical of science fiction novels written around the cusp of the "New Wave" of science fiction novels where sexuality was more open - though in keeping with most fiction novels published in this novel portrayed homosexuality in a bad light - the one gay character attempts to rape a fellow crewman, but is sort of redeemed by dying in a horrific construction accident.
Commander Tom Bruce is the typical ALPHA MALE devoted completely to the Space Corps who ends his relationship with Helen because she dares to brooch the subject of marriage and leaving the Space Corps. Bruce's ending the relationship with Helen does not impact their professional relationship.
When Bruce and Lindstrom are forced to destroy a hijacked colony ship that was sent on a collision course with Earth, it sets in motion a trial that reveals that humanity faces an unknown threat out among the stars.
This is an intriguing series launch and the television series "Space & Beyond" had some of the same elements that are in the Venturer Twelve series, though if you read it, you will have to take into consideration that it was written with the societal values of the day.
Recommended.
Three Stars.
https://www.amazon.com/Thunder-Stars-...
"A Thunder of Stars" is the first novel in the Venturer Twelve space opera series co-written by Morgan and Kippax. Sadly Kippax's unexpected death brought an end to the series after he wrote the fourth book in the series. Mogan and Kippax planned on writing several solo novels in the series apiece before reuniting to co-write further adventures of the crew of the Venturer Twelve. Keep in mind that the Venturer Twelve is vintage science fiction that envisions Earth sending out colony ships at sub-light speeds to nearby star systems. The Space Corps is in charge of all matter beyond Earth orbit and the men and women who join basically give up all hope of a normal family life due to the effects of time dilation at near light speeds.
The Venturer Twelve series explores the lives and circumstances of Commander Tom Bruce and his second-in-command and former lover Helen Lindstrom and their crew. "A Thunder of Stars" sets up the Venturer Twelve universe and introduces the notion that something dark and sinister - an unknown alien race - is destroying the colony worlds and in some cases leaving surgically altered humans behind who are less than human with no self-awareness or intelligence.
"A Thunder of Stars" is a bit stereotypical of science fiction novels written around the cusp of the "New Wave" of science fiction novels where sexuality was more open - though in keeping with most fiction novels published in this novel portrayed homosexuality in a bad light - the one gay character attempts to rape a fellow crewman, but is sort of redeemed by dying in a horrific construction accident.
Commander Tom Bruce is the typical ALPHA MALE devoted completely to the Space Corps who ends his relationship with Helen because she dares to brooch the subject of marriage and leaving the Space Corps. Bruce's ending the relationship with Helen does not impact their professional relationship.
When Bruce and Lindstrom are forced to destroy a hijacked colony ship that was sent on a collision course with Earth, it sets in motion a trial that reveals that humanity faces an unknown threat out among the stars.
This is an intriguing series launch and the television series "Space & Beyond" had some of the same elements that are in the Venturer Twelve series, though if you read it, you will have to take into consideration that it was written with the societal values of the day.
Recommended.
Three Stars.
https://www.amazon.com/Thunder-Stars-...
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