Book One of the ''Second Stage Lensman'' Trilogy, a series of authorised sequels to the original LENSMEN novels by E.E. ''Doc'' Smith.
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From the Publisher
Edward E. ''Doc'' Smith's visionary Lensmen series of stories began in 1934 in the pages of Amazing Stories, and when it finished in 1948 it was universally recognized as the greatest space opera yet written. In telling the tale of a cosmos-spanning battle between good and evil, the Lensmen saga encompassed two entire galaxies in collision, each home to a primordial race of nearly limitless power. On one side were the Arisians, uplifting agents of wisdom who had taken it upon themselves to mentor the younger races and steer them towards the enlightenment they called Civilization. On the other were the Eddorians, embodiments of crushing efficiency and unthinking obedience who had woven together a vast web of tyrannies called the Boskone, through which they plotted the enslavement of all life. As their greatest weapon in the fight against the Boskone, the Arisians created the Lenses -- almost-living complexities of crystal that released and amplified their wearers! ' latent psychic powers. Those chosen for this honor were called Lensmen, and as the leaders of the Galactic Patrol they formed Civilization's spearhead against the Boskone. Within the elite ranks of the Lensmen was an even more rarified elite -- the four Second Stage Lensmen, one from each of the races which the Arisians had chosen as the most capable defenders of their galaxy. It is one of these Second Stage Lensmen -- the Velantian named Worsel -- that David A. Kyle chose to headline his first authorized sequel to Smith's Lensmen canon: The Dragon Lensman.
As The Dragon Lensman opens, the Boskonian conspiracy seems to have been vanquished with its defeat at the great Battle of Klovia, and the victorious Galactic Patrol is busy re-orienting itself to face the new challenges of policing a galaxy instead of defending it against a ruthless invader. Among those adjusting to the new reality is Second Stage Lensman Worsel, the legendary warrior/scientist famed for his intelligence and dedication to the fight against ignorance and evil. Like all of his species, Worsel resembles the mythological dragons of old Tellus (Earth), with a sinewy, ten-meter-long body covered in scales and boasting great wings and terrifying claws and teeth. But WorselÕs real strength is his mind and its unmatched psychic abilities, concentrated and focused by the Lens shining among his many eye-stalks. And it is the intuition bred of that power that now draws Worsel to the VelantiansÕ incredible archive, the 18-mile-wide artificial moon known as the Planetoid! of Knowledge, where he feels certain something important is waiting for him.
He is right -- but what awaits him on POK is more than he bargained for, and before long Worsel and his fellow Lensmen are racing against time to confront a threat that almost no one had thought possible: machines becoming self-aware and battling against organic Civilization, their calcuating computer brains invisible to any kind of psychic detection!
To counter this new menace, the Dragon Lensman finds himself hurtling through space to rendez-vous with the one Lensman who understands robots well enough to strategize against an inorganic uprising -- the mysterious Twenty-Four of Six, whose knowledge of machines turns out to be deeper and more hard-won than even Worsel could guess.
Soon it becomes clear that Civilization will need every bit of that knowledge, and more besides, to face the enemies that are now revealing themselves. For behind the overt power there lurks a vastly more dangerous covert one, and to defeat it Worsel will not only have to challenge the worst fears of his race, but also discover the secret of the young Lensman with whom he must entrust his life -- a secret that will shake the very foundations of the Galactic Patrol! --This text refers to an alternate Paperback edition.
About the Author
David A. Kyle's experience in Science Fiction dates back to the ''Golden Age'' of the early 1930s. An active force in both the earliest and present-day worlds of Science Fiction fandom, he began publishing fanzines as a teenager, and he participated in the first science fiction convention in Philadelphia in 1936. He attended the first World Science Fiction Convention in New York in 1939, and went on to chair the 14th Worldcon in 1956, and was Worldcon Fan Guest of Honor in 1983.
His professional career in the field spans six decades; beginning as a writer and illustrator for pulp magazines, then as publisher, anthologist, illustrator, book designer, editor, and literary agent. In 1947 he co-founded Gnome Press, the imprint that pioneered the first hardcover editions of works by such authors as Isaac Asimov, Sir Arthur C. Clarke, and Robert Howard.
He has collected an array of honors, among them First Fandom's Science Fiction Hall of Fame; a special award from the British Science Fiction Association; and an award for Outstanding Achievement from The International Society of Science Fiction, Horror and Fantasy. He has been chosen by Starlog as one of The 100 Most Important People in Science Fiction and Fantasy.
His works include the award-winning A Pictorial History of Science Fiction and The Illustrated Book of Science Fiction Ideas and Dreams. --This text refers to an alternate Paperback edition.
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Amazon.com:
3.6 out of 5 stars
7 reviews
9 of 10 people found the following review helpful
3.0 out of 5 stars
Almost about Worsel.
May 31 2005
By Kendal B. Hunter
- Published on Amazon.com
Format:Paperback
This is billed as a continuation of the Lensman saga, and a story about Worsel. The first is true; the second isn't.
In this era of Star Wars: Expanded Universe, and endless Star Trek novels, not to mention the Brian Herbert's prequels, and pre-prequel Dune novels, you get used to other people wanting to build upon others ingenuity. Occasionally, as in the case of the novelization of Revenge of the Sith, and in ST:TNG "Q-Squared," you get surprising winners. However, most of the time, to books read like a mediocre episode of the series.
It is not that Kyle has big shoes to fill. Rather, he has quirky shoes that are several decades out of style. You can forgive Doc Smith for writing pulp because he was a bona fide pulp writer. Kyle, however, has a better soul, prose, and style that does not flow well with Doc Smith's.
In some ways, this is an improvement. Doc could get word and awk-"wordy" at times. The pacing was too quick at times, and the breezy slang can be like reading another language. This slows the modern reader down.
I think Kyle has only two problems. One, he tweaks the Lensman continuum too much. With 29 of 6 not getting the regenerative treatment that was already established "Second Stage Lensman," it was a hefty discontinuity. Since this is a main character, it did not seem believable.
Then there is the problems of el-sike, a purely Kyle invention which doe not flow out of the original Doc cannon.
Second, you could feel the influence of other SF in this book-Pok reminded me of the Death Star, Arrow-22-a here-and-gone character-was Hal 9000 with a stutter.
The last and biggest problem is that this story is not about Worsel, but about Kallatra. The Old Snake is the point of view character, but he is not the main character, in the same way that Holmes provides the POV, with Sherlock the main charter. The resolution of the plot hinges upon Kallatra. Consequently, she steals all of Worsel's potential thunder. The Snake is more of a mentor (no pun intended), with Kinnison and Mentor being redundant beings.
I find Kallatra a very disturbing character. She appears out of nowhere, is the central being to the plot, and undergoes an agonizing near death with the entire Galactic Patrol and Lensman Corps looking on in awe. In short, she is a MARY SUE character.
So . . . if you are a die hard Lensman fan, buy the whole trilogy to round out your collection. But do not expect the same type of book. It is an easier read, but not as good a story.
In this era of Star Wars: Expanded Universe, and endless Star Trek novels, not to mention the Brian Herbert's prequels, and pre-prequel Dune novels, you get used to other people wanting to build upon others ingenuity. Occasionally, as in the case of the novelization of Revenge of the Sith, and in ST:TNG "Q-Squared," you get surprising winners. However, most of the time, to books read like a mediocre episode of the series.
It is not that Kyle has big shoes to fill. Rather, he has quirky shoes that are several decades out of style. You can forgive Doc Smith for writing pulp because he was a bona fide pulp writer. Kyle, however, has a better soul, prose, and style that does not flow well with Doc Smith's.
In some ways, this is an improvement. Doc could get word and awk-"wordy" at times. The pacing was too quick at times, and the breezy slang can be like reading another language. This slows the modern reader down.
I think Kyle has only two problems. One, he tweaks the Lensman continuum too much. With 29 of 6 not getting the regenerative treatment that was already established "Second Stage Lensman," it was a hefty discontinuity. Since this is a main character, it did not seem believable.
Then there is the problems of el-sike, a purely Kyle invention which doe not flow out of the original Doc cannon.
Second, you could feel the influence of other SF in this book-Pok reminded me of the Death Star, Arrow-22-a here-and-gone character-was Hal 9000 with a stutter.
The last and biggest problem is that this story is not about Worsel, but about Kallatra. The Old Snake is the point of view character, but he is not the main character, in the same way that Holmes provides the POV, with Sherlock the main charter. The resolution of the plot hinges upon Kallatra. Consequently, she steals all of Worsel's potential thunder. The Snake is more of a mentor (no pun intended), with Kinnison and Mentor being redundant beings.
I find Kallatra a very disturbing character. She appears out of nowhere, is the central being to the plot, and undergoes an agonizing near death with the entire Galactic Patrol and Lensman Corps looking on in awe. In short, she is a MARY SUE character.
So . . . if you are a die hard Lensman fan, buy the whole trilogy to round out your collection. But do not expect the same type of book. It is an easier read, but not as good a story.
7 of 9 people found the following review helpful
1.0 out of 5 stars
Disappointing
Jun 18 2006
By Dennis Ideue
- Published on Amazon.com
Format:Paperback|Amazon Verified Purchase
With E.E. Smith long gone, the readers who loved his Lensman series could only hope for an addition like those that followed Dune. Dune's sequels followed (even explained), in perfect style- the original series.
This book breaks E.E.'s style and technology so blatantly, it can only be called a Lensman book by virtue of licensing, and the names of the characters. Smith created whole technologies, within the constraints of his era's science. This book breaks all the technological parameters set by Smith. In "Dragon" we have high-tech AI when, 20 years later in the REAL series, the computer at Grand Base on Tellus is still "Kicking out (punch) cards". This just does not fit.
If you want to return to the worlds of Tellus and Klovia, where Lensmen guard the galaxy, men were men, and girls were girls, this book is NOT for you. The short story "Doomed Lensmen" (google the name to find copies online) does a much better job FOR FREE.
Someday, I hope the Smith Estate has the wisdom to commission someone of Kevin J. Anderson's ability (who wrote the 6 new Dune novels). Then we can REALLY go back and enjoy the 20 years between "Second Stage Lensman" and "Children of the Lens".
This book breaks E.E.'s style and technology so blatantly, it can only be called a Lensman book by virtue of licensing, and the names of the characters. Smith created whole technologies, within the constraints of his era's science. This book breaks all the technological parameters set by Smith. In "Dragon" we have high-tech AI when, 20 years later in the REAL series, the computer at Grand Base on Tellus is still "Kicking out (punch) cards". This just does not fit.
If you want to return to the worlds of Tellus and Klovia, where Lensmen guard the galaxy, men were men, and girls were girls, this book is NOT for you. The short story "Doomed Lensmen" (google the name to find copies online) does a much better job FOR FREE.
Someday, I hope the Smith Estate has the wisdom to commission someone of Kevin J. Anderson's ability (who wrote the 6 new Dune novels). Then we can REALLY go back and enjoy the 20 years between "Second Stage Lensman" and "Children of the Lens".
4 of 5 people found the following review helpful
4.0 out of 5 stars
almost as good as E.E.Smith
Oct 30 2000
By webmaster (at) www.MAZES.com
- Published on Amazon.com
Format:Paperback
I just finished reading The Dragon Lensman, and though it was not as satisfying as the first six books of E.E. Smith's Lensman Series, it was still fantastic reading.
I had started reading it before, but laid it down unfinished. Then I discovered Z Lensman, read it, enjoyed it, then came back and read Dragon.
I do suggest, however, that you read Dragon first, then Z second, as Z builds on some of the events of Dragon, then, of course, read the Rigellian version.
If you love E.E.Smith's books, as I do, then definitely read David Kyle's three Lensman books, written from the points of view of the other three Second Stage Lensmen.
John (www.MAZES.com) Knoderer
›
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3.6 out of 5 stars
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