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Dumarest of Terra #25
The Terridae
In his long quest to locate Earth, Earl Dumarest encounters a painting that contains familiar astrological symbols. This painting and the object it represents leads him to the Terridae, a strange cult on the edge of space whose members while away the years in pleasure, awaiting the rediscovery of the lost planet Earth...
Meanwhile, the vicious cybers of Cyclan continue to hunt Dumarest to regain the secret of the "affinity twin": knowledge which will allow them to conquer the galaxy.
Meanwhile, the vicious cybers of Cyclan continue to hunt Dumarest to regain the secret of the "affinity twin": knowledge which will allow them to conquer the galaxy.
- GenresScience FictionAdventure
160 pages, Mass Market Paperback
First published October 6, 1981
3 people are currently reading
74 people want to read
About the author
E.C. Tubb
382 books85 followersEdwin Charles Tubb was a writer of science fiction, fantasy and western novels. He published over 140 novels and 230 short stories and novellas, and is best known for The Dumarest Saga (US collective title: Dumarest of Terra) an epic science-fiction saga set in the far future.
Much of Tubb's work has been written under pseudonyms including Gregory Kern, Carl Maddox, Alan Guthrie, Eric Storm and George Holt. He has used 58 pen names over five decades of writing although some of these were publishers' house names also used by other writers: Volsted Gridban (along with John Russell Fearn), Gill Hunt (with John Brunner and Dennis Hughes), King Lang (with George Hay and John W Jennison), Roy Sheldon (with H. J. Campbell) and Brian Shaw. Tubb's Charles Grey alias was solely his own and acquired a big following in the early 1950s.
An avid reader of pulp science-fiction and fantasy in his youth, Tubb found that he had a particular talent as a writer of stories in that genre when his short story 'No Short Cuts' was published in New Worlds magazine in 1951. He opted for a full-time career as a writer and soon became renowned for the speed and diversity of his output.
Tubb contributed to many of the science fiction magazines of the 1950s including Futuristic Science Stories, Science Fantasy, Nebula and Galaxy Science Fiction. He contributed heavily to Authentic Science Fiction editing the magazine for nearly two years, from February 1956 until it folded in October 1957. During this time, he found it so difficult to find good writers to contribute to the magazine, that he often wrote most of the stories himself under a variety of pseudonyms: one issue of Authentic was written entirely by Tubb, including the letters column.
His main work in the science fiction genre, the Dumarest series, appeared from 1967 to 1985, with two final volumes in 1997 and 2008. His second major series, the Cap Kennedy series, was written from 1973 to 1983.
In recent years Tubb updated many of his 1950s science fiction novels for 21st century readers.
Tubb was one of the co-founders of the British Science Fiction Association.
Much of Tubb's work has been written under pseudonyms including Gregory Kern, Carl Maddox, Alan Guthrie, Eric Storm and George Holt. He has used 58 pen names over five decades of writing although some of these were publishers' house names also used by other writers: Volsted Gridban (along with John Russell Fearn), Gill Hunt (with John Brunner and Dennis Hughes), King Lang (with George Hay and John W Jennison), Roy Sheldon (with H. J. Campbell) and Brian Shaw. Tubb's Charles Grey alias was solely his own and acquired a big following in the early 1950s.
An avid reader of pulp science-fiction and fantasy in his youth, Tubb found that he had a particular talent as a writer of stories in that genre when his short story 'No Short Cuts' was published in New Worlds magazine in 1951. He opted for a full-time career as a writer and soon became renowned for the speed and diversity of his output.
Tubb contributed to many of the science fiction magazines of the 1950s including Futuristic Science Stories, Science Fantasy, Nebula and Galaxy Science Fiction. He contributed heavily to Authentic Science Fiction editing the magazine for nearly two years, from February 1956 until it folded in October 1957. During this time, he found it so difficult to find good writers to contribute to the magazine, that he often wrote most of the stories himself under a variety of pseudonyms: one issue of Authentic was written entirely by Tubb, including the letters column.
His main work in the science fiction genre, the Dumarest series, appeared from 1967 to 1985, with two final volumes in 1997 and 2008. His second major series, the Cap Kennedy series, was written from 1973 to 1983.
In recent years Tubb updated many of his 1950s science fiction novels for 21st century readers.
Tubb was one of the co-founders of the British Science Fiction Association.
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Displaying 1 - 6 of 6 reviews
August 17, 2025
Unlike many Dumarest stories that feel like side adventures, The Terridae gives the sense that Dumarest is truly moving forward. He encounters an entire society that not only believes in Earth but is actively searching for it - though their mission and ideals are misguided to say the least. A direct clash with the Cyclan, a relationship with an aspiring hermaphrodite, and Earl's trademark ingenuity and ruthless determination all keep the story engaging, plus an ending that actually offers a path forward in the series and makes me especially interested to pick up the next book.
January 19, 2012
Up till this point in the Dumarest series, the books are formulaic. Earl arrives at a planet, earns enough money to leave, notices a woman with prominent breasts, "loves" her and then leaves after defeating the Cyclan agent who prevents him from doing so. This book is a breath of fresh air, and varies the formula just enough to feel like a change.
If you end up skipping novels in this series once they become repetitive, this one would be a good candidate to jump back in at.
If you end up skipping novels in this series once they become repetitive, this one would be a good candidate to jump back in at.
April 21, 2024
Another enjoyable Dumarest of Terra adventure. Typical in many ways, however, this didn't end with Earl throwing his knife into a bad guys' eye socket/brain. He overcomes the plans of the Cyclan by clever tactics and trickery -- very cool.
October 14, 2020
Full review in the last volume.
A shame that Tubb uses in this volume a concept (woman that would rather be a man) he used before.
A shame that Tubb uses in this volume a concept (woman that would rather be a man) he used before.
August 23, 2009
I don't know what to say about this one. It was a ripping quick read, but parts of the settings, plot, and writing struck me as workmanlike, as though by this book number 25, the series had run low on gas.
May 14, 2016
Wash, rinse, repeat. Another false friend, two beautiful women..one treacherous, hairsbreath escapes, red robed danger, a world that is not a world, a people seeking an Earth that is not Earth. Revolution.
Displaying 1 - 6 of 6 reviews