The Nets of Space

by Emil Petaja

Tear to front cover, wear and rubbing. Clean text block.

Genres: Science Fiction

Hardcover

First published January 1, 1969

About the author

Emil Petaja (1915 - 2000) was an American science fiction and fantasy writer whose career spanned seven decades. He was the author of 13 published novels, nearly 150 short stories, numerous poems, and a handful of books and articles on various subjects. Though he wrote science fiction, fantasy, horror, detective fiction, and poetry, Petaja considered his work part of an older tradition of "weird fiction." Petaja was also a small press publisher. In 1995, he was named the first ever Author Emeritus by the Science Fiction Writers of America.

Of Finnish descent, Petaja's best known works are comprised of a series of science fiction novels based on the Kalevala, the Finnish verse epic. Petaja's series brought him readers from around the world,[1] while his mythological approach to science fiction was discussed in scholarly publications.[2]

In a statement published in Contemporary Authors (Gale Research, 1984), Petaja commented, "My writing endeavors have mainly been to entertain, except for the factual material concerning Hannes Bok and fantasy art in general, which serves to indicate my enthusiasm for these subjects. My novels about the Finnish legendary epic Kalevala: The Land of Heroes spring from a lifelong interest in this fine poetic work. I own six translations of the Kalevala, as well as the work in the original. Both of my parents were Finnish."[3]

Reviews

[Kryptonian Fletch · Rating 5 out of 5]

I can't be sure but I think this book may be a satire of SF books, or at least the author is having some fun... the quote below will tell you all you need to know before you read it.

..... "Permit me to introduce myself." The little-big alien gave a graceful nod, while the whiskers curled up and then uncurled. "I am Plantide Kalnischeoraphibalistoibak." ....

Satire or not, its just a fun read.

[Mark · Rating 2 out of 5]

This was the first science fiction book I ever read, at the age of 9. It was on my grandmother’s bookshelf. From what I remember, it was fascinating, scary, violent, apocalyptic, a little pornographic (for the 70s), predictably gory, and probably not suitable for your average child. But it got me hooked on science fiction for the rest of my life! So five stars for that.



After devouring this book and a few other choice finds in a bargain bin at the supermarket, I was introduced by a well meaning teacher to Asimov and Heinlein. That experience bored me no end and almost turned me off sci-fi again. But then I found Arthur Clarke and Frank Herbert in the nick of time!

[Nikolaos Taskos · Rating 4 out of 5]

Emil Petaja, managed to produce a unique science fiction story; a story that will make all of us question the significance of the human race within the boundless edges of the cosmos. The protagonist is forced to fight with his inner demons and inspired by his favourite romantic epic tale, Don Quixote, he embarks on a quest to save humanity from total annihilation.

[Craig · Rating 3 out of 5]

Emil Petaja wrote some good sf stories back in the long-ago. Fun and fast-paced adventure stuff. This one had a giant space-crab on the cover; what more do you need?

[Pete · Rating 2 out of 5]

The only truly good thing about this book is the cover. The plot is interesting but fairly predictable. The main character is Don Quick who just-so-happens to love Don Quixote. His love interest is Donna Elena who is literally just a woman from Mexico. She has no interests or desires beyond being in love with the leading man. She is frequently described as being "small" and the author uses a variety of food metaphors to hammer in the idea that her skin is a few shades darker than the lead's.

Anyway this guy was supposed to go on this space voyage but got passed over cause he didn't meet the physical requirements, so he got demoted to ground crew. While they were loading the fuel for the ship a canister dropped and opened and he breathed in some experimental gas that made him go nuts.

It picks up when he's mostly recovered but he's having weird dreams, where humans are being harvested by giant crabs as food. Then they get a message from the last ship that corroborates his dreams as maybe being a reality for the people who got sent. Then some stuff happens and he dreams he's like a giant or something and then gets some other magic gas from the tiny people and stops the giants trying to harvest earth by poofing them away.

Please don't read the book. Admire the cover on here for a few minutes and move on.

[Crosby · Rating 1 out of 5]

The best thing about this book is the front cover. Which is also the back cover. You've (presumably) already seen it. So you've already had the ideal The Nets of Space experience!

The worst thing about this book is literally everything else.