The E. E. 'Doc' Smith Omnibus: The Skylark of Space; Skylark Three; Triplanetary

by E.E. "Doc" Smith

The 3 Novels that Created Space Opera! Set off on the first science fiction voyage outside our solar system as Richard Seaton sets out to rescue his captured fiancee after a rogue scientist steals Seaton's unique spherical spaceship The Skylark. Then the enemies are forced to become allies when everyone becomes lost in an unfamiliar region of the galaxy and must fight their way back through primative planets and against alien fleets. As always with Smith, romance and action are equally mixed. The Seaton is forced back into action to stop a menace that threatens every civilized planet in the galaxy, but to do it he must create the greatest starship ever conceived. Finally read Triplanetary, the story that helped launch the Lensmen series. A brainy man and heroic woman fight against ruthless space pirates for life and love.

Genres: Science Fiction, Fiction

587 pages, Kindle Edition

First published January 1, 2007

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

[Brian · Rating 5 out of 5]

Fair Warning - E. E. 'Doc' Smith is going to get 5 stars from me.

I have a soft spot for the Lensman and Skylark series books because I cut my Space Opera eyeteeth on them. I had copies of all of them, once upon a time, and now I do again.

The three books in this Omnibus edition: The Skylark of Space, Skylark Three, and Triplanetary - all were a blast from the past for me. Yes, Doc Smith's characters and their actions/motivations were from his era, not ours. That irks a great number of people, just as Heinlein's work does. Oh, well. I try not to let political correctness get in the way of a cracking good yarn. Smith's breadth of vision and the scope of his universe thrilled me then, and now.

The Skylark books are the first "half" of that series, wherein our protagonist, Dick Seaton, and his partner, Martin Crane, discover and develop a "new" (sadly completely imaginary) form of atomic power, and quickly decide that the best use for humanity is cheap power (good motivation), and space exploration (great for the story). They are opposed by "Blackie" DuQuesne, and the usual assortment of interstellar villains out to conquer the galaxy. Fortunately, Dick and Martin discover allies of sufficient intelligence and power to help them win out, time after time.

Triplanetary was an early Smith serial work that was re-written as a novel to be a prequel to the Lensman books. The force of Patrol Special Agent Conway Costigan's personality and the ethics of the Triplanetary Patrol in opposition to local space pirates, ancient adversaries, and interstellar interlopers form the core of this tale. This was my first re-read of Triplanetary in over four decades, and I enjoyed every page.

Highly Recommended, if you have a hankering for epic classic Space Opera, and can set aside modern political correctness in order to enjoy the tales herein.

[Chris Ward · Rating 3 out of 5]

I loved this series of books by E.E. 'Doc' Smith when I was a young SF reader. Now, there's a nostalgic pleasure in re-reading them but they are definitely of their time. Some of the attitudes towards women are not those of today, and the technology hasn't stood the test of time.
Neither of these are things that will stop you enjoying the books, but you have to read them as if you were in the 1960s, not the 21st century.

[Bookbear · Rating 1 out of 5]

Gave up rather quickly, because this is cheap work. The heros are too heroic, the bad guys just too bad, and all are just too superhuman. And yes, I know it's science fiction, but all those gadgets and stuff is closer to magic than to science.

[Wilson · Rating 5 out of 5]

I first encountered Doc Smith in the early '60s as my father was a prolific reader of Science Fiction and Westerns.

I picked up The Skylark of Space and was hooked at the age of 8. I have owned the entire Skylark & Lensman series many times over my life and have managed to again own the entire series.

A great start for young readers and old ones alike.

[Daniel]

I have been trying to read this since February 2014. I just can't do it. The heroes and villains are just too heroic and too villainous. The science is stretched beyond its limits. I also can't really empathize with anyone in this trilogy. Sadly, I have to give up.

[Ann]

I liked it but I've read better.

[Norman Howe]

Science-Fiction