Rocket Jockey

by Lester del Rey, Philip St. John

Juvenile science fiction classic from 1952. The story of a rocket race through the solar system.

Genres: Science Fiction, Fiction, Science Fiction Fantasy, Young Adult

166 pages, Mass Market Paperback

First published January 1, 1952

About the author

Lester del Rey was an American science fiction author and editor. Del Rey is especially famous for his juvenile novels such as those which are part of the Winston Science Fiction series, and for Del Rey Books, the fantasy and science fiction branch of Ballantine Books edited by Lester del Rey and his fourth wife Judy-Lynn del Rey.

Also published as:
Philip St. John
Eric van Lihn
Erik van Lhin
Kenneth Wright
Edson McCann (with Frederik Pohl)

Reviews

[Craig · Rating 3 out of 5]

This is a novel that del Rey published under the pseudonym of Philip St. John in 1952 as part of the Winston line of science fiction adventures for younger readers. It's fast-paced and imaginative and well written, though both the science and social attitudes are obviously dated now. It's a race in space, which is pretty cool. My 1978 paperback (from Del Rey Books!) adds a nifty Dean Ellis cover and proper authorial attribution.

[Nora-adrienne · Rating 5 out of 5]

Not much to say... This is Lester del Rey at his best.

[Michael R · Rating 4 out of 5]

An oldie but a goodie. This title comes in at the end of the classic era of sci fi, before sci-fi got overtly political and full of social issues.
I like the simple sci-fi, but I’m an old white guy🤪

[Little Timmy · Rating 3 out of 5]

Great Sifi story by one of the master of the genre. This is a very good book for a young reader new to SiFi or wanting to start reading SiFi to read. Recommended

[Brian Scott · Rating 4 out of 5]

A tense story of competition and intrigue

WINSTON SCIENCE FICTION #7: “Rocket Jockey” by Lester del Rey

Jerry Blaine unexpectedly finds himself captaining the “Last Hope”, his older brother’s entry in the Armstrong Classic—a sort of America’s Cup race around the Solar System. He and his engineer, Tod McClane, must find a way to beat ships and their crews from every inhabited planet and moon—including the duplicitous Martians, who will stop at nothing short of killing to win.

This is another Winston I recall reading in junior high. At the time, it was already some thirty years old, and I was surprised to learn how well it stands up some thirty years later.

Del Rey relentlessly cranks up the pressure. Just when you think it can’t get any worse for Jerry and Tod, the author finds something new to throw at them. These trials force Jerry to grow-up quickly, and to ask himself, how badly does he want to win, and how much is he willing to risk?

Actually, I may not have finished this book in junior high. At one point, Jerry takes a grueling shortcut past the Sun, which had me on edge the whole way. I don’t think I would have easily forgotten it.

While the themes of the book don’t break new ground for the Winston series, del Rey’s thrill ride of a plot kept me hooked to the very end.

Recommended for fans of rocket ships and white-knuckle suspense.

[Al Cormier · Rating 4 out of 5]

I think it's good to occasionally pick up an older book, especially if it's by one of the great authors of the genre.
Rocket Jockey is a fast paced book that doesn't take the time to build the plot, or characters, before easing into the story. Instead, we are thrown onto the launch pad and blasted into space, much as our main character, Jerry Blaine. From there, things just get crazy as Jerry becomes the one hope of our planet in a race that will bring interplanetary commerce back to the mother world.
Readers will find themselves rooting for Jerry as he finds himself bucking the odds against a ruthless competitor, who will stop at nothing to win and humiliate the team from Earth. The punches are hard and fast, giving you little time to catch your breath before the next flurry.
I thoroughly enjoyed this, my first Lester del Rey novel. It was a quick read with a nail-biting finish.

[John M. · Rating 5 out of 5]

The second sci-fi book I ever read. Part of my 4th grade teacher's project to get us use to using the library. It worked !!
I read every del Rey book I could find, over the years.

Again, you need to throw away the modern "facts" about the solar system, and remember that this was written long before any probes were sent anywhere.
Back then we were allowed to dream about the possibility of life on Mars and Venus.

This story is set in a "near future' where we've colonized most of the solar system, and there is now rivalry between the various outposts. A Solar System wide race in rocket ships for fame, glory and political status - and what some will do to gain that at any cost - is at the heart of this story.

[Kent Archie · Rating 2 out of 5]

This was published in 1952, well before actual spaceflight began.
It's set about 200 years after spaceflight began but the pilots and ships
don't have computers and the engines sound more like steam engines than actual rockets.
The author put more effort than usual to get the descriptions of the planets and their relative distances correct.
I think large parts of this book could have been used to describe a boat race around the Pacific.
So it's kind of interesting historically but don't work too hard to find a copy.

[Scott Foshee · Rating 4 out of 5]

A fun romp through the classic era of science fiction. It is a short book with flaws, but fast paced and entertaining. Pulp fiction that must have been as fun to write as it is to read.

[Martin Rios · Rating 4 out of 5]

Very engaging and fun to read. The science aspect might be outdated but feels very technical and well thought through which adds to the believability of it all.

[Cheryl]

openlibrary - supposedly holds up well

[Hien · Rating 3 out of 5]

Another Del Rey book I read when I was in elementary school. It was entertaining.

[Chuck · Rating 3 out of 5]

This book was originally published in 1952 under a pseudonym as Philip St. John.

[Janet · Rating 5 out of 5]

If you have a young reader in the family these are a must read for them.

[Ralph Carlson · Rating 4 out of 5]

Just as good as I remember it from when I first read it as a 12 year old.