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Triplanetary
First published 1982 · 352 pages
A sweeping, vintage cosmic overture that sets the stage for the ultimate galactic battle between absolute good and absolute evil.
What it feels like
Reading this foundational space opera feels like stepping into a time machine back to the golden age of pulp science fiction. The narrative unfolds with a grandiose, sweeping scale, beginning with a god's-eye view of cosmic history before zooming into the earnest, action-packed struggles of early spacefarers. The prose is unapologetically enthusiastic and expository, carrying the breathless wonder of an era when the stars were a brand-new frontier for storytelling. It wraps the reader in a nostalgic, awe-inspiring atmosphere where absolute good and absolute evil clash across the void. This is a book for those who love the raw, unironic energy of vintage sci-fi and want to experience the epic, stage-setting origins of the galaxy's greatest space-opera saga.
- Mood
- cosmic
- nostalgic
- epic
- awe-inspiring
- Tone
- earnest
- grandiose
- enthusiastic
- pulpy
- Pace
- steady
- Themes
- cosmic destiny · absolute good vs. evil · technological wonder · evolutionary stewardship
- The writing
- Expository and grandiose, carrying the enthusiastic, exclamation-heavy cadence of Golden Age pulp science fiction.
- The arc
- Begins with a detached sense of cosmic awe before narrowing into a rousing, heroic determination to defend humanity.
- Who it's for
- Readers who delight in the foundational roots of space opera and crave sweeping, galaxy-spanning struggles of absolute good and evil.
Content notes
- vintage cultural attitudes
- sci-fi violence
About the book
Lensman series, Book 1 of 7
Even back before the first bits of this story hit the newsstands, the folks who published it in Amazing Stories (January through April, 1934) knew they were on to something special. "We are sure that our readers will be highly pleased to have us give the first installment of a story by Dr. Smith. It will continue for several numbers and is a worthy follower of the Skylark stories which were so much appreciated by our readers. We think that they will find this story superior to the earlier ones. Dr. Smith certainly has the narrative power, and that, joined with his scientific position, makes him an ideal author for our columns." An awful lot has gone under the bridge since 1934, but you know, the folks at Amazing were on to something. Triplanetary really is all that special, and we're thrilled to offer it to you now anew.
This is the first of E. E. "Doc" Smith's seven Lensman books, and although it isn't as fast-paced as later Lensman novels, it sets the stage for what is perhaps the greatest space-opera saga ever told. Through a series of vignettes spanning millions of years, readers will learn how the titanic struggle between the good Arisians and the evil Eddorians first came to pass, and about how humanity was chosen (and bred) to assume the awesome power of the lens. A short foreword by science fiction scholar John Clute puts the entire series into perspective.
HUGO Finalist for Best Science Fiction All-Time Series --Science Fiction Digest
Description from Open Library.
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First LensmanSmith, E. D.A sweeping, unapologetically heroic plunge into the dawn of galactic justice and cosmic-scale adventure.
The Skylark of SpaceEdward E. SmithA breathless, retro-futuristic joyride fueled by boundless optimism and the sheer thrill of cosmic discovery.
Children Of The Lens (Lensman Series, No 6)Fayrene PrestonA grand, sweeping conclusion to a classic cosmic conflict, driven by the ultimate evolution of human brilliance.
Second stage LensmenEdward E. SmithA tense, classic space opera that plunges the reader into the high-stakes world of interplanetary espionage and deep-cover infiltration.
Between PlanetsRobert Anson HeinleinA classic, golden-age space adventure that balances interplanetary peril with the earnest optimism of a young man finding his place in the universe.
Betrayer of Worlds (Ringworld)Larry Niven and Edward M. LernerA high-stakes game of galactic chess where deeply alien intellects clash over the survival of entire worlds.