- Paperback: 142 pages
- Publisher: Wildside Press (15 May 2007)
- Language English
- ISBN-10: 1434401014
- ISBN-13: 978-1434401014
- Product Dimensions: 23.2 x 15.4 x 0.9 cm
- Average Customer Review: 3.0 out of 5 stars See all reviews (5 customer reviews)
- Amazon Bestsellers Rank: 293,543 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)
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Product Description
Product Description
"TRIPLANETARY is the first of the six classic 'Lensman' books, long recognized as the greatest space opera ever written." -- John Clute
"The Lensman books . . . are the books I cut my teeth on as a fan, and together they comprise one of the true milestones in science fiction literature." -- J. Michael Straczynski
No single phrase can describe TRIPLANETARY, the first of the "Lensman" stories, the volume providing the background for the remaining novels in the series. It might be terned a Galactic Romance, or a Cosmological Fantasy -- but above all else it is a story. From the atomic age in Atlantis or a bloody Roman arena, you are borne to the watery world of Nevia, remote in space and time. You meet two incredible ancient races, the Arisians and the Eddorians, and you view the ancient conflict between these worlds.
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Customer Reviews
Most Helpful Customer Reviews
20 of 20 people found the following review helpful
Format:Paperback
If you're intending to read Doc Smith's classic "Lensman" series, then so you should; but you should definitely start, not with "Triplanetary", but with Galactic Patrol. Here's why.
Chronologically, the first Lensman story was Galactic Patrol, serialised in Astounding Stories from 1937-38. This was followed by the next three stories: Gray Lensman, Second Stage Lensmen and Children of the Lens. When publication in book form was mooted, Smith revised his earlier Triplanetary to fit into the lensman universe, and wrote First Lensman to form a bridge between that and "Galactic Patrol". Masters of the Vortex, another unrelated story, was likewise modified.
I, and many others it seems, feel that the four books representing Smith's original conception are the essential ones, and the others are disposable ("Vortex", in particular, being a pot-boiler with virtually no relation to the others). Although "First Lensman" certainly has entertaining moments (as when Virgil Samms is almost deafened at a Rigellian construction site, because the Rigellians have no sense of hearing and can't understand what the problem is).
There's another problem with the books, although fortunately not an insuperable one. Smith's universe, although already huge at the outset of "Galactic Patrol", expands as the series progresses. Originally, the reader didn't discover the total significance of the struggles going on within it until the end of "Children". But the books (except, for some inscrutable reason, "Patrol") feature tacked-on and needless Forewords that give away the whole plot. I STRONGLY recommend first-time readers to skip these.
"Triplanetary" is not as good as "Patrol"; and if you start here you may be disappointed - possibly enough to stop reading! Neither is it "really" the first book. But most importantly, you'll run headfirst into plot-spoilers that wreck the tension of the story.
When you've finished "Children", by all means go back and read this.
Chronologically, the first Lensman story was Galactic Patrol, serialised in Astounding Stories from 1937-38. This was followed by the next three stories: Gray Lensman, Second Stage Lensmen and Children of the Lens. When publication in book form was mooted, Smith revised his earlier Triplanetary to fit into the lensman universe, and wrote First Lensman to form a bridge between that and "Galactic Patrol". Masters of the Vortex, another unrelated story, was likewise modified.
I, and many others it seems, feel that the four books representing Smith's original conception are the essential ones, and the others are disposable ("Vortex", in particular, being a pot-boiler with virtually no relation to the others). Although "First Lensman" certainly has entertaining moments (as when Virgil Samms is almost deafened at a Rigellian construction site, because the Rigellians have no sense of hearing and can't understand what the problem is).
There's another problem with the books, although fortunately not an insuperable one. Smith's universe, although already huge at the outset of "Galactic Patrol", expands as the series progresses. Originally, the reader didn't discover the total significance of the struggles going on within it until the end of "Children". But the books (except, for some inscrutable reason, "Patrol") feature tacked-on and needless Forewords that give away the whole plot. I STRONGLY recommend first-time readers to skip these.
"Triplanetary" is not as good as "Patrol"; and if you start here you may be disappointed - possibly enough to stop reading! Neither is it "really" the first book. But most importantly, you'll run headfirst into plot-spoilers that wreck the tension of the story.
When you've finished "Children", by all means go back and read this.
5 of 5 people found the following review helpful
Format:Paperback
This book takes a little while to get going but it really comes to a fascinating end. It gets the whole series off to a great start.
If you have never read the Lensman Series, I can't recommend it enough. It just gets better with each book.
Thanks Ripping Publishing for reintroducing it!
2 of 2 people found the following review helpful
Format:Paperback
This 2007 reprint by Wildside Press, LLC is an abridged version.
With this edition the story starts with the Triplanetary Patrol in operation and Costigan aboard the Hyperion.
It has deleted the initial encounter of an Arisian with the Eddorians and the subsequent tales of the rise and fall of the civilisations of Earth.
A nice little novella but it completely seperates it from the Lensman Saga.
With this edition the story starts with the Triplanetary Patrol in operation and Costigan aboard the Hyperion.
It has deleted the initial encounter of an Arisian with the Eddorians and the subsequent tales of the rise and fall of the civilisations of Earth.
A nice little novella but it completely seperates it from the Lensman Saga.
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Most Recent Customer Reviews
Not a great read
Having finished this book I was left a bit confused by the structure. Turns out the book started life a serial in a magazine which was then turned into a novel which was... Read more
Published 4 months ago by Nyarlith
Where's the rest of it
When I first read Triplanetary, a long time ago, there were chapters about Atantis, the Roman Empire and the World Wars (up to WW3). Read more
Published 21 months ago by RobP
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