Subspace Explorers

Subspace #1

by E.E. "Doc" Smith, Chris Foss (Illustrator)

A story of the explorers of subspace

Genres: Science Fiction, Space Opera, Fiction, Classics, Science Fiction Fantasy

256 pages, Mass Market Paperback

First published January 1, 1965

About the author

Edward Elmer Smith (also E.E. Smith, E.E. Smith, Ph.D., E.E. “Doc” Smith, Doc Smith, “Skylark” Smith, or—to his family—Ted), was an American food engineer (specializing in doughnut and pastry mixes) and an early science fiction author, best known for the Lensman and Skylark series. He is sometimes called the father of space opera.

Reviews

[Karl]

This a science fiction novel by E. E. "Doc" Smith. The book was first published in 1965 by Canaveral Press in an edition of 1,460 copies. The novel is an expansion of Smith's story "Subspace Survivors" which first appeared in the July 1960 issue of the magazine Astounding.

The book is essentially in three overlapping parts:

A space catastrophe and its results.

The discovery and scientific study of psionics.

A war between the corrupt and shortsighted (including Labour, politicians, Soviet-style communists and greedy capitalists) and those who can see a bit further (mostly tradesmen, professionals, and businessmen).

[Kevin O'Brien]

This is the first of two novels in short series of 2. It is classic Doc Smith space opera, combining gee-whiz science with pyschic abilities. I happen to be a huge Doc Smith fan, and I'm pretty sure I have everything he ever published. This book has three parts. The first is about a disaster in space and how his characters survive it, the second about how the psychic abilities are used to transform part of society, and the third a frankly right-wing screed where the CEOs are the good guys, labor unions are evil, and the ultimate evil is a revived Communism in space. So Doc, for all that he writes a good adventure yarn, has some issues. I just overlook that because I like his stories.

[Royden Jones]

My opinions on this are mixed. I am going thru and reading all of the E.E. Smith that I hadn't done 'back in the day' as well as rereading the parts that I did. In any case..

I preferred Subspace Expedition (the second book) to this one, and I also preferred 'Subspace Survivors' (the short story that this was built off of) to this.
Not Smith's best but still .. "It was OK"

[Johnny]

It took a while to really dig deep and become engaging. But when it did it opened up into a completely new universe. Mostly about space politics and geology. Not one of his best but I enjoyed it when the last 100 pages came along.

[S.j. Thompson]

a disappointing story, didn't finish.

[David Forbes]

I enjoyed this book, but it is a work of it's era, outdated outlook on gender roles, race and ideology .

[LILY EVANS]

Could not understand what the hell was going on tbh

[Rex Libris]

This book is very such a product of its era. The Earth is split between the communist dominated Eastern Hemisphere and the corrupt/crony capitalist Western Hemisphere. Freedom loving people have left the Earth and been forming colonies on other planets. However, the forces of old Earth keep pushing their ways on the colonies.

However, the colonists discover and cultivate psionic powers, allowing them to escape from under the thumb of the various corrupt and totalitarian Earth factions.

[John]

One of the main characters, Dr. Adams, needs to do some research. He exhausts his own voluminous library, then the resources of the University of Michigan. Finally, he requests "22 exceedingly rare" tomes from the John Crerar Library in Chicago.

The narrator continues: "This was unusual, for normally scholars come to the Crerar....but as one bibliophile to another, the Director was happy to comply."

So of course I bought this book, and am now about to wear my copy out. Too bad it's out of print.

[Jonathan Stevens]

Ok, it's not "Skylark of Space", "Triplanetary" or "Galactic Patrol", but...... I once believed that Doc Smith didn't write anything really worthwhile after 1950 (see, for example, "The Galaxy Primes".) This book (from 1965) is an enjoyable read, with lots of psionics and the occasional space battle or etc in Doc's style. Doc Smith fans should check it out. There is a sequel. Note,
in spite of some similarities in the setting, this is not part of the "Lensnman" series.

Really thinking of re-reading "Triplanetary".....

[Rob]

This is a science fiction book reminiscent of heinlein work. Fun and fast paced.

[Peter]

Good old fashioned SF - bit dated now

[Doug Farren]

I read this one a LONG time ago. The Lensman series is a classic which I periodically go back and reread. Love it!

[Stuart Mcgrigor]

It's Space Opera - fills in time on the train.

[William]

I enjoyed this book, but would have liked a sequel. It was an interesting concept and exploration of relationships

[Andy]

One of the early sci-fi writers. At times a crude writing style compared to today's works but entertaining nonetheless. Definitely a product of the cold war.

[Matt Webb]

What I like most about the space opera of this period is the sheer pace of it all.