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Islands of Space
Islands of Space
"Their space-drive engine shattered the intergalactic barriers"
Book Excerpt
is very likely to turn thumbs down on the whole deal. Besides, Arcot's dad has a lot of influence around here, too, and I have a healthy hunch he won't like the idea, either."
"I rather fear he won't," agreed Arcot gloomily.
A silence hung over the room that felt almost as heavy as the pall of pipe smoke the air conditioners were trying frantically to disperse.
The elder Mr. Morey had full control of their finances. A ship that would cost easily hundreds of millions of dollars was well beyond anything the four men could get by themselves. Their inventions were the property of Transcontinental, but even if they had not been, not one of the four men would think of selling them to another company.
Finally, Wade said: "I think we'll stand a much better chance if we show them a big, spectacular exhibition; something really impressive. We'll point out all the advantages and uses of the apparatus. Then we'll show them complete plans for the ship. They might consent."
"They might,"
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Normally, this is the type of story that I would give a low rating. The science is silly, and the characters rather shallow. Also, it takes some patience (or dutiful skimming) to get through some early parts of the story.
However, as the plot moves along, it becomes somewhat interesting. By the end, interest is up, though the silly science remains somewhat of a detractor. It is worth the time to read despite some of the drawbacks.
However, as the plot moves along, it becomes somewhat interesting. By the end, interest is up, though the silly science remains somewhat of a detractor. It is worth the time to read despite some of the drawbacks.
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This is the middle book of a trilogy with the same characters. It picks up from the end of The Black Star Passes and is followed by Invaders From The Infinite. It's possible that the characters are described in the first book; they're not in this one. They are evidently rich white college graduate boys in the future who have already saved the solar system from invaders orbiting a burned out star, so they have nothing to prove.
They've previously invented a fuel-less drive powered by molecular motion, and they take a couple of days to sit down and knock out a warp drive, anti-gravity, invisibility, and heat rays, which they not only install on their ship, but on their space suits.
With countless unexplored stars in the Milky Way, they decide to travel to another galaxy. When they get into trouble, they just invent something new to save themselves. They teach themselves telepathy in their spare time.
They don't know what sort of alien creatures might inhabit a planet's lake, and they want to swim, so they sterilize the lake. The only women are dead alien women. These guys have dads, but don't seem to have mothers. Sex never occurs to them, they don't even seem to be gay, just asexual stick figures.
I previously downloaded the other two books, but based on this one, I deleted them without reading them.
They've previously invented a fuel-less drive powered by molecular motion, and they take a couple of days to sit down and knock out a warp drive, anti-gravity, invisibility, and heat rays, which they not only install on their ship, but on their space suits.
With countless unexplored stars in the Milky Way, they decide to travel to another galaxy. When they get into trouble, they just invent something new to save themselves. They teach themselves telepathy in their spare time.
They don't know what sort of alien creatures might inhabit a planet's lake, and they want to swim, so they sterilize the lake. The only women are dead alien women. These guys have dads, but don't seem to have mothers. Sex never occurs to them, they don't even seem to be gay, just asexual stick figures.
I previously downloaded the other two books, but based on this one, I deleted them without reading them.
10/06/2013
I have just finished this book.It is very much of its time and reminds me of EE "Doc" Smith's "Lensman " series; they thought big in those days! I love SF from this period, and although Campbell deals with mind bogglingly large ideas, he is able to make the science sound plausible.If you like SF from the classic period, you'll love this!
08/10/2010
This story is a continuation from "The Black Star Passes" - but is even weaker than the first installments. It is reduced to a tale of 3 shallow heros (of the 1930's vintage) galavanting through space.
09/02/2006