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Perry Rhodan - English #2
The Radiant Dome
Perry Rhodan had returned from the moon bringing with him two alien beings from a far star, and with their super-technology he had posed a challenge that the nations of Earth could not ignore: You must cooperate- Or Perish!
- GenresScience FictionFiction
188 pages, Paperback
First published January 1, 1966
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Displaying 1 - 27 of 27 reviews
December 29, 2025
Not a bad SiFi adventure series. In reading these older stories you get a different feel for the way SiFi , and thus society, looked at the world and it's possibilities. Quick and easy read. Recommended
October 5, 2018
When I was a teenager I'd randomly grabbed an Ace paperback from the Perry Rhodan sci-fi/space opera series, a book somewhere in the middle of everything and had a bit of a time understanding who was who. So recently I'd begun (thanks to Ebay) reading the original 70's series (translated from the original German 60's novels - novellas, to be exact, 2 originals combined into one Ace paperback) to finally enjoy the story of Perry Rhodan and his group. This is book #2, and picks up right where we left off with #1. Perry and his crew stay in the Gobi desert as before for the entire book, defending themselves against the powers of the world who have united together to battle this new 'threat'. New characters are introduced, especially in the second half. The interesting thing about this series is here now we've had two novels and aside from the opening chapters in book 1, we've been earth-bound. The authors are taking their time building the universe of this near-future (for them) universe. But it reads quick, and well, and I'm looking forward to the next installment, waiting on my shelf.
March 15, 2020
This 2nd collection didn't quite move as smoothly as the 1st one... as is the nature of a periodic series like this, there is a more recapping than was needed. There were a couple points that jumped out at me that were a bit inconsistent
For instance, The 2nd story is called the 'Third Power', after the West and the Asiatic Alliance, but now Russia and the East are being shown as an equal power.. meaning Perry is really the Fourth Power. Krest seems to have gone from just an alien with a bit more affinity to humans than most to the Archonides supergenius.
I do love how the other aliens couldn't both to get away from their electronic devices to bother to save themselves. Quite the good warning for us.
It's definitely still moving along nicely, though. I do wonder where Perry and his friends are getting food and water from, but that sort of thing just has to be let go sometimes in favor of keeping the story focused.
The pace was a bit slow too.. the Radiant Dome gives us the world powers continuing to attempt to get at Perry and co. under the dome while they attack the alien ship on the moon.
Then, in the 2nd story 'Twilight of the Gods', we get yet another attempt to get at Perry, while he goes abroad to get some volunteers and materials to help the Archonides start building the industry to create a new ship capable of getting them home. Like any good serial, the seeds of the next story are planted while this one continues, and we see a group of mutants, many of whom seem ready to side with Perry.
One wonders if Stan Lee new about this series (though the timing isn't right for it to be anything but simply parallel development), as we get a telepath, a telekinetic, and a teleporter.. caused (naturally) by radiation.
For instance, The 2nd story is called the 'Third Power', after the West and the Asiatic Alliance, but now Russia and the East are being shown as an equal power.. meaning Perry is really the Fourth Power. Krest seems to have gone from just an alien with a bit more affinity to humans than most to the Archonides supergenius.
I do love how the other aliens couldn't both to get away from their electronic devices to bother to save themselves. Quite the good warning for us.
It's definitely still moving along nicely, though. I do wonder where Perry and his friends are getting food and water from, but that sort of thing just has to be let go sometimes in favor of keeping the story focused.
The pace was a bit slow too.. the Radiant Dome gives us the world powers continuing to attempt to get at Perry and co. under the dome while they attack the alien ship on the moon.
Then, in the 2nd story 'Twilight of the Gods', we get yet another attempt to get at Perry, while he goes abroad to get some volunteers and materials to help the Archonides start building the industry to create a new ship capable of getting them home. Like any good serial, the seeds of the next story are planted while this one continues, and we see a group of mutants, many of whom seem ready to side with Perry.
One wonders if Stan Lee new about this series (though the timing isn't right for it to be anything but simply parallel development), as we get a telepath, a telekinetic, and a teleporter.. caused (naturally) by radiation.
February 20, 2018
are people rating these so high for the nostalgia factor? because they are pretty awful, objectively. characters sit around discussing what each other is going to do and then carry it out pretty much to the letter. for the second book, this is blithely free of overwhelming exposition, but the redundancy of the conversations is exasperating.
the authors also don't grasp the show-don't-tell principal, pretty much ever. we're told how steely Rhodan's nerves are, we're told how brilliant Khrest is, we're told how they've saved the Earth from nuclear annihilation and we should all be grateful (over and over and over).
most laughably (if only more entertaining!) are the government agencies of the US, Asiastics, and Eastern Bloc, and their sandlot conversations about war, etc. it's pure goofballs.
and yet i keep reading....
the authors also don't grasp the show-don't-tell principal, pretty much ever. we're told how steely Rhodan's nerves are, we're told how brilliant Khrest is, we're told how they've saved the Earth from nuclear annihilation and we should all be grateful (over and over and over).
most laughably (if only more entertaining!) are the government agencies of the US, Asiastics, and Eastern Bloc, and their sandlot conversations about war, etc. it's pure goofballs.
and yet i keep reading....
January 4, 2022
I was 11-13 when I discovered Perry Rhodan, just about the same time I was first taking in Star Trek, via syndication reruns. Excellent cover art and design (paintings by the great Grey Morrow, hope I have the spelling correct) and translation by Wendane Ackerman, edited by the legendary Forest J. Ackerman, made for a nice package every month, what was clearly to me the German equivalent of Star Trek. Good stuff, with me at just the right age to take in the vast epic... alas, it only lasted a hundred or so episodes, a bit like Star Trek's original 79.
February 11, 2023
Third story. The world's military forces concentrate their artilery on the Stardust and its alien force field. Though the alien technology is powerful, the small unit is not meant to stand up to such a strong bombardment and slowly but surely, the force field begins to break down. Their enemies have not put all their eggs in one basket and plan a biological attack using the one man Perry Rhodan trusts. Meanwhile Khrest is still unconscious while undergoing medical treatment and Rhodan cannot contact the main alien ship on the Moon to tell Thora (female alien) that three rockets, each armed with a new type of nuclear bomb are on their way to destroy it.
Fourth story. Twilight of the Gods. Unable to get through Rhodan's impenetrable dome, the bad guys have decided to drill underground to beneath the spaceships HQ of Rhodan and his followers, and then set off a H Bomb, destroying them all. Meanwhile Rhodan has been out in the world, organising men and materials for his coming projects. Also, mutants have started appearing in the world caused by the radioactivity of past nuclear explosions and Rhodan hopes to harnass them to help him in his work.
Fourth story. Twilight of the Gods. Unable to get through Rhodan's impenetrable dome, the bad guys have decided to drill underground to beneath the spaceships HQ of Rhodan and his followers, and then set off a H Bomb, destroying them all. Meanwhile Rhodan has been out in the world, organising men and materials for his coming projects. Also, mutants have started appearing in the world caused by the radioactivity of past nuclear explosions and Rhodan hopes to harnass them to help him in his work.
March 10, 2025
Perry Rhodan is still trying for world peace with his alien technology but the great powers of Earth don't want that and they blow up the alien base on the moon and almost take out Perry's base in the desert. He is saved by mutants born after the atomic bombs dropped on Japan in WW2. (This was written in 1961, 2 years before X-Men.) We are introduced to a telepath, a telekinetic, teleporters, and a time traveler.
December 28, 2019
Interesting progression from the first book. I was expecting a space adventure series, so I'm interested in where this is going
September 11, 2022
Perhaps the single most boring science fiction novel I've ever read.
January 17, 2024
Another great outing! It's strange how attached I became to the characters that the few plot twists really got to me. So far so good, let's see what the next one has in store.
July 26, 2022
That was fun. Somehow I feel less silly reading the English translations in a decent paperback than reading the original "Heftromane". Miss Ackerman is doing a great job. It does feels less "pulpy" than the original. One thing I always hated was Rhodan’s friend being called "Bully" in German. So I am glad it simply "Reg" here (and he is Reginald Bell instead of Bull) and there is Khrest instead of Crest. Actually, Scheer is the better writer, but Ernsting introduces the first Mutants, and how I loved reading about them as a kid. And I could remember something, especially the introduction of Ras Tschubai. I almost wish I could read the following issues.
2020: Only three years since I last read that? Not much to add, except that the second part (book 4 of the series) Twilight of the Gods was the first one I really liked to reread. And maybe this. So PR has prevented the Atomic War. But still he was regarded as an enemy to mankind. Who knows, says one of the characters, what he intends to do. Maybe he is about to make himself dictator. - And that, of course, was exactly what would happen.
2020: Only three years since I last read that? Not much to add, except that the second part (book 4 of the series) Twilight of the Gods was the first one I really liked to reread. And maybe this. So PR has prevented the Atomic War. But still he was regarded as an enemy to mankind. Who knows, says one of the characters, what he intends to do. Maybe he is about to make himself dictator. - And that, of course, was exactly what would happen.
August 11, 2021
Perry Rhodan, la plus longue série de science-fiction (space-opéra) au monde est toujours active, mais pourquoi? J'ai donc voulu allez voir par moi-même qu'est-ce qui justifiait cet immense longévité en lisant le tout premier livre et maintenant je continu mon périple avec le #2. L'histoire est en suite direct et me fait penser à une série télé, écriture simple et directe, personnages au personnalités claires et une intrigue dont le développement est facile à suivre mais bien détaillé. Après sa première rencontre avec des extra-terrestres Rhodan et son équipe sauve la vie d'un des extra-terrestres et hérite en récompense de toute l'évolution cérébrale et les connaissances extra-terrestres. Ce qui mènera forcément les prochaines aventures de Perry Rhodan dans une direction encore plus éclaté. À la lecture de cette deuxième aventure, je ressent toujours l'élan et l'emprise que cette série peut avoir sur le lecteur et sachant la multitude d'aventures à venir, pleine de nouvelles possibilités, ces avec un léger retard de 60 ans que je continu allègrement dans l'aventure Perry Rhodan.
February 18, 2013
In this book, we see the governments unleash a "shock and awe" attack on the Third Power. Even though their weapons cannot penetrate the dome, the sound reverberates throughout the base. The constant barrage starts to wear down the crews nerves. Even the normally calm and cool Rhodan starts to get effected by the constant sounds. Scheer does an excellent job of showing the psychological impact of the constant explosions. For a short, old school pulp adventure Scheer did his homework to show what would happen to people in this situation.
The rest of my review can be read at http://sciencefictiontimes.blogspot.c...
The rest of my review can be read at http://sciencefictiontimes.blogspot.c...
April 14, 2015
The story of Perry Rhodan's efforts to unite mankind into one continues in this collection of the third and fourth German series. Some old acquaintances make their re-appearance. As well new characters are introduced to us, with two of them actually meeting Rhodan in this book. Four of these individuals will later become extremely important in the Rhodan scheme of things. Both of the major Arkonides will be on Earth by the end of the book as well. This is adventure sci-fi and hearkens to an extent back to an earlier day in SF history. This is not a bad thing as one can stand to be preached at only for so long. All in all a good read.
August 7, 2013
Protegido por um campo de forças arcónida, Rhodan e os seus amigos sofrem um bombardeamento contínuo por parte de forças conjuntas das potências militares terrestres. Inabalável na sua decisão de levar a humanidade além da territorialidade, Rhodan suporta as bombas enquanto vai influenciando agentes secretos que tentam penetrar na nave Stardust. Entretanto, começa o processo de cura de Khrest, graças aos esforços do maior especialista humano em leucemia. Na lua, a imperiosa Thora mostra-se cada vez mais impaciente para com os terrestres.
June 13, 2023
I was definitely worried with the way this second installment in the Perry Rhodan series started. The whole first part (The Radiant Dome) was more of the same: world powers unsuccessfully trying to destroy Perry and the Arkonides.
But the second part (Twilight of the Gods) fully redeemed that with a fun, weird twist that I wont reveal here, but that pulled me back in.
I absolutely will continue with the Perry Rhodan series!
But the second part (Twilight of the Gods) fully redeemed that with a fun, weird twist that I wont reveal here, but that pulled me back in.
I absolutely will continue with the Perry Rhodan series!
January 31, 2015
This is Book #2 in the Perry Rhodan series. If you gave up after Book #1, I understand. The progress of the plot really stalled about half way through that first one. And it continues well into the second one too. However...if you persevere, you will be rewarded. I will say no more except that I've already ordered Book 3.
April 8, 2022
Fast becoming my favourite SCI-FI books - the imagination and originality is outstanding - also a typical human response i could imagine taking place.
Normally i change genre between books - not this time - hungry for more so quickly moving onto the next in the series - Galactic Alarm
Highly recommend
Normally i change genre between books - not this time - hungry for more so quickly moving onto the next in the series - Galactic Alarm
Highly recommend
December 24, 2007
read 08.17.84
August 7, 2008
The second book in the series, better than the first.
May 31, 2015
loved these books when in my teens
August 30, 2015
Re-reading after 30+ years my old favorite pulp space opera - definitely faster paced than #1 and more fun - introduces new characters who will become favorites in the novels that follow.
September 18, 2016
read during summer 1974
February 27, 2017
The formula is settling in. Not a bad thing. Too bad we English readers have been denied decades of Perry adventures.
March 9, 2017
It's an addicting read
August 2, 2019
Couldn’t finish this
November 1, 2013
Things heat up as Perry Rhodan lands in the Gobi desert with Thora and Khrest, the 2 Arkonides.
Displaying 1 - 27 of 27 reviews