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Perry Rhodan - English #1
Enterprise Stardust
The fate of Earth depended on one man deep in space.
189 pages, Paperback
First published September 8, 1961
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 51 reviews
October 30, 2016
This was one of those books I have heard of and wanted to read for a very long time (shame I lost the copy in my collection)
Anyway there is a lot of history behind the Perry Rhodan series and I wanted to find out what it was all about. If you want to find out look for the Wiki page there is a lot there. Lets just say that curiosity got the better of me.
I must say it was a lot better than I was expecting - yes its dated now not only in the technology but also in its attitudes and in places language. However the last I am also pleased to see. After all these books were originally printed in German - and I know from experience (although I am terrible at languages) how tricky translation can be its not just a case of changing the words but also syntax and order. Sometimes you have to physically reassemble the sentence to make sense. So to achieve this for the entire book is no mean feat.
But what of the story - well it is very much a child of its time being originally written at the start of the 60s even before space exploration had found its feet. That said it had all the feel of a golden age ripping yarn and certainly set the tone for the following books. There were still a lot of cliches there (although a when does a new idea become a cliche I wonder). After all when you meet a statuesque beautiful woman, how long is it before the male hero makes her fall in love with him??
And that leads me to my next point. We read science fiction now as a mature adult challenging genre - but it was not always that way. there was a time when it was labelled pulp fiction and for not just because of the quality of the paper it was printed on. If they were to be written now I think it would struggle to find an audience and if it did it would be very limited - however back then (as the inside cover proudly states) it sold millions. So should we discredit and ignore this book, no because it brought science fiction one step closer to be accepted by sheer numbers if nothing else.
So it was a fun read and yes if I found the next instalment I would read it but I don't think I am going to rush out and start collecting them all.
Anyway there is a lot of history behind the Perry Rhodan series and I wanted to find out what it was all about. If you want to find out look for the Wiki page there is a lot there. Lets just say that curiosity got the better of me.
I must say it was a lot better than I was expecting - yes its dated now not only in the technology but also in its attitudes and in places language. However the last I am also pleased to see. After all these books were originally printed in German - and I know from experience (although I am terrible at languages) how tricky translation can be its not just a case of changing the words but also syntax and order. Sometimes you have to physically reassemble the sentence to make sense. So to achieve this for the entire book is no mean feat.
But what of the story - well it is very much a child of its time being originally written at the start of the 60s even before space exploration had found its feet. That said it had all the feel of a golden age ripping yarn and certainly set the tone for the following books. There were still a lot of cliches there (although a when does a new idea become a cliche I wonder). After all when you meet a statuesque beautiful woman, how long is it before the male hero makes her fall in love with him??
And that leads me to my next point. We read science fiction now as a mature adult challenging genre - but it was not always that way. there was a time when it was labelled pulp fiction and for not just because of the quality of the paper it was printed on. If they were to be written now I think it would struggle to find an audience and if it did it would be very limited - however back then (as the inside cover proudly states) it sold millions. So should we discredit and ignore this book, no because it brought science fiction one step closer to be accepted by sheer numbers if nothing else.
So it was a fun read and yes if I found the next instalment I would read it but I don't think I am going to rush out and start collecting them all.
February 27, 2015
An average SiFi adventure series. Quick and easy read. very 1960s style. The impressive thing about this series in the 1000+ issues it ran. Even after it died off in American markets it is still going on the Germany. Recommended
June 26, 2012
I started reading this series when #7 was published in English by Ace. When you consider it was translated in 1969 and first came out in 1961 the story might be seen under a slightly different light than some reviewers might review it under. After all... what do you compare "The Time Machine" and "2000 Leagues Under the Sea" with? I am not comparing "Enterprise Stardust" with either of these, but you must admit that comparing them with today's offerings in fantasy and science fiction for writing style, plot development, technology, view on the world, etc... you'd find them dated too.
Looking at "Enterprise Stardust" even during the 1970's when I first read it — I had to make some allowances for the advances in Science and Science Fiction over the decade or so. We knew that you needn't have an atomic powered rocket to reach the moon for instance — or a number of other things...
Writing in the field wasn't as sophisticated in 1961 either and... I do not know the state of fiction in Germany at all really other than a few glimpses I had of translated works in the '70s.
Taking those things into account in this pre-Mercury, pre-Gemini, pre-Apollo, pre-Space Shuttle, pre-Star Trek World, the story is actually pretty forward thinking. The Cold War was going strong. Worries of imminent mutations showing up due to radiation from Hiroshima and Nagasaki bombings were on the minds of SF writers. Though thinking of telepathy, telekinesis, and teleportation in such modern terms, I think were a bit forward thinking.
The strong point in some ways were how they were considered...
However, the writers were children of their time and society and it shows.
I think too, that the book should be judged not as the start of a series that would grow to thousands of books. When this one was written, it was the first. There were not thousands written.
I read the entire Ace run. I also read over two dozen of the stapled digest mail order ones. I know I read over 150... I have them sitting in two boxes looking over my shoulder right now.
If you want to read them, consider them a vintage/nostalgic read. Then I think you will have found a gem. If you want to read them as if they came off the presses today... you might give them a less than stellar rating.
Looking at "Enterprise Stardust" even during the 1970's when I first read it — I had to make some allowances for the advances in Science and Science Fiction over the decade or so. We knew that you needn't have an atomic powered rocket to reach the moon for instance — or a number of other things...
Writing in the field wasn't as sophisticated in 1961 either and... I do not know the state of fiction in Germany at all really other than a few glimpses I had of translated works in the '70s.
Taking those things into account in this pre-Mercury, pre-Gemini, pre-Apollo, pre-Space Shuttle, pre-Star Trek World, the story is actually pretty forward thinking. The Cold War was going strong. Worries of imminent mutations showing up due to radiation from Hiroshima and Nagasaki bombings were on the minds of SF writers. Though thinking of telepathy, telekinesis, and teleportation in such modern terms, I think were a bit forward thinking.
The strong point in some ways were how they were considered...
However, the writers were children of their time and society and it shows.
I think too, that the book should be judged not as the start of a series that would grow to thousands of books. When this one was written, it was the first. There were not thousands written.
I read the entire Ace run. I also read over two dozen of the stapled digest mail order ones. I know I read over 150... I have them sitting in two boxes looking over my shoulder right now.
If you want to read them, consider them a vintage/nostalgic read. Then I think you will have found a gem. If you want to read them as if they came off the presses today... you might give them a less than stellar rating.
August 7, 2008
This is the first in one of the longest run space opera series in history. I never read a large number of these but they were actually pretty well written in general, I thought. Some were better than others.
September 28, 2025
1971 was a very special year. It was the year that men first landed on the Moon. In the fictional world of Perry Rhodan. And it was the year I read my first Perry Rhodan novel in the real World. I was 11 then. I started with #500. After a while I switched to #1 when they reprinted the entire series and stayed for about 120 issues. And I quit reading Perry Rhodan when I was about 15 except for the occasional novel by William Voltz, my favorite writer. I would read more serious SF and then gradually switched to the classics, popular science and contemporary fiction.
But although I stopped reading PR I always regarded the years reading PR as the best reading years of my life. Although I read many thrilling and excellent books later on I would never again feel the excitement and pure pleasure I had then every week when I bought the latest issue went home and started reading. Not only did I find the stories great I was fascinated by the fact that after a while I learned to identify the different authors by their writing style. Unfortunately, after a couple of years, I found that the writing was actually pretty poor and while the imagination of the writers was magnificent the main idea – a man “inherits” the universe – and the ethics of the series was questionable.
Anyway, I am thankful to Perry Rhodan because it made me a life-long reader.
Now, fifty years later, I have decided to read this 120 issues again. This is at best a sign of sentimentality, probably a sign of senility. I will also read them in English. Which is surely strange. But I feel less silly reading a paperback than a “Heftroman” and also I hope (and think) that some of the more pulpy stuff is ironed out in the translation.
Enterprise Stardust.
First thing that might appear to be odd is that all main characters of this German SF series are American. But nobody at the times would have questioned it. Of course it would be the Americans who would land on the moon. Mayor Perry Rhodan, his buddy Reginald Bell (well, Bull actually, I do not really understand why his name had to be changed) and two other guys who would quickly fade away go on the mission to the moon. And then... nothing really happens. It starts off actually very, very slowly. More than half of the book is over when they finally meet the Aliens. And the first contact occurs off-stage. Instead of telling us of the encounter Scheer decided to just give the result: His name was Khrest (actually Crest, but in this case I like the change). The aliens are human-like and immensely superior. But, and this is maybe an SF cliché that goes back to John W. Campbell, it is made clear from the very beginning it is us, humans, and especially people like PR, who are really superior. Because the Aliens, you see, are degenerated. Devoid of energy. Once they built a Galactic Empire but now they are just empty shells, spending the whole day just glaring on the tiny screens before them that somehow amuse them. (Seems we managed to jump into this state of “degeneration” in the sixty years since that was written without conquering the Galaxy.) The alien starship is commanded by a (very pretty, of course, and very arrogant) female, Thora. That was a progressive move of the writers, right? Yes, but it is somewhat watered down when we are being told that women somehow suffer less from degeneration. And that only in the last couple of centuries they would have been given important jobs. Before that they would strictly be in charge of the household.
Khrest is suffering from leukemia, and the Arkonides have no cure for that. But we do. Thank God. So Perry takes the guy flies back with his tiny Stardust, lands in the Middle of the Gobi desert (although the coordinates given indicate to Tibet, I read somewhere. Have not checked that). And here he establishes The Third Power. End of book One.
So PR decides to become a traitor. All for the Good of Mankind, of course. He did not want the knowledge of the alien technology to get into the hands of one nation. Not even the glorious American. The second book (the Americans published 2 books in one volume the first couple of issues) written by Clark Darlton in a much lighter style, tells us how the Americans and Russians and Chinese react to the new Power. They try to destroy it, of course, and in due course would also start an Atomic War on each other. But Perry saves the day. With Arkonide technology he makes sure that the rockets do not much harm. And then, here comes the next cliché, by the threat of an alien race, the people of the Earth will start to unite. (The Chinese, by the way, are said to be the second Power, having surpassed the Russians. A bold prediction in 1961.) Reginald gets the leading expert on leukemia from Australia to the desert. Poor Stardust member Fletcher who decided not to desert is about to go back to his wife. Luckily PR can get his memory erased. This is something his interrogators do not like. So he dies when they question him a bit too much. The first victim of Perry Rhodan.
Cannot wait to read the next episode.
7/10
But although I stopped reading PR I always regarded the years reading PR as the best reading years of my life. Although I read many thrilling and excellent books later on I would never again feel the excitement and pure pleasure I had then every week when I bought the latest issue went home and started reading. Not only did I find the stories great I was fascinated by the fact that after a while I learned to identify the different authors by their writing style. Unfortunately, after a couple of years, I found that the writing was actually pretty poor and while the imagination of the writers was magnificent the main idea – a man “inherits” the universe – and the ethics of the series was questionable.
Anyway, I am thankful to Perry Rhodan because it made me a life-long reader.
Now, fifty years later, I have decided to read this 120 issues again. This is at best a sign of sentimentality, probably a sign of senility. I will also read them in English. Which is surely strange. But I feel less silly reading a paperback than a “Heftroman” and also I hope (and think) that some of the more pulpy stuff is ironed out in the translation.
Enterprise Stardust.
First thing that might appear to be odd is that all main characters of this German SF series are American. But nobody at the times would have questioned it. Of course it would be the Americans who would land on the moon. Mayor Perry Rhodan, his buddy Reginald Bell (well, Bull actually, I do not really understand why his name had to be changed) and two other guys who would quickly fade away go on the mission to the moon. And then... nothing really happens. It starts off actually very, very slowly. More than half of the book is over when they finally meet the Aliens. And the first contact occurs off-stage. Instead of telling us of the encounter Scheer decided to just give the result: His name was Khrest (actually Crest, but in this case I like the change). The aliens are human-like and immensely superior. But, and this is maybe an SF cliché that goes back to John W. Campbell, it is made clear from the very beginning it is us, humans, and especially people like PR, who are really superior. Because the Aliens, you see, are degenerated. Devoid of energy. Once they built a Galactic Empire but now they are just empty shells, spending the whole day just glaring on the tiny screens before them that somehow amuse them. (Seems we managed to jump into this state of “degeneration” in the sixty years since that was written without conquering the Galaxy.) The alien starship is commanded by a (very pretty, of course, and very arrogant) female, Thora. That was a progressive move of the writers, right? Yes, but it is somewhat watered down when we are being told that women somehow suffer less from degeneration. And that only in the last couple of centuries they would have been given important jobs. Before that they would strictly be in charge of the household.
Khrest is suffering from leukemia, and the Arkonides have no cure for that. But we do. Thank God. So Perry takes the guy flies back with his tiny Stardust, lands in the Middle of the Gobi desert (although the coordinates given indicate to Tibet, I read somewhere. Have not checked that). And here he establishes The Third Power. End of book One.
So PR decides to become a traitor. All for the Good of Mankind, of course. He did not want the knowledge of the alien technology to get into the hands of one nation. Not even the glorious American. The second book (the Americans published 2 books in one volume the first couple of issues) written by Clark Darlton in a much lighter style, tells us how the Americans and Russians and Chinese react to the new Power. They try to destroy it, of course, and in due course would also start an Atomic War on each other. But Perry saves the day. With Arkonide technology he makes sure that the rockets do not much harm. And then, here comes the next cliché, by the threat of an alien race, the people of the Earth will start to unite. (The Chinese, by the way, are said to be the second Power, having surpassed the Russians. A bold prediction in 1961.) Reginald gets the leading expert on leukemia from Australia to the desert. Poor Stardust member Fletcher who decided not to desert is about to go back to his wife. Luckily PR can get his memory erased. This is something his interrogators do not like. So he dies when they question him a bit too much. The first victim of Perry Rhodan.
Cannot wait to read the next episode.
7/10
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
March 12, 2020
I just heard about Perry Rhodan thanks to the guys over in the classic comics group.. I was shocked to learn there was a sci-fi series that had been running for so long I'd never seen or heard of... damn us Americans and our lack of paying attention to stuff in other cultures!
Anyway, thanks to the magic of Ebay, I now have a bunch to read! I was surprised at the cover... the book trumpets how amazing Perry Rhodan ism and all he gets is a TINY head shot in the background? Sure, he's front and center on book #2, but still. I think the original cover makes more sense.
I was expecting an Buck Rodgers-like episodic story with ray guns and silly technology, but in fact 'Enterprise Stardust' is this world's version of the first moon landing... apparently somehow we're going to go from there to alien empires in one guy's life? Seems crazy, but so far, they are actually documenting that journey, which I'm pretty excited to read about.
A couple things of note, with this being a German writer... one thing that stuck out to me is the superlatives.. in most (American) sci-fi I read, the author points out how great new things are (like the rocket, the space suit, etc) but talking about how expensive it was, her it talks about how many experts were used to make it, and how superior it is. In fact, there isn't a single mention of money in the book (a bit of barter, but no cash).
I also found it interesting that Germany is never mentioned... one of the minor support characters is German, but otherwise the main characters are all American... was that swapped for the translation? (seems unlikely, as it would effect the whole story alot)
There are actually 2 Novella in the book. The first 'Enterprise Stardust', tells of the moonlanding, and the discovery of the blue guys on the cover (though they're not described as blue in the text). Perry and his crew come home with crazy new tech, and he decides to use to to attempt to create world peace.
The 2nd novella 'The third Power', documents that attempt. I definitely wasn't expecting cold war politics in this one, but it's done really well, and has some really great socio-political points and commentary from Perry... we could have really used this guy in realy life.
Granted, the alien tech is a bit ridiculously powerful (totally world breaking, actually), but part of the charm is that the main characters are just regular guys, and they use it poorly... their defenses are half practical jokes in alot of cases, it add a fallibility to the characters that really helps the story seem realistic (even i the face of the crazy tech).
It's nice when an author doesn't take himself too seriously... at different points the characters refer to the tech in the book as impossible, one saying 'this isn't Superman in the funnies', and another actually saying 'what do you think this is, a scifi novel'... that had me laughing out loud... it fit in rather than being too fourth wall breaking,
Excellent stuff overall, I'm excited to read more.
Anyway, thanks to the magic of Ebay, I now have a bunch to read! I was surprised at the cover... the book trumpets how amazing Perry Rhodan ism and all he gets is a TINY head shot in the background? Sure, he's front and center on book #2, but still. I think the original cover makes more sense.
I was expecting an Buck Rodgers-like episodic story with ray guns and silly technology, but in fact 'Enterprise Stardust' is this world's version of the first moon landing... apparently somehow we're going to go from there to alien empires in one guy's life? Seems crazy, but so far, they are actually documenting that journey, which I'm pretty excited to read about.
A couple things of note, with this being a German writer... one thing that stuck out to me is the superlatives.. in most (American) sci-fi I read, the author points out how great new things are (like the rocket, the space suit, etc) but talking about how expensive it was, her it talks about how many experts were used to make it, and how superior it is. In fact, there isn't a single mention of money in the book (a bit of barter, but no cash).
I also found it interesting that Germany is never mentioned... one of the minor support characters is German, but otherwise the main characters are all American... was that swapped for the translation? (seems unlikely, as it would effect the whole story alot)
There are actually 2 Novella in the book. The first 'Enterprise Stardust', tells of the moonlanding, and the discovery of the blue guys on the cover (though they're not described as blue in the text). Perry and his crew come home with crazy new tech, and he decides to use to to attempt to create world peace.
The 2nd novella 'The third Power', documents that attempt. I definitely wasn't expecting cold war politics in this one, but it's done really well, and has some really great socio-political points and commentary from Perry... we could have really used this guy in realy life.
Granted, the alien tech is a bit ridiculously powerful (totally world breaking, actually), but part of the charm is that the main characters are just regular guys, and they use it poorly... their defenses are half practical jokes in alot of cases, it add a fallibility to the characters that really helps the story seem realistic (even i the face of the crazy tech).
It's nice when an author doesn't take himself too seriously... at different points the characters refer to the tech in the book as impossible, one saying 'this isn't Superman in the funnies', and another actually saying 'what do you think this is, a scifi novel'... that had me laughing out loud... it fit in rather than being too fourth wall breaking,
Excellent stuff overall, I'm excited to read more.
April 15, 2015
This book is actually the first two novels in the Perry Rhodan series that were published in Germany roughly eight years earlier. The novels are basically pure space opera, though at this point with an earth-bound storyline. As far out in space that we get is the moon. The stories basically set up the initial situation and introduce many of the main characters for the future. It is also a first contact novel as that it what happens on the moon. Still these are enjoyable stories. The series is still being published in its original home of Germany, though it has long since stopped being published in the US. The basic premise is that man has finally gone to the moon and has discovered members of an alien race stranded there, a race that is highly advanced and also much older than mankind. They are also decaying. As a result of this contact the astronauts have access to incredible scientific discoveries. The story is then of the decision they make as to what to do with this new found knowledge and the results of that decision.
July 18, 2012
The first two volumes in the on-going serial adventures of Perry Rhodan. Heavy on the telling without showing and because it's the first in a series (that's still going on) the ending leaves you hanging, but still good campy fun.
July 31, 2016
Where it all began. While this is dated German space opera that serious SF readers looked down upon at the time, it seems intellectual in these days of JJ Abrams movies.
October 16, 2012
This is a fast and fun read written in a 'pulp fiction' magazine style, which is how these stories were originally released. The style fits this type of hero story well. It's the first glimpse into this phenomenally popular series and sets the scene for the myriad paths that this story is destined to take.
I found the plot quite predictable (as I expected), but that’s by no means a complaint. Likewise the characters are a tad shallow, but I suspect that these might be expanded considerably over the following stories. Perry Rhodan is a true hero - much like a sci-fi Biggles if you can imagine such a person.
I liked the short and concise explanations of a scientific and technical nature. Whether or not the explanations are entirely accurate I cannot comment. But they are sufficient for this space opera which is concerned more with what is happening rather than trivial details and minutiae. You are also reminded that it was written in the 1960’s due to references to things such as ‘recording on magnetic tape’. I’m interested to find out what the newer stories in this series are like with more current scientific ideas and theories, etc.
A lot of reviewers seem to have criticized Perry Rhodan books for the very reasons so many love them. To my mind they are intended as relaxing and fun reading with enjoyable storylines. I like this concept. I read plenty of other more ‘serious’ fiction as well, but there’ll always be a place for this kind of story for me.
Only a small number of the thousands of instalments were translated to English and published in novel form. I have the first 120 volumes as ebooks and a box of twenty or so random paperbacks. I look forward to seeing how Perry Rhodan, with his friends (and enemies), handle this new-found knowledge. What is there to learn about the other intelligent beings out there and the universe around us…with all of their technology and abilities? The possibilities are limitless. Great stuff.
A vast galactic society of thousands of worlds and sentient species with their stories and sagas - awesome! Just my sort of thing.
I found the plot quite predictable (as I expected), but that’s by no means a complaint. Likewise the characters are a tad shallow, but I suspect that these might be expanded considerably over the following stories. Perry Rhodan is a true hero - much like a sci-fi Biggles if you can imagine such a person.
I liked the short and concise explanations of a scientific and technical nature. Whether or not the explanations are entirely accurate I cannot comment. But they are sufficient for this space opera which is concerned more with what is happening rather than trivial details and minutiae. You are also reminded that it was written in the 1960’s due to references to things such as ‘recording on magnetic tape’. I’m interested to find out what the newer stories in this series are like with more current scientific ideas and theories, etc.
A lot of reviewers seem to have criticized Perry Rhodan books for the very reasons so many love them. To my mind they are intended as relaxing and fun reading with enjoyable storylines. I like this concept. I read plenty of other more ‘serious’ fiction as well, but there’ll always be a place for this kind of story for me.
Only a small number of the thousands of instalments were translated to English and published in novel form. I have the first 120 volumes as ebooks and a box of twenty or so random paperbacks. I look forward to seeing how Perry Rhodan, with his friends (and enemies), handle this new-found knowledge. What is there to learn about the other intelligent beings out there and the universe around us…with all of their technology and abilities? The possibilities are limitless. Great stuff.
A vast galactic society of thousands of worlds and sentient species with their stories and sagas - awesome! Just my sort of thing.
January 17, 2015
"EUROPE GOES GA-GA OVER PERRY RHODAN! Books! Products!! Fan Clubs!!!" O.k., so that was 50 years ago when ol' Perry first blew onto the scene. However...if you like old time sci-fi, this first of the series was pretty good. Started in the 1960's in Germany as a weekly novella, this still-going space opera eventually came to the U.S. and was published in a "two novellas in one paperback" format, originally numbered 1 through about 118 (Rhodan fan websites, Wikipedia, etc. offer conflicting information on various aspects of the international and national publishing history, which interested parties may look up and decipher at their leisure). In any case this book, "Perry Rhodan #1: Enterprise Stardust", contains the first two novellas (about 90 pages each) entitled Enterprise Stardust and The Third Power. [SPOILER WARNING! STORY DETAILS AHEAD] Stardust is the name of the US spacecraft carrying Major Perry Rhodan and his crew of three to mankind's first landing on the moon. Due to "interference" they land in the wrong place, only to discover a huge alien spaceship marooned there. Rhodan makes initial contact, working out a bargain with an ailing alien who will let the astronaut use the Arkonides' incredible technology to force peace upon the Earth's almost-at-war superpowers (hence his later title "Peacelord") in exchange for a cure to his disease. The only reason I can figure for calling this story Enterprise Stardust is to think of the word enterprise as in a business enterprise, or transaction i.e. between Rhodan and Khrest the alien. In book two, upon his return to Earth the powers that be don't take too well to Rhodan's ultimatum for universal peace but his use of some of the Arkonides' devices (just one of which deactivates all the nuclear warheads in the world) may just convince them. Be aware that since this is a serial, it appears that the last page of any novella can leave you seriously hanging. I've already ordered book #2...
January 15, 2016
Decades ago I picked up a Perry Rhodan book, one of the Ace paperbacks, when I was a teenager. Perry Rhodan was a serialized set of science fiction novels that ran forever beginning in the 60's, first in its native Germany, then finally reaching the US in the early 70's. I'd see them in the stores, usually in Pharmacy paperback racks (weren't any mega bookstores like now). Anyway, I digress. They had great covers, and I grabbed the one currently out, somewhere in the middle of the series. I didn't quite follow it, and to be honest the level of quality of the stories varied (remember too they were translated from the original German). Ironically, the book I got did not feature the character Perry Rhodan at all. So I planned to some day read another with him in it.
Finally, almost a half century later, I bought book #1 on ebay and just finished it. Obviously, reading a sci-fi book from so long ago, you have to remember what society and technology of the time was like, but this book sort of took place in the 'near future' which would have been in the author's minds late 60's, early 70's. The world is divided into three major powers, the Western Bloc (the Americas and Europe), the Asiatic Federation and the Eastern Bloc (Soviet Union and it's countries), all on the verge of nuclear war. When the first moon landing, headed by Rhodan, discover an interstellar craft crash-landed on the moon and its crew, Rhodan decides that its technology shouldn't fall into the hands of any one power, and returns with advanced technology, but lands in the deserts of northern China, establishing for himself a 'Third Power' which we hopes will unite the Earth.
It's a very interesting story, and sets the stage for future adventures both on Earth and beyond the stars. I'll probably continue reading the series, as I find #2 etc for cheap on the interwebs.
Finally, almost a half century later, I bought book #1 on ebay and just finished it. Obviously, reading a sci-fi book from so long ago, you have to remember what society and technology of the time was like, but this book sort of took place in the 'near future' which would have been in the author's minds late 60's, early 70's. The world is divided into three major powers, the Western Bloc (the Americas and Europe), the Asiatic Federation and the Eastern Bloc (Soviet Union and it's countries), all on the verge of nuclear war. When the first moon landing, headed by Rhodan, discover an interstellar craft crash-landed on the moon and its crew, Rhodan decides that its technology shouldn't fall into the hands of any one power, and returns with advanced technology, but lands in the deserts of northern China, establishing for himself a 'Third Power' which we hopes will unite the Earth.
It's a very interesting story, and sets the stage for future adventures both on Earth and beyond the stars. I'll probably continue reading the series, as I find #2 etc for cheap on the interwebs.
Read
March 23, 2016This opening tale of the much -hyped Perry Rhodan science fiction series is a great example of pulp-era Space Opera. Characters present well and are fully developed. The writer conveys the sense of uncertainty as Major Rhodan and his crew encounter the highly advanced aliens, the Arkonides.
The Earthmen's flight to the Moon is interrupted when their computer controlled landing is interrupted by the Arkonides. After determining an outside force interfered with the landing and stranded them, Rhodan and his men begin exploring outside their ship to find the cause.
They discover a giant starship half-embedded in the wall of a crater and contact the occupants of alien spacecraft. The Fun begins there as the arr0gant Arkonides (except for their aged and ill mission leader) argue and debate every decision Rhodan makes. The rest of the story is a great read with the Arkonides supporting Perry Rhodan's new world superpower established in the Gobi Desert. The on-the-brink-of-war earth powers forget their squabbles and quickly unite against Rhodan and the Arkonides, thus postponing any plans for atomic war against each other.
The Earthmen's flight to the Moon is interrupted when their computer controlled landing is interrupted by the Arkonides. After determining an outside force interfered with the landing and stranded them, Rhodan and his men begin exploring outside their ship to find the cause.
They discover a giant starship half-embedded in the wall of a crater and contact the occupants of alien spacecraft. The Fun begins there as the arr0gant Arkonides (except for their aged and ill mission leader) argue and debate every decision Rhodan makes. The rest of the story is a great read with the Arkonides supporting Perry Rhodan's new world superpower established in the Gobi Desert. The on-the-brink-of-war earth powers forget their squabbles and quickly unite against Rhodan and the Arkonides, thus postponing any plans for atomic war against each other.
March 18, 2010
I'd heard about Perry Rhodan just a couple months before it came out. The Ackerman's (Forry and Wendayne) did a great job of preesenting this phenomonally successful German Science Fiction series. I do believe 137 of the books were eventually translated into english. Still to date the series has had over 2,500 books in print. That is an ungodly number for any book series.
Enterprise Stardust introduces us to perry Rhodan and his sidekick Reginald Bell. Also introduced are the aliens led by the beautiful Thora who would whisk Perry and Reggie on a whirlwind tour of the universe. The first book sets the stage nicely.
If you are into series Science Fiction, you can't get a more in-depth and multi-faceted story than the story of Perry Rhodan. The series started in 1960 and is still ongoing (believe it or not).
What are you waiting for...Check this one out!!!
Have a Great Day!!!
John (aka, the "Creature")
July 26, 2013
A good start to a series which has its ups and downs in terms of quality. It certainly has not aged well, there are some cringe-worthy lines regarding race and gender in here but if you look past this it explores a lot of different issues, including the chance of eternal life (a concept I particularly enjoy). It features what I feel to be one of the more realistic interpretations of how humanity would react to extra-terrestrial first contact. I really enjoyed it even though at times the plot can be transparent and the character development a bit weak, i.e. Perry Rhodan himself is an Übermensch who is ridiculously intelligent/physically fit etc. It's also worth noting that this series is very pro-human assuming that the human race is somehow special, again this can be cringe-worthy at times. All in all, certainly is worth a read.
February 20, 2018
what a silly book. as others have said: so incredibly outdated, yes, but ridiculous even in its time. the first seven chapters or so is just about astronauts dwiddling around before and after the launch with a lot of yammering about g-forces and whatnot. could have been an opportunity for character development but no such luck. once they land on the moon it almost gets interesting.
clearly a paid-by-the-word endeavor: at best a popcorn read you can dispose of in about an hour; at worst badly written (and consequently badly translated) d-grade fiction with characters as dry as sawdust.
even so i'm going to keep reading. because apparently i'm a masochist.
clearly a paid-by-the-word endeavor: at best a popcorn read you can dispose of in about an hour; at worst badly written (and consequently badly translated) d-grade fiction with characters as dry as sawdust.
even so i'm going to keep reading. because apparently i'm a masochist.
November 1, 2013
An excellent Space Opera translated from German by Wendayne, Forry Ackerman's wife. This series fills the craving for a long series and I loved it while it lasted. The series is still being published in Germany but I do not read German so I reread the 100 plus books that were translated in the 1970's and published by Ace Books. Thanks to the late Forest J. Ackerman for his love of Sci-Fi.
May 16, 2014
Sure it's dated, the characters are one dimensional and the plot is predictable but for what it is - a pulp magazine serial sci-fi story - I enjoyed it and will continue with the series.
May 27, 2015
First sci-fi book I've read when I was a little girl. Still reading the adventures of Perry Rhodan, still ongoing stories!
December 13, 2023
Perry Rhodan and his crew, Dr. Manoli, Reginald Bell and Clark Fletcher are on the first trip to the moon. The ship is named Enterprise Stardust. It is nuclear powered.
There is a malfunction, their craft is thrown off course and lands in a crater miles from their intended landing site. They do not have a line of sight with the Earth, and therefore cannot communicate with it.
Rhodan and Bell take a trip with the lunar rover to get a direct line of sight with the Earth. When he turns the radio on the antenna is destroyed in a greenish glow.
Bell concludes that the attack was very unusual. He also thinks that the culprit wishes them never to leave the moon.
Rhodan decides that they should try to reach the site where the strange transmission had originated. What they discover is a gigantic spherical spacecraft not of human origin.
First contact! On the moon!
Perry and Bell meet Khrest and Thora. They are Arkons, an ancient Galaxy spanning race. Khrest is weak, kind of soft but friendly. Thora is cold and dismissive. Doctor Manoli joins them in the alien craft and determines that Khrest is suffering from a kind of leukemia. They returned to earth on the Stardust with Khrest. Perry lands in Asia. He believes his fellow humans, especially the Americans, will use Arkonite technology to destroy the eastern bloc and the asiatic federation. He no longer considers himself to be an American. He is now simply a Terran.
“This world, which can bring you the complete recovery of your health, contemplates its own destruction. Hatred and fear, pettiness and egotism, intolerance of diversity of opinion, ridge defense of traditional maxim – all this head led to the current situation.”
Rhodan gives a couple of demonstrations of the technology at his disposal. He calls his ship and new technology: The Third Power.
The three power blocs on earth decide to unleash their full arsenals on each other.
The Arkonites save the day. Oh, and Perry is in love with Thora.
This book was definitely written during the cold war and by writers living in a defeated Germany. Their politics consists of “Can’t we just get along?” Oh, we can’t. Then I will force you.
I read one of two of the later books in the series. All I remember is Perry and Thora flitting about the galaxy.
There is a malfunction, their craft is thrown off course and lands in a crater miles from their intended landing site. They do not have a line of sight with the Earth, and therefore cannot communicate with it.
Rhodan and Bell take a trip with the lunar rover to get a direct line of sight with the Earth. When he turns the radio on the antenna is destroyed in a greenish glow.
Bell concludes that the attack was very unusual. He also thinks that the culprit wishes them never to leave the moon.
Rhodan decides that they should try to reach the site where the strange transmission had originated. What they discover is a gigantic spherical spacecraft not of human origin.
First contact! On the moon!
Perry and Bell meet Khrest and Thora. They are Arkons, an ancient Galaxy spanning race. Khrest is weak, kind of soft but friendly. Thora is cold and dismissive. Doctor Manoli joins them in the alien craft and determines that Khrest is suffering from a kind of leukemia. They returned to earth on the Stardust with Khrest. Perry lands in Asia. He believes his fellow humans, especially the Americans, will use Arkonite technology to destroy the eastern bloc and the asiatic federation. He no longer considers himself to be an American. He is now simply a Terran.
“This world, which can bring you the complete recovery of your health, contemplates its own destruction. Hatred and fear, pettiness and egotism, intolerance of diversity of opinion, ridge defense of traditional maxim – all this head led to the current situation.”
Rhodan gives a couple of demonstrations of the technology at his disposal. He calls his ship and new technology: The Third Power.
The three power blocs on earth decide to unleash their full arsenals on each other.
The Arkonites save the day. Oh, and Perry is in love with Thora.
This book was definitely written during the cold war and by writers living in a defeated Germany. Their politics consists of “Can’t we just get along?” Oh, we can’t. Then I will force you.
I read one of two of the later books in the series. All I remember is Perry and Thora flitting about the galaxy.
October 7, 2024
This first book in the Perry Rhodan series of a little over 100 books (it's over 1,000 books long in the original German) was a mildly enjoyable read. Consisting of two novellas, I found the subject matter to be highly dated Cold War junk written from a recently post-WWII German writer's perspective. That means no good superpower governments are possible. The good guy, Perry Rhodan, thus must take matters into his own hands, because he knows better than any government, and make sure the superpowers can't act on their equally evil intentions to blow other superpowers, and by extension the world, up in a nuclear Armageddon.
The plot is basically that Perry Rhodan and a space crew fly to the Moon, find aliens with highly advanced technology, and bring the aliens and this technology back to Earth. The space mission originated from the U.S., but highly enlightened U.S. astronaut Perry Rhodan adopts a European's perspective and decides to land in the Gobi Desert to form a neutral third-party government of four or five people. This is because no one but Perry Rhodan can be trusted with the advanced technology.
As you can probably tell by now, I'm finding the premise, the starting assumptions, to be mildly offensive. I'd be more offended by this simplistic Eurocentric view of the world, but it's so juvenile it's hard to take seriously enough to become offended. There is some action and suspense to the two sequentially written novellas; the writing itself is serviceable enough. For me the only two interesting characters in the whole thing are the Arkonides aliens, Khrest, and especially Thora, but we see very little of either of them here. Recommended if you have no better way to spend your time, or a historical interest in German science fiction, but your first language is English.
The plot is basically that Perry Rhodan and a space crew fly to the Moon, find aliens with highly advanced technology, and bring the aliens and this technology back to Earth. The space mission originated from the U.S., but highly enlightened U.S. astronaut Perry Rhodan adopts a European's perspective and decides to land in the Gobi Desert to form a neutral third-party government of four or five people. This is because no one but Perry Rhodan can be trusted with the advanced technology.
As you can probably tell by now, I'm finding the premise, the starting assumptions, to be mildly offensive. I'd be more offended by this simplistic Eurocentric view of the world, but it's so juvenile it's hard to take seriously enough to become offended. There is some action and suspense to the two sequentially written novellas; the writing itself is serviceable enough. For me the only two interesting characters in the whole thing are the Arkonides aliens, Khrest, and especially Thora, but we see very little of either of them here. Recommended if you have no better way to spend your time, or a historical interest in German science fiction, but your first language is English.
January 1, 2021
There are about 130 books in this series that were marketed in English. The entire German series has about 1500 books in the Perry Rhodan series itself. That number does NOT include spinoff series. I mention this so that the size and scope of just how big this series is comes across.
This book started it all. It is clearly a product of its time, and that is a GOOD thing. It shows people who are clear about who they are. It reflects the 1960s hope for the future. It shows people who believe that anything is possible with hard work and and determination. In short, it is nothing like many of the modern series that show confusion, a lack of focus, and a lack of hope.
The aliens in this book, the Arkonides, are part of a collapsing Imperium that is massive. This book gives a little taste of who they are. I guarantee, they will draw your interest.
Rhodan, an American astronaut, immediately understands the world changing consequences that meeting aliens from a large galactic empire creates. He immediately has to think outside the box and start making difficult decisions.
This book has layers. You can read it as pulp sci-fi, and enjoy it. You can read it and think about the questions raised by the actions of the different characters and enjoy that even more. You can read it as a reflection of the zeitgeist of the time it was written and have an interesting snapshot of society and social thinking at the time. If you read the series, you will see the gradual changing of society and find it even more interesting.
I make it simple. If a book starts a forty to fifty year, 1500 book series, it must have something going for it.
This book started it all. It is clearly a product of its time, and that is a GOOD thing. It shows people who are clear about who they are. It reflects the 1960s hope for the future. It shows people who believe that anything is possible with hard work and and determination. In short, it is nothing like many of the modern series that show confusion, a lack of focus, and a lack of hope.
The aliens in this book, the Arkonides, are part of a collapsing Imperium that is massive. This book gives a little taste of who they are. I guarantee, they will draw your interest.
Rhodan, an American astronaut, immediately understands the world changing consequences that meeting aliens from a large galactic empire creates. He immediately has to think outside the box and start making difficult decisions.
This book has layers. You can read it as pulp sci-fi, and enjoy it. You can read it and think about the questions raised by the actions of the different characters and enjoy that even more. You can read it as a reflection of the zeitgeist of the time it was written and have an interesting snapshot of society and social thinking at the time. If you read the series, you will see the gradual changing of society and find it even more interesting.
I make it simple. If a book starts a forty to fifty year, 1500 book series, it must have something going for it.
February 23, 2025
Before I read this, I thought the Perry Rhodan series was like Flash Gordon or Buck Rogers. Well, at least in this book, it is not. The first part is about sending men to the moon (which hadn't been done in 1961) and something going wrong with the landing. Spoilers! It has to do with aliens who had crashed on the moon earlier and don't want to be discovered by these primitive Earthlings. But their leader is sick and the Earth team thinks it's leukemia, which in this universe, Earth has a cure for. So they go to Earth and the second part of the story begins. Perry Rhodan, the commander of the Earth team, decides that the alien technology is too great for any one nation, especially since they are on the brink of World War 3. So he lands in the Gobi desert, displays the alien technology and puts a force field around the rocket and declares them to be a neutral power. The rest of the book is about the other nations trying to stop Rhodan and finally working together to do so, which was Rhodan's plan all along. What will happen now? I guess I need to read book 2!
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
February 6, 2023
The Stardust is mankind's first rocket to the Moon (from America). An outside force causes them to crash onto the Moon. They investigate and find a giant alien spaceship there. The super-scientific aliens are part of a failing galactic empire. Rhodan bargains with them and sees the possibility of stopping a coming nuclear war on Earth, using alien technology. He and his crew return to Earth with the lead alien but trusts no country with the alien super-science so lands in a remote province of Asia as armed forces close in on them, ready to take control. The first of thousands of adventures of Perry Rhodan.
The second story: The Third Power, is included. There is a race against time as Reginald Bell tries to get a vaccine that the sick alien, Khrest needs and equipment that the Arkonides need to fix their star ship while the world's military forces try to capture him and others. A world which has been on the edge of WW3 finally presses buttons to destroy Rhodan's Moon rocket and each other.
The second story: The Third Power, is included. There is a race against time as Reginald Bell tries to get a vaccine that the sick alien, Khrest needs and equipment that the Arkonides need to fix their star ship while the world's military forces try to capture him and others. A world which has been on the edge of WW3 finally presses buttons to destroy Rhodan's Moon rocket and each other.
May 7, 2019
I'm not going to bother marking all the books. I read #1 to #10 which I recall being translated into English from German. As a younger man, I thoroughly enjoyed the adventures; they fueled my imagination. In one of these books, I recall traveling to the center of our galaxy in my imagination. Fascinated by how close the stars were to one another. As I remember, and apparently incorrectly as I look back. I pictured them so close they almost touched one another. I guess my cosmology wasn't that developed lol I did laugh out loud, as seeing this book brought back all those memories. I'm sure much of the science would make the books dated today; but what I remember is the adventure! The same for the Atlan series.
August 29, 2021
Haha - what great trashy pulp sci-fi. 3 stars because it is exactly what it is supposed to be; 50s science fiction from a serialised magazine story. I'm sure you know by now that Perry Rhodan is the longest running sci-fi series, hailing from Germany, and sprawling across 100s of books (ish).
I read it for pure nostalgia, though I think I have to et through 20+ books before I hit any of the stories that I read as a kid: I recall a ship of psychic mutants battling enemies in a space opera.
If you know what you are getting into, you can't go wrong. If you want some truly mind blowing science fiction though, go with the Hyperion books.
I read it for pure nostalgia, though I think I have to et through 20+ books before I hit any of the stories that I read as a kid: I recall a ship of psychic mutants battling enemies in a space opera.
If you know what you are getting into, you can't go wrong. If you want some truly mind blowing science fiction though, go with the Hyperion books.
April 2, 2022
Reading this, I flashed in The Wild, Wild West, Buck Rogers, and James Bond. Someone mentioned this series on Quora. I’d never heard of it. I’ve been reading and watching SF since the 1960’s. So, I tracked down a set of the first four books.
Classic pulp fiction. Very dated and pretty corny. Perry Rhodan has incredible ethics and can convince just about everyone he is noble and correct. He is ( of course) gorgeous, heroic, and brilliant. The Earth superpowers are battling over who teaches the Moon first, with everyone considering nuclear destruction. Naturally, Perry knows how to solve everything.....
Classic pulp fiction. Very dated and pretty corny. Perry Rhodan has incredible ethics and can convince just about everyone he is noble and correct. He is ( of course) gorgeous, heroic, and brilliant. The Earth superpowers are battling over who teaches the Moon first, with everyone considering nuclear destruction. Naturally, Perry knows how to solve everything.....
July 8, 2025
I assumed this was going to be pulp, but was instead met with soap opera.
That's not necessarily a bad thing, but I'll admit, this just crawled along for me, and it's barely over 200 pages. Perry's logic in the second half seems ridiculous (unless he's a sociopath, which is honestly what most intrigues me currently), but the idea of an alien race that's mostly just a bunch of people filled with ennui is amusing to me, and I'm curious to see where it goes. I'll definitely stick around for at least a few more volumes.
That's not necessarily a bad thing, but I'll admit, this just crawled along for me, and it's barely over 200 pages. Perry's logic in the second half seems ridiculous (unless he's a sociopath, which is honestly what most intrigues me currently), but the idea of an alien race that's mostly just a bunch of people filled with ennui is amusing to me, and I'm curious to see where it goes. I'll definitely stick around for at least a few more volumes.
December 28, 2018
First books of the Perry Rhodan series. I became addicted to this series with this book and followed it for another 100 books after. Loved the characters of the Arkonides and their mannerisms. The first five books were the best, as they were translated by Wendayne Ackerman, who significantly improved the writing style. After that, the quality of the writing went down, but the stories were still pretty riveting.
January 4, 2023
I wasn't sure what to make at this - the book felt somewhat rushed without a proper conclusion, but I suppose that is meant for other books? So why not publish them all in one instead of telling part of a story in one to continue in another.
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