Space Ranger

by Isaac Asimov, Peter Elson (Illustrator)

In the 1950's, Isaac Asimov, writing under the pseudonym Paul French (later the books were republished under the Asimov name), wrote six science fiction novels for teenagers about a young agent of the "Council of Science," an organization which has considerable power in a world in the distant future. The agent, David Starr, travels throughout the Solar System to combat crime and to protect Earth. Asimov was using these stories to teach the readers facts about the Solar System. Nevertheless, in an introduction written in 1978, Asimov apologizes for the science inaccuracies in this first volume that are now apparent after all of the space probes to Mars. But, as of 1952, it was accurate. (Actually, this introduction to a later reprinting of a science fiction novel is rather unique. I can not recall another author who makes an effort to point out the changes scientific investigation have provided since the original publication of a story. Asimov should be commended for this. In so doing, he continues to teach.) In this first story, David Starr must discover who is the cause of a series of fatal poisonings on Earth and who is blackmailing the farms on Mars. In so doing, he accidentally comes in contact with ancient Martians living beneath the surface.

Genres: Science Fiction

156 pages, Paperback

Published September 1, 1983

About the author

Works of prolific Russian-American writer Isaac Asimov include popular explanations of scientific principles, The Foundation Trilogy (1951-1953), and other volumes of fiction.

Isaac Asimov, a professor of biochemistry, wrote as a highly successful author, best known for his books.

Asimov, professor, generally considered of all time, edited more than five hundred books and ninety thousand letters and postcards. He published in nine of the ten major categories of the Dewey decimal classification but lacked only an entry in the category of philosophy (100).

People widely considered Asimov, a master of the genre alongside Robert Anson Heinlein and Arthur Charles Clarke as the "big three" during his lifetime. He later tied Galactic Empire and the Robot into the same universe as his most famous series to create a unified "future history" for his stories much like those that Heinlein pioneered and Cordwainer Smith and Poul Anderson previously produced. He penned "Nightfall," voted in 1964 as the best short story of all time; many persons still honor this title. He also produced well mysteries, fantasy, and a great quantity of nonfiction. Asimov used Paul French, the pen name, for the Lucky Starr, series of juvenile novels.

Most books of Asimov in a historical way go as far back to a time with possible question or concept at its simplest stage. He often provides and mentions well nationalities, birth, and death dates for persons and etymologies and pronunciation guides for technical terms. Guide to Science, the tripartite set Understanding Physics, and Chronology of Science and Discovery exemplify these books.

Asimov, a long-time member, reluctantly served as vice president of Mensa international and described some members of that organization as "brain-proud and aggressive about their IQs." He took more pleasure as president of the humanist association. The asteroid 5020 Asimov, the magazine Asimov's Science Fiction, an elementary school in Brooklyn in New York, and two different awards honor his name.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Isaac_As...

Reviews

[Dane Cobain · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is the first book in Asimov’s David Starr, Space Ranger series, which he wrote under the pseudonym Paul French. I’ve actually read The Rings of Saturn, which is the fifth book in the series, but it still worked in this order and it was nice to see how the Space Ranger moniker first came about.

Plus it’s just well-written sci-fi and a genuine pleasure to read. As for the story line, we follow Starr as he investigates a Martian farm to try to figure out why people are getting poisoned after eating the food that’s grown there. It’s an engaging story in its own right, but Asimov’s background in the sciences also added a lot to make it even more enjoyable. Excellent.

[Simon Lee · Rating 3 out of 5]

Asimov's first David Starr book serves as an introduction to the character of the space ranger more than anything else but it does offer an early look at the author's ingenious, pioneering mind. The idea of colonising Mars, or at least visiting it, has become something of a sci-fi staple, but it's the observations on the underlying politics involved which are still as relevant today as when this was written almost 70 years ago. The narrative inevitably gives away the book's age in places, but it's the descriptions of tech and scientific detail that really bring Space Ranger to life. Looking forward to the second book!

[Bas · Rating 3 out of 5]

A good story that mainly makes you curious about what will happen next

[Jack Woodholme · Rating 4 out of 5]

The first of a great 6 book romp through the universe

[Lhreader · Rating 3 out of 5]

Fascinating insight into what the assumptions on Marsian life were 70 years ago, with the addition of a detective story and the origins of the Space Ranger character.