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Dumarest of Terra #22
The Terra Data
That there was ever a planet called Earth only Earl Dumarest believed. He had been seeking it a long time, though nobody else at the crowded galactic center believed in it. He had acquired some bits of information during his search outwards: a Terrestrial zodiac, an authentic painting of Luna, a general series of hints that he was getting closer. Then he learned of a man who knew where Earth was, who had the special coordinates that would take a starship directly to it.
The man had lived on Elysius, and his widow knew where his data were. She demanded a price from Dumarest—a chore that involved a mining expedition which would bring her back a fortune and him the information.
But Elysius was not the Elysium its name projected and THE TERRA DATA not so rapidly come by!
The man had lived on Elysius, and his widow knew where his data were. She demanded a price from Dumarest—a chore that involved a mining expedition which would bring her back a fortune and him the information.
But Elysius was not the Elysium its name projected and THE TERRA DATA not so rapidly come by!
- GenresScience Fiction
172 pages, Mass Market Paperback
First published April 1, 1980
5 people are currently reading
79 people want to read
About the author
E.C. Tubb
383 books85 followersEdwin Charles Tubb was a writer of science fiction, fantasy and western novels. He published over 140 novels and 230 short stories and novellas, and is best known for The Dumarest Saga (US collective title: Dumarest of Terra) an epic science-fiction saga set in the far future.
Much of Tubb's work has been written under pseudonyms including Gregory Kern, Carl Maddox, Alan Guthrie, Eric Storm and George Holt. He has used 58 pen names over five decades of writing although some of these were publishers' house names also used by other writers: Volsted Gridban (along with John Russell Fearn), Gill Hunt (with John Brunner and Dennis Hughes), King Lang (with George Hay and John W Jennison), Roy Sheldon (with H. J. Campbell) and Brian Shaw. Tubb's Charles Grey alias was solely his own and acquired a big following in the early 1950s.
An avid reader of pulp science-fiction and fantasy in his youth, Tubb found that he had a particular talent as a writer of stories in that genre when his short story 'No Short Cuts' was published in New Worlds magazine in 1951. He opted for a full-time career as a writer and soon became renowned for the speed and diversity of his output.
Tubb contributed to many of the science fiction magazines of the 1950s including Futuristic Science Stories, Science Fantasy, Nebula and Galaxy Science Fiction. He contributed heavily to Authentic Science Fiction editing the magazine for nearly two years, from February 1956 until it folded in October 1957. During this time, he found it so difficult to find good writers to contribute to the magazine, that he often wrote most of the stories himself under a variety of pseudonyms: one issue of Authentic was written entirely by Tubb, including the letters column.
His main work in the science fiction genre, the Dumarest series, appeared from 1967 to 1985, with two final volumes in 1997 and 2008. His second major series, the Cap Kennedy series, was written from 1973 to 1983.
In recent years Tubb updated many of his 1950s science fiction novels for 21st century readers.
Tubb was one of the co-founders of the British Science Fiction Association.
Much of Tubb's work has been written under pseudonyms including Gregory Kern, Carl Maddox, Alan Guthrie, Eric Storm and George Holt. He has used 58 pen names over five decades of writing although some of these were publishers' house names also used by other writers: Volsted Gridban (along with John Russell Fearn), Gill Hunt (with John Brunner and Dennis Hughes), King Lang (with George Hay and John W Jennison), Roy Sheldon (with H. J. Campbell) and Brian Shaw. Tubb's Charles Grey alias was solely his own and acquired a big following in the early 1950s.
An avid reader of pulp science-fiction and fantasy in his youth, Tubb found that he had a particular talent as a writer of stories in that genre when his short story 'No Short Cuts' was published in New Worlds magazine in 1951. He opted for a full-time career as a writer and soon became renowned for the speed and diversity of his output.
Tubb contributed to many of the science fiction magazines of the 1950s including Futuristic Science Stories, Science Fantasy, Nebula and Galaxy Science Fiction. He contributed heavily to Authentic Science Fiction editing the magazine for nearly two years, from February 1956 until it folded in October 1957. During this time, he found it so difficult to find good writers to contribute to the magazine, that he often wrote most of the stories himself under a variety of pseudonyms: one issue of Authentic was written entirely by Tubb, including the letters column.
His main work in the science fiction genre, the Dumarest series, appeared from 1967 to 1985, with two final volumes in 1997 and 2008. His second major series, the Cap Kennedy series, was written from 1973 to 1983.
In recent years Tubb updated many of his 1950s science fiction novels for 21st century readers.
Tubb was one of the co-founders of the British Science Fiction Association.
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Displaying 1 - 8 of 8 reviews
October 21, 2014
I've enjoyed every Dumarest of Terra book I've read by Tubb, but this one was a cut above most. The ending was actually a surprise to me, although thinking back it shouldn't have been. But I like when a writer can still 'get' me.
Tubb always does pretty realistic portrayals of people, and he does a good job with exotic settings. This one had a pretty cool idea at the core, a planet where people seem to be content not to work or strive. I won't tell you why. An episode of Star Trek the original series had a kind of similar premise.
Tubb always does pretty realistic portrayals of people, and he does a good job with exotic settings. This one had a pretty cool idea at the core, a planet where people seem to be content not to work or strive. I won't tell you why. An episode of Star Trek the original series had a kind of similar premise.
July 2, 2022
Adventure, excitement, death, twists, betrayals, hope and, ultimately, despair. Just another regular volume in the Dumarest saga
September 8, 2024
4.5 stars. I enjoyed this one even more than most. The storyline following the Cyber Prime exposes some juicy details on the inner power structure of the Cyclan and its leadership. Of course we also follow Dumarest, who finds himself on a remote world in search of a professor who may have crucial knowledge of Earth. He finds the locals in a perpetual state of blissful lethargy, induced by the consumption of the remains of insect like creatures that are found in abundance. The result is a world in decline from a severe labor shortage as nobody is motivated to work, as well as a dwindling population as apparently they can't be bothered with raising children either.
The story packs a great sense of claustrophobic suspense as Dumarest navigates a system of unstable makeshift mines and caves in order to uncover the professor's most closely held secret. There's an obligatory fight scene or two, and a couple of love interests. Yet these seem more cold and calculated than usual, with Dumarest wielding his charms solely to further his quest. Things wrap up with an unexpected twist. Also unexpected and a bit strange that the Cyclan storyline never ties in to Dumarest's.
The story packs a great sense of claustrophobic suspense as Dumarest navigates a system of unstable makeshift mines and caves in order to uncover the professor's most closely held secret. There's an obligatory fight scene or two, and a couple of love interests. Yet these seem more cold and calculated than usual, with Dumarest wielding his charms solely to further his quest. Things wrap up with an unexpected twist. Also unexpected and a bit strange that the Cyclan storyline never ties in to Dumarest's.
October 29, 2020
Not up to par with the rest of the series! The conclusion of this one was particularly unsatisfying. I was inclined to give this book a rating of just one star, but bumped that up to two stars on account of the sections that give an inside look at the leadership of the Cyclan. Read those parts and skip the rest...
August 22, 2020
Full review in the last volume of the series.
A special mention for this volume. I enjoyed it very much. The insight in the Cyclan, the story and also the anthropology is worthwhile.
A special mention for this volume. I enjoyed it very much. The insight in the Cyclan, the story and also the anthropology is worthwhile.
June 21, 2023
Terra Data we do not get. So Dumarest meets a guy called Hans who claims who knows someone who knows about Earth. They travel to the planet Elysius taking with them a girl Dumarest bought that he intends to return to her family. A sub plot that serves no purpose at all.
The guy with the knowledge about Earth turns out to be dead. Apparently died in a mining accident. Unless he was killed by his wife, Isobel. Who is one of the lovers in this episode. Dumarest tries to find the corpse because he might have the kept the secret in some medallion. Of course he ultimately fails. But as always I love following him on his quest.
There is a nice frame story about the old and new Prime cyber. And I liked that there was not much fighting going on.
The guy with the knowledge about Earth turns out to be dead. Apparently died in a mining accident. Unless he was killed by his wife, Isobel. Who is one of the lovers in this episode. Dumarest tries to find the corpse because he might have the kept the secret in some medallion. Of course he ultimately fails. But as always I love following him on his quest.
There is a nice frame story about the old and new Prime cyber. And I liked that there was not much fighting going on.
May 7, 2016
I am struggling but determined to reread this series one last time. Nuggets in each but so much repetition to cover and stuff I just want to skim past. I have read them all too many times. The first few times I read them, they were terrific and I loved the creation and obviously since he went to to write 32 books about Dumarest, I was not the only fan who followed the series, bought the books, harassed him to keep writing them. I am sad to have lost the thread....is it age? Is science fiction no longer my fascination? I persevere.
May 24, 2016
interested
Displaying 1 - 8 of 8 reviews