This novel is truly old fashioned space opera. First written in 1937, you have to leave your sense of reality behind as humans in space encounter evil beings on Jupiter.
One scientist, who escapes with his girl friend, literally creates, in weeks, machines that took humans thousands of years to develop. And he starts by mining the coal and metals he needs to build them. The vast powers that numerous races throw at each other exist only in the mind of E.E. "Doc" Smith, the author. And improvements in weapons take only days to make.
But the novel is really dated in the relationship between one young scientist and his girl friend. They are the only two to escape the dreaded aliens. For unnumbered months they live together in a platonic relationship praising each other constantly. Did guys in the 30s really call their girls friends "cub", and did the girls reply with "big boy"? These are just some of the names they called each other that blew me away. Meanwhile, the girl praises the scientist for achieving unbelievable accomplishments in science, while degrading herself as 'little ol' me."
Later on in the book, one female scientist announces that despite her Ph.D., she is really looking forward to getting her M.R.S. degree. I love it!
If you love sci-fi, you really need to read this one from the Dawn of Science Fiction.
One scientist, who escapes with his girl friend, literally creates, in weeks, machines that took humans thousands of years to develop. And he starts by mining the coal and metals he needs to build them. The vast powers that numerous races throw at each other exist only in the mind of E.E. "Doc" Smith, the author. And improvements in weapons take only days to make.
But the novel is really dated in the relationship between one young scientist and his girl friend. They are the only two to escape the dreaded aliens. For unnumbered months they live together in a platonic relationship praising each other constantly. Did guys in the 30s really call their girls friends "cub", and did the girls reply with "big boy"? These are just some of the names they called each other that blew me away. Meanwhile, the girl praises the scientist for achieving unbelievable accomplishments in science, while degrading herself as 'little ol' me."
Later on in the book, one female scientist announces that despite her Ph.D., she is really looking forward to getting her M.R.S. degree. I love it!
If you love sci-fi, you really need to read this one from the Dawn of Science Fiction.
