Android Planet

Space: 1999 #8

by John Rankine

DIFFERENT COVER. FORMER LIBRARY BOOK STAMPED WITHDRAWN INSIDE COVER AND ON FIRST PAGE. NO OTHER MARKS OR WRITING ON PAGES. MINOR WEAR ON EDGES OF SPINE.

Genres: Science Fiction

159 pages, Mass Market Paperback

First published January 1, 1976

About the author

John Rankine (born Douglas Rankine Mason) is a British science fiction author, who has written books both as John Rankine and as Douglas R. Mason.

Rankine was born in Hawarden, Flintshire, Wales and first attended Chester Grammar School and in 1937 went to study English Literature and Experimental Psychology at the University of Manchester, where he was a friend of Anthony Burgess (as mentioned in Little Wilson and Big God: The First Part of the Confession, AB's autobiography).

Reviews

[Craig · Rating 2 out of 5]

Space 1999 was a not-really-very-good television series fifty or so years ago; it was on for two years, and the first season was better than the first. We watched it because there was little other sf on television then, and it often looked cool, even if it was silly at times. The Moon takes off on a cosmic pinball jaunt through the cosmos, hi-ho! A variety of authors of the time did novelizations of the first season, along with some original stories, in ten volumes, and Michael Butterworth wrote adaptations for 23 of the 24 second season episodes in a six-volume series. There's nothing especially noteworthy about most of them; they vary in quality as did the scripts upon which they were based. The first season seemed to borrow heavily from Star Trek ideas. This eighth book from the first season was written by John Rankine, a science fiction writer who was also sometimes known as Douglas R. Mason. It's the second original novel in the series... they'd already adapted all of the episodes. This one doesn't really stand-out in any way; they meet a planet, Pelorus, wonder if it's their new home, get into some fights and adventures with the natives (androids vs. humans, huzzah), and go on their way, ready for next week. There's not much mystery or characterization, despite the advantage of having a whole novel's length for the story, it just flips from one event to the next like a newspaper comic strip. It was okay, but not among the most entertaining of the original novels. Anyway, Space 1999... a brief nostalgic visit to nearly forgotten television.

[Rich Meyer · Rating 4 out of 5]

Another original novel in the Space 1999 series, this one has a good deal more action than many of the adaptations or stories. There's a lot of intrigue and weirdness on the planet that Alpha happens to run across to give this story a very British, almost Quatermass feel. Definitely worth a read for the Space 1999 fan, and I think it's very accessible to the genre reader as well.

[The Bauchler · Rating 2 out of 5]

I'd forgotten I'd had/read this Space 1999 novel.

Having read it once in the late 70's I can't really remember much about it so would normally have given it a 3*.

At the time I thought Space 1999 was the coolest looking sci-fi on the box however I found out much later as an adult the TV series was notorious for its bad science and improbable feats of intergalactic travel.

As a kid none of this mattered that much and I do remember keeping the book for more than 30 years, but never wanting to revisit it.

I MAY still have it in the attic when I think on.

Who knows?

[Kerry Nietz · Rating 2 out of 5]

This version of Android Planet by John Rankine is a re-release by the modern guardians of the Space 1999 universe, Powys Media. Never having read this book when it was originally released (way back in the 70s) I was curious to read it—looking forward to it, actually.

After having read it, though, I have to say it isn’t one of my favorite Space 1999 books. To start with, the writing is filled with euphemisms and comparisons that aren’t meaningful. Part of this is undoubtedly due to the many years since the book was first published, and part could be because the writer was British. (Perhaps the phrases in question are more meaningful to a reader from the UK.) But I kept finding myself stalled, tripping over words and phrases that took a great deal of context searching to derive any meaning for. Even then I’m not sure I got it right.

As for the story, there are some fun areas—a good sampling of action and adventure, and many obstacles for the main characters to overcome. But what is missing here is the strong intrigue that was present in some of the better TV show episodes. There isn’t a lot of mystery at all, really. The plot just moves from one bit of action to the next.
And one mystery that does hang out there (regarding a neighboring planet) we never get a solution for. Frustrating!

That said, it is nice to have some of these old novels available for fans again. Regardless of my disappointment in this one, I’m looking forward to whatever is to come.

[James · Rating 2 out of 5]

Based on the cult science fiction tv series, Space: 1999 Android Planet is the eighth in the series reprinted by Pocket Books that was originally published by Futura Publications) in 1976. This science fiction novel finds Moonbase Alpha coming close to the planet known as Pelorus. Commander John Koenig leds a landing party after receiving no contact from the natives even though Moonbase Alpha was attacked several times. They find a race of androids and a small colony of humans from a nearby planet that created the robots to mine the planet.

Space: 1999 Android Planet has plenty of action and adventure but too much use of (British?) slang that don't jive with the rest of the story and makes it a so-so book. Not recommended this book unless you are a die-hard fan of the tv show.

[Michael · Rating 4 out of 5]

Just gets weirder.