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Note: This synopsis is consistent with the novel in its later forms (1946 and subsequent editions) but differs in detail from the original 1928 text as transcribed at
Project Gutenberg. There were significant changes between the 1928 magazine publication and the 1946 hardcover, and between the early
27:
750:
400:, everything is big and simple." R. D. Mullen wrote that Smith's "great success" was "surely due first of all to the skill with which Smith mixed elements of the spy thriller and the western story . . . with those of the traditional cosmic voyage. In the science fiction novel
316:, they obtain "X" from an outcrop almost purely of that mineral; then leave that planet in search of copper. Following an encounter with a "Disembodied Intelligence", they enter a cluster of stars nicknamed “The Green System” and locate a planet having
281:. DuQuesne conspires to sabotage Seaton's spaceship and build his own from Seaton's plans, which he uses to kidnap Seaton's fiancée, Dorothy Vaneman, to exchange for the "X". In the resulting fight, DuQuesne's ship is accidentally set to full
320:
oceans. On the Earth-like "Osnome", they befriend the rulers of
Mardonale, one of the two factions of the Osnomian natives. When the Mardonalian ruler attempts to betray Seaton and his friends, they find allies in Prince Dunark (a
309:). Having obtained the hostages, Seaton extracts a promise from DuQuesne to "act as one of the party until they get back to Earth", in which relationship they leave orbit and travel further in search of additional fuel.
396:, however, praised the novel for its "fast, lean plot, an air of excitement, . . . four characters who are comfortingly bigger than life the feeling that adventures are waiting everywhere," concluding that "In
325:
of
Mardonale's rival "Kondal") and his consort Princess Sitar, whom they later assist in destroying Mardonale. In gratitude, the Kondalians make new copper "power bars" and rebuild the
376:—and almost no other writer—it has inspired more imitators and done more to change the nature of all the science fiction written after it than almost any other single work."
181:, written between 1915 and 1921 while Smith was working on his doctorate. Though the original idea for the novel was Smith's, he co-wrote the first part of the novel with
297:. Using an "Object Compass" that once locked on an object, always points toward that object, Seaton and Crane follow DuQuesne in their own spaceship (the eponymous
388:'s review of the 1950 edition noted that "This tale is the sort of thing that only insatiable fans will enjoy, being . . . uncommonly amateur and awkward", and
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392:
wrote that "It had adventure of an unprecedented kind ... the first great 'classic' of
American science fiction", but "As literature, it was a total flop".
501:
333:, with new weapons known to Kondalian science. Thereafter Seaton's marriage to Dorothy, and Crane's to Margaret, are solemnized by the Kondalian
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273:
group) in solution. Having failed to re-create the effect, Seaton realizes that the missing component is a field generated by DuQuesne's
207:, it was first published in book form in 1946 by the Buffalo Book Co. The novel was followed by three sequels, beginning with
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At the beginning of the story, Seaton accidentally discovers a workable space drive in combining pure
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with a newly discovered element "X" (suggested to be a stable transactinide element in the
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discovers DuQuesne's ship derelict in orbit around a massive dead star (resembling a cold
277:, and thereafter sets up a business with his millionaire friend, Martin Crane, to build a
185:, the wife of his college classmate and later neighbor Carl Garby. The novel starts as an
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629:. Westminster, MD and Baltimore: Mirage Press, Ltd. pp. 125, 258, 343.
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414:"a name apparently taken from a famous old science fiction story".
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The
Science-Fantasy Publishers: A Bibliographic History, 1923–1998
337:, and Seaton himself declared nominal "Overlord" of Kondal. The
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345:, and a plenitude of "X"; but near Earth, DuQuesne leaves the
384:." Despite its influence, its critical reputation is mixed;
503:
Science
Fiction After 1900: From the Steam Man to the Stars
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hardcovers and the late 1950s and later paperback editions.
459:
Jun–Oct 1965, Pyramid Books 1966) - Hugo Award nominee
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says of the book: "With the exception of the works of
289:, until the copper 'power bar' is exhausted at a vast
530:, Mike Ashley, Liverpool University Press, 2000, p.60
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633:
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then returns to Earth, laden with jewels, platinum,
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193:is considered to be one of the earliest novels of
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639:"The Locus Index to Science Fiction (1984-1998)"
201:. Originally serialized in 1928 in the magazine
675:The Encyclopedia of Science Fiction and Fantasy
1025:Works originally published in Amazing Stories
788:
16:1946 science fiction novel by Edward E. Smith
802:
657:"The Locus Index to Science Fiction (2001)"
795:
781:
25:
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422:The novel was followed by three sequels:
447:Aug 1934 – Feb 1935, Fantasy Press 1949)
228:
997:
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258:, Dick Seaton, against the mercantile
1015:Novels first published in serial form
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768:Internet Speculative Fiction Database
608:, Signet Books, New York 1960, p. 46.
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31:Dust-jacket from the first edition
14:
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490:Edward Elmer Smith#Skylark series
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559:Before the Golden Age, Book One
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353:, and the story ends with the
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539:"Galaxy's Five Star Shelf,"
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357:s landing on Crane's Field.
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1010:1928 science fiction novels
755:public domain audiobook at
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577:. December 1958, pp.110-11
557:. In Asimov, Isaac (ed.).
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262:Marc "Blackie" DuQuesne.
247:is the first book of the
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587:"Reviews: November 1975"
561:. Doubleday. p. 25.
555:"Part One: 1920 to 1930"
254:and pits the idealistic
98:The Buffalo Book Company
976:Galactic Patrol Lensman
655:; William G. Contento.
637:; William G. Contento.
592:Science Fiction Studies
488:See historical data at
470:1928 in science fiction
380:called it "the seminal
625:; Mark Owings (1998).
553:Asimov, Isaac (1974).
541:Galaxy Science Fiction
241:
766:title listing at the
518:, Easton Press, 1991.
412:The Skylark of Space,
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179:Edward E. "Doc" Smith
20:The Skylark of Space
1005:1928 American novels
890:The Skylark of Space
861:Children of the Lens
854:Second Stage Lensmen
763:The Skylark of Space
752:The Skylark of Space
730:The Skylark of Space
715:The Skylark of Space
704:The Skylark of Space
516:The Skylark of Space
410:a starship is named
372:, possibly those of
275:particle accelerator
245:The Skylark of Space
234:The Skylark of Space
191:The Skylark of Space
170:The Skylark of Space
285:on an uncontrolled
195:interstellar travel
21:
958:Spacehounds of IPC
938:Subspace Encounter
931:Subspace Explorers
904:Skylark of Valeron
868:The Vortex Blaster
738:(transcribed from
606:Islands in the Sky
604:Arthur C. Clarke,
571:"In the Balance".
543:, June 1951, p.54.
445:Astounding Stories
440:Skylark of Valeron
403:Islands in the Sky
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735:Project Gutenberg
653:Brown, Charles N.
635:Brown, Charles N.
528:The Time Machines
183:Lee Hawkins Garby
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968:Adaptations
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677:. Chicago:
398:The Skylark
382:space opera
378:Mike Ashley
374:Jules Verne
370:H. G. Wells
331:Skylark Two
256:protagonist
199:space opera
47:Illustrator
999:Categories
720:Faded Page
662:2008-03-13
644:2008-03-13
476:References
287:trajectory
260:antagonist
361:Reception
351:parachute
314:exoplanet
279:spaceship
187:edisonade
94:Publisher
922:Subspace
757:LibriVox
722:(Canada)
673:(1978).
464:See also
355:Skylark'
335:monarchy
291:distance
271:platinum
127:Hardback
66:Language
983:Lensman
880:Skylark
816:Lensman
616:Sources
418:Sequels
347:Skylark
339:Skylark
327:Skylark
303:Skylark
299:Skylark
250:Skylark
125:Print (
78:Skylark
69:English
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679:Advent
343:radium
267:copper
252:series
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74:Series
37:Author
949:Other
173:is a
134:Pages
84:Genre
683:ISBN
143:ISBN
109:1946
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