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Family d'Alembert #5
Appointment at Bloodstar
ROYALTY OF DEATH-- The Marquis who stepped into a sabotaged elevator-- The Viscountess burned in a fire that was set deliberately-- The two Dukes cut down by alien terroristsThe Empire's boldest agents -- Jules and Yvette d'Alembert -- blast off against the most dangerous conspiracy in the Galaxy. But even the lightning-powers inherited from their triple-gravity planet are no match for their adversary, the beautiful and ruthless star-warrior called ... Lady A.
189 pages, Paperback
First published January 1, 1978
13 people are currently reading
171 people want to read
About the author
E.E. "Doc" Smith
254 books330 followersEdward Elmer Smith (also E.E. Smith, E.E. Smith, Ph.D., E.E. “Doc” Smith, Doc Smith, “Skylark” Smith, or—to his family—Ted), was an American food engineer (specializing in doughnut and pastry mixes) and an early science fiction author, best known for the Lensman and Skylark series. He is sometimes called the father of space opera.
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Displaying 1 - 7 of 7 reviews
August 22, 2019
This is the fifth in a 10 novel series which was mostly written by Stephen Goldin. Doc Smith wrote a novella called Imperial Stars which Goldin expanded into the first novel, and then Goldin wrote another 9 novels in a long story arc. But Smith is the famous one, so his name appears in large letters everywhere and Goldin is barely mentioned.
The setting is a universe where a Russian Feudal system has somehow become the dominant mode of government and of the language, so we see Russian words sprinkled throughout the conversations. Humanity has spread to a number of planets with varying characteristics. One of these is DesPlaines, a high gravity planet whose inhabitants have adapted by becoming shorter and stockier, and which has developed a unique attraction, The Circus of the Galaxy. What people don't know is that this circus is also a key part of the secret service SOTE, the Service Of The Empire. This allows for an interesting twist for space opera, a series where the heroes do not have secret weapons or super powers, merely acrobatic training.
In this novel we find that a number of nobles are dying mysteriously in ways not at all normal. It looks like a plot of assassination, but what does it aim at? The equally mysterious Lady A. seems to be behind it all. And somehow it all comes together at Bloodstar Hall, where Crown Princess Edna is to wed her consort. Jules and Yvette d'Alembert, top agents of SOTE, must get safeguard the Princess and the wedding, and stop Lady A.'s plot. The book is fast-paced and a good combination of space opera with spy thriller. But since this a 10-novel story arc, each novel builds on what went before, so do not read them out of order.
The setting is a universe where a Russian Feudal system has somehow become the dominant mode of government and of the language, so we see Russian words sprinkled throughout the conversations. Humanity has spread to a number of planets with varying characteristics. One of these is DesPlaines, a high gravity planet whose inhabitants have adapted by becoming shorter and stockier, and which has developed a unique attraction, The Circus of the Galaxy. What people don't know is that this circus is also a key part of the secret service SOTE, the Service Of The Empire. This allows for an interesting twist for space opera, a series where the heroes do not have secret weapons or super powers, merely acrobatic training.
In this novel we find that a number of nobles are dying mysteriously in ways not at all normal. It looks like a plot of assassination, but what does it aim at? The equally mysterious Lady A. seems to be behind it all. And somehow it all comes together at Bloodstar Hall, where Crown Princess Edna is to wed her consort. Jules and Yvette d'Alembert, top agents of SOTE, must get safeguard the Princess and the wedding, and stop Lady A.'s plot. The book is fast-paced and a good combination of space opera with spy thriller. But since this a 10-novel story arc, each novel builds on what went before, so do not read them out of order.
October 13, 2025
Although I’ve read novels in the Lensmen universe and Skylark series by E. E. “Doc” Smith, I hadn’t been aware of The Family D’alembert Series until I saw Appointment at Bloodstar in a used bookstore. I nabbed it without realizing that this was going to be space opera in a tremendous pulp adventure tradition. It has super secret interstellar agencies and super secret enemy conspiracies. It has interstellar spies and galactic pirates. It has secret bases and spies who operate out of an insterstellar circus. Can there be anything more “pulp adventure” than this? Doc Savage and The Avenger can eat their hearts out (chuckle).
In Appointment at Bloodstar, as I assume in the rest of the series, the Empire serves as the “good guys” as opposed to other space operas where the imperial forces and authorities stand as tackling dummies for the evils of imperialism. Since we know very little as of yet about the sinister villainess, Lady A, and her associates, they may be metaphorical punching bags for evils of capitalism. We don’t know, but they seem to have unlimited funding and an inexplicable access to advanced technology. I doubt this is a full-blown criticism of capitalism because that doesn’t seem to fit what I’ve read in other “Doc” Smith novels, but from this book alone it isn’t clear what the motivation is for the disloyal opposition.
The novel has the typical pulp adventure traps, bad luck, periods of unconsciousness, and forced fumbles along with the daring acrobatics one would associate with circus performer undercover operatives. There is romance, jealousy, and betrayal. The action scenes are right out of Buck Rogers and Flash Gordon tradition. I could easily see this as an old-time movie serial (and as in movie serials, some of the action is redundant as though reusing footage), but let me make it clear that I very much enjoy old movie serials.
Unlike the premise of Appointment at Bloodstar with its multiple assassinations of the imperial elite basis, the novel is not earth-shaking science-fiction or space opera. However, it is the kind of book that keeps you reading. If one is the kind of reader that can suspend disbelief and just go with the flow, Appointment at Bloodstar is an enjoyable experience. If one is looking for something deeper, nothing to see here.
In Appointment at Bloodstar, as I assume in the rest of the series, the Empire serves as the “good guys” as opposed to other space operas where the imperial forces and authorities stand as tackling dummies for the evils of imperialism. Since we know very little as of yet about the sinister villainess, Lady A, and her associates, they may be metaphorical punching bags for evils of capitalism. We don’t know, but they seem to have unlimited funding and an inexplicable access to advanced technology. I doubt this is a full-blown criticism of capitalism because that doesn’t seem to fit what I’ve read in other “Doc” Smith novels, but from this book alone it isn’t clear what the motivation is for the disloyal opposition.
The novel has the typical pulp adventure traps, bad luck, periods of unconsciousness, and forced fumbles along with the daring acrobatics one would associate with circus performer undercover operatives. There is romance, jealousy, and betrayal. The action scenes are right out of Buck Rogers and Flash Gordon tradition. I could easily see this as an old-time movie serial (and as in movie serials, some of the action is redundant as though reusing footage), but let me make it clear that I very much enjoy old movie serials.
Unlike the premise of Appointment at Bloodstar with its multiple assassinations of the imperial elite basis, the novel is not earth-shaking science-fiction or space opera. However, it is the kind of book that keeps you reading. If one is the kind of reader that can suspend disbelief and just go with the flow, Appointment at Bloodstar is an enjoyable experience. If one is looking for something deeper, nothing to see here.
October 3, 2025
After a shaky start this series keeps getting a bit better with each book. We get to know a bit more about the workings of the galactic empire, and we even get weddings for our two main series protagonists. Nothing is ever simple, though, and a conspiracy to attack the heir to the empire must be thwarted on multiple fronts before that can happen.
The book does descend to some sexist 1970s cringe a couple of times. For example, Yvette, one of the two top agents in the whole empire, apparently never learned even the basics of how to fly a spacecraft. I can only assume that's a man's job, and she was too busy making dinner :(
Other than that it's a fun space opera romp.
The book does descend to some sexist 1970s cringe a couple of times. For example, Yvette, one of the two top agents in the whole empire, apparently never learned even the basics of how to fly a spacecraft. I can only assume that's a man's job, and she was too busy making dinner :(
Other than that it's a fun space opera romp.
March 10, 2019
Haha
Sheer nonsense.
But when I was about 12 the covers on these books captivated me. Other book covers featured people doing things ... but these portrayed something so lonely and majestic.
Anyway, adolescent nonsense, but full of action, easy prose, and that will do me for nostalgia.
Sheer nonsense.
But when I was about 12 the covers on these books captivated me. Other book covers featured people doing things ... but these portrayed something so lonely and majestic.
Anyway, adolescent nonsense, but full of action, easy prose, and that will do me for nostalgia.
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October 23, 2025The Empire's boldest agents - Jules and Yvette d'Alembert - blast off against the most dangerous conspiracy in the Galaxy. But even the lightning-powers inherited from their triple-gravity planet are no match for their adversary, the beautiful and ruthless star-warrior called...Lady A.
October 29, 2009
I accidentally started with this, #5, in the series so I'm reading it again as PART of the series and so much more is making sense. The whole thing is like one big long story thru 6 books. It was inspiring enough to go back to the beginning, read it again (which i almost NEVER do!) so you may actually enjoy it too.
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January 18, 2019Very good
The threat against the empire and the royal family deepens as the d'Alemberts work towards stopping an assasination that would have widespread repercussions.
The threat against the empire and the royal family deepens as the d'Alemberts work towards stopping an assasination that would have widespread repercussions.
Displaying 1 - 7 of 7 reviews