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Seetee #1
Seetee Ship
Book by Jack Williamson
192 pages, Paperback
First published January 1, 1951
5 people are currently reading
92 people want to read
About the author
Jack Williamson
541 books166 followersJohn Stewart Williamson who wrote as Jack Williamson (and occasionally under the pseudonym Will Stewart) was a U.S. writer often referred to as the "Dean of Science Fiction".
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Displaying 1 - 14 of 14 reviews
December 11, 2018
An interesting mix of sci fi and a Romance.. the first 1/2 of the book is very reminiscent of the Space Merchants. We have our main Character,Rick, going to work for the big evil corporation instead of his dad to try to make a difference, only to get disenchanted when his work gets turned to weapons. The 2nd half is mostly a romance between the actual main character, Anders (who was Rick's boss and was chasing him) and the spunky girl secretary/pilot for Rick's dad's company. The setting is very 'cold war in space'.. the Russians take over Jupiter.. the Germans Mars, the Japanese Venus, then there's the 'Interplanet' corporation, which seems kinda like the US. (some nice forsight to make the Russian communists the main bad guys in the end.. but maybe those were the parts added to make it novel length). The sci-fi part is the seetee (anti-matter).. everyone wants to harness the matter/anti-matter reaction, but how to do it when they explode on contact?
Plenty of plausible science around a society that still uses film cameras and telephone operators and has periscopes to drive their space ships.
The main points off was the focus on a massively predictible romance and not much of an ending.. but that may happen in the next one.
Plenty of plausible science around a society that still uses film cameras and telephone operators and has periscopes to drive their space ships.
The main points off was the focus on a massively predictible romance and not much of an ending.. but that may happen in the next one.
May 18, 2009
The "Seetee" in the title means "Contraterrene", an old-fashioned word for anti-matter. This inordinately tedious story features a bunch of cardboard stereotypes running around in a creaky, implausible plot, chasing a piece of anti-matter that it's impossible to believe in or take seriously.
I can't write any more about this piece of crap. I think I'll go watch Angels and Demons instead. It has to be better, right?
I can't write any more about this piece of crap. I think I'll go watch Angels and Demons instead. It has to be better, right?
October 25, 2025
This was a very entertaining mid-century hard-ish sci-fi novel with a rather uncharismatic love triangle / quadrangle (so everyone gets a happy ever after) tacked onto it. In the future, humanity has settled and mined the asteroid belt, terraforming larger asteroids into habitable spaces. Folks who live and grow up on the asteroids are called asterites or rock rats, and the wealthy/fancier people from earth are Earthmen. Earthmen are also all apparently American, with Russians, Germans, and Japanese colonizing other planets in the solar system and everyone begrundgingly working together in a fragile alliance called The Mandate. The uranium and other nuclear-power-related minerals on the asteroids are running out and people are turning their eyes to a plentiful antimatter in the asteroid belt (also known as contraterrene matter, aka seetee -- get it?). This antimatter was thought to be a body from another universe that got off course and crashed into a terrene planet eons ago. If seetee comes into contact with anything terrene there is a huge explosion, but if you could build a seetee bedplate that would allow you to manipulate seetee safely and harness its power, you would be in business. Our hero is Rick, a rock rat who went to earth to study engineering. He comes back out to the asteroid belt to join his dad's small company and pursue their dream of the seetee bedplate but gets hung up working for the giant Intraplanet corporation, where he meets a sexy and smart rich lady and starts working with the Earthman engineer Anders, who is also into the sexy and smart rich lady. Eventually the action of the book switches to Anders perspective as he goes off to investigate confusing calls and interactions with Rick, his dad, and his dad's partner. There Anders meets Rick's childhood friend / first love, and starts thinking maybe this tall and sassy rock rat girl is a little more interesting than the sexy earth lady. There is a neat twist involving an alien ship lots of weird time stuff and some mysterious doubling of people. There is also quite a bit of German/Russian/Japanese stereotyping and some mild sexism, as you might expect. In the end we get a nice anti-nuclear-weapons moral that makes sense since this novel was adapted from short stories published in the 1940s. Overall a fun read.
October 23, 2024
An overall rather inconsistent classic of science fiction – you can tell that Jack Williamson compiled several earlier short stories into this book. The main theme is antimatter and the implications of its existence in space. While the first part of the novel focuses on the exploration of antimatter and its potential use as a weapon, the second part revolves around the exploration of a massive abandoned spaceship belonging to antimatter beings. This part reminded me somewhat of "Rendezvous with Rama", though Williamson was actually the first with this idea: "Seetee Ship" was published in 1951, and the underlying short stories almost ten years earlier – Arthur C. Clarke came out with his Rama book in 1973.
Thus, "Seetee Ship" is more of a read for historical interest, and I often found myself smiling while reading, for instance, when even in the distant future the USA and the Soviet Union are still fighting for dominance in space, or when video recordings, despite interplanetary space travel, are still made on film. Naturally, the portrayal of women is rather antiquated; in both plotlines of the book, there is a love interest characterized by wooden, paternalistic 1940s charm, with women (who are at least present in space travel) consistently referred to as "girl" and "darling."
In the already quite confusing story, the author even throws in renegade asteroid dwellers and a small time travel subplot – it’s probably best to map out the plot on a timeline, as the sequence of events is hard to understand at first glance. Overall, the novel isn’t a waste of time to read, but its age is certainly noticeable. I won’t be rushing to pick up another book by Williamson anytime soon.
Thus, "Seetee Ship" is more of a read for historical interest, and I often found myself smiling while reading, for instance, when even in the distant future the USA and the Soviet Union are still fighting for dominance in space, or when video recordings, despite interplanetary space travel, are still made on film. Naturally, the portrayal of women is rather antiquated; in both plotlines of the book, there is a love interest characterized by wooden, paternalistic 1940s charm, with women (who are at least present in space travel) consistently referred to as "girl" and "darling."
In the already quite confusing story, the author even throws in renegade asteroid dwellers and a small time travel subplot – it’s probably best to map out the plot on a timeline, as the sequence of events is hard to understand at first glance. Overall, the novel isn’t a waste of time to read, but its age is certainly noticeable. I won’t be rushing to pick up another book by Williamson anytime soon.
March 23, 2025
An overall rather inconsistent classic of science fiction – you can tell that Jack Williamson compiled several earlier short stories into this book. The main theme is antimatter and the implications of its existence in space. While the first part of the novel focuses on the exploration of antimatter and its potential use as a weapon, the second part revolves around the exploration of a massive abandoned spaceship belonging to antimatter beings. This part reminded me somewhat of "Rendezvous with Rama", though Williamson was actually the first with this idea: "Seetee Ship" was published in 1951, and the underlying short stories almost ten years earlier – Arthur C. Clarke came out with his Rama book in 1973.
Thus, "Seetee Ship" is more of a read for historical interest, and I often found myself smiling while reading, for instance, when even in the distant future the USA and the Soviet Union are still fighting for dominance in space, or when video recordings, despite interplanetary space travel, are still made on film. Naturally, the portrayal of women is rather antiquated; in both plotlines of the book, there is a love interest characterized by wooden, paternalistic 1940s charm, with women (who are at least present in space travel) consistently referred to as "girl" and "darling."
In the already quite confusing story, the author even throws in renegade asteroid dwellers and a small time travel subplot – it’s probably best to map out the plot on a timeline, as the sequence of events is hard to understand at first glance. Overall, the novel isn’t a waste of time to read, but its age is certainly noticeable. I won’t be rushing to pick up another book by Williamson anytime soon.
Thus, "Seetee Ship" is more of a read for historical interest, and I often found myself smiling while reading, for instance, when even in the distant future the USA and the Soviet Union are still fighting for dominance in space, or when video recordings, despite interplanetary space travel, are still made on film. Naturally, the portrayal of women is rather antiquated; in both plotlines of the book, there is a love interest characterized by wooden, paternalistic 1940s charm, with women (who are at least present in space travel) consistently referred to as "girl" and "darling."
In the already quite confusing story, the author even throws in renegade asteroid dwellers and a small time travel subplot – it’s probably best to map out the plot on a timeline, as the sequence of events is hard to understand at first glance. Overall, the novel isn’t a waste of time to read, but its age is certainly noticeable. I won’t be rushing to pick up another book by Williamson anytime soon.
April 29, 2023
This 1951 sci-fi novel is fun in a pulpy sense. The deepest parts of it came from the unintentional culture clash and outdated science, but the characters were decently done (including a woman who's unusually competent for her writer's era) with every major character on both sides having good intentions.
This's in a world where many asteroids in the solar system are formed of antimatter (here called "Contra-Terrane," "CT", or "Seetee"). Our characters hypothesize that came from an extrasolar antimatter rogue planet which entered the solar system in the distant past. Except, it's taken for granted that no one can use the energy of simple matter/antimatter annihilation; the antimatter must be guided through machinery made of antimatter... which no one can build without tools made of antimatter... and thus the plot. The bad science unfortunately comes in again at the end with one final twist formed around a misunderstanding of the theory of antimatter as time-reversed matter.
Culturally, the romance subplots were curious to read because of the culture clash from 1951 romance tropes not having adjusted to women having careers and committed values of their own.
I enjoyed this book both as a novel and a cultural artifact, but I wouldn't really recommend searching it out for its own sake.
This's in a world where many asteroids in the solar system are formed of antimatter (here called "Contra-Terrane," "CT", or "Seetee"). Our characters hypothesize that came from an extrasolar antimatter rogue planet which entered the solar system in the distant past. Except, it's taken for granted that no one can use the energy of simple matter/antimatter annihilation; the antimatter must be guided through machinery made of antimatter... which no one can build without tools made of antimatter... and thus the plot. The bad science unfortunately comes in again at the end with one final twist formed around a misunderstanding of the theory of antimatter as time-reversed matter.
Culturally, the romance subplots were curious to read because of the culture clash from 1951 romance tropes not having adjusted to women having careers and committed values of their own.
I enjoyed this book both as a novel and a cultural artifact, but I wouldn't really recommend searching it out for its own sake.
June 14, 2017
Rick Drake is a young man who has just graduated from college. Although his plan was to go back and join his father's company on the asteroid from where he came, he is convinced to stay on Earth and work for Interplanet for a year, the company that controls almost everything. He reports to Captain Paul Anders, who rejects most of his ideas for harnessing "seetee" power. Towards the end of the one year contract Rick finally turns in a schematic that might work, but when Anders admits the truth of why he wanted it, Rick feels betrayed.
October 19, 2025
Probably some nostalgia in my 5/5 rating, but this was the book that made me take my high school physics class seriously. Rereading it 25 years later — even knowing the twist — it’s still a fun ride. A bit dated, sure, but still fun.
June 8, 2017
Read this many years ago. enjoyed rereading it but a very different style from todays authors
September 28, 2024
The best thing about this story is the antiquated term for antimater. There wasn't enough here to make me want to finish it - it's not his best work.
March 22, 2014
‘Late In The 22nd Century
The great Cataclysmic Drift of Seetee – antimatter menaces the universe. Yet certain sky wanderers, reckless men of vision, dare to harness seetee’s unlimited powers for creation.
Rich Drake, celestial pioneer, spurred by his love for highborn lady of space, uncovers seetee’s awesome secret, battles the imperial forces of the mighty Mandate and endures a staggering War of Time.’
Blurb from the 1979 Jove omnibus paperback edition.
Rich Drake returns from Earth to the asteroid Pallas with his newly-earned Spatial Engineering degree, Rich is the son of Jim Drake, who for some time has been experimenting with CT (seetee), contraterrene or anti-matter. In Williamson’s future it is discovered that space is full of seetee matter. A special Seetee Patrol has been set up to map the seetee distribution and ensure that normal matter (including normal space traffic) does not come into contact with it and unleash the awesome destructive power and consequent radiation.
After Rich saves Karen Hood (daughter of the High Commissioner of Interplanet, a corporate concern which more or less controls Earth) he is recruited by Interplanet to help with their own research into creating a seetee bedplate, the elusive grail which will allow matter and anti-matter to be joined, and so control the energy of seetee which will provide free unlimited power for the entire Solar civilisation.
Interplanet’s interests are less philanthropic. As the main supplier of power from uranium and other dwindling sources they would want to suppress any free power supplies, but would be interested in the creation of seetee bombs.
Then Drake senior and his partner, Rob McGee, discover a seetee asteroid with unusual properties. Rich receives an odd message from Captain McGee telling him to be ready to be picked up at the space port, a message which McGee, when he arrives, denies sending.
Captain Anders of Interplanet, has intercepted the message, sent from the region of the anomalous asteroid, and both parties set out for the area to uncover the mystery.
What follows is a convoluted time-paradox tale in which an ancient seetee ship is found composed of terrene and contraterrene matter, which may provide the secret to creating a functioning seetee ‘bedplate’.
This is a vast improvement on Williamson’s earlier work, particularly since he has this time given due consideration to practical matters of gravitation and atmosphere. Asteroids, for instance, are made habitable by the use of ‘paragravity generators’ which produce localised Earth gravity conditions with some interesting effects and consequences.
It is also interesting that Williamson – in the middle of World War II, has written what is effectively an anti-war and particularly anti-militaristic novel.
The Martians, who are a very minor aspect of this book, are Nazis, and we learn in passing that Mars culture is an Aryan Reich. For readers of the time this must have been a topical and perhaps chilling aspect, and the very subtlety of its use renders it all the more effective.
Williamson must also be applauded for the inclusion of a female character who does rather more than scream and stand about waiting to be rescued. Anne O’Banion is a feisty female engineer/pilot who eventually thaws the heart of the Interplanet Captain, Paul Anders.
The great Cataclysmic Drift of Seetee – antimatter menaces the universe. Yet certain sky wanderers, reckless men of vision, dare to harness seetee’s unlimited powers for creation.
Rich Drake, celestial pioneer, spurred by his love for highborn lady of space, uncovers seetee’s awesome secret, battles the imperial forces of the mighty Mandate and endures a staggering War of Time.’
Blurb from the 1979 Jove omnibus paperback edition.
Rich Drake returns from Earth to the asteroid Pallas with his newly-earned Spatial Engineering degree, Rich is the son of Jim Drake, who for some time has been experimenting with CT (seetee), contraterrene or anti-matter. In Williamson’s future it is discovered that space is full of seetee matter. A special Seetee Patrol has been set up to map the seetee distribution and ensure that normal matter (including normal space traffic) does not come into contact with it and unleash the awesome destructive power and consequent radiation.
After Rich saves Karen Hood (daughter of the High Commissioner of Interplanet, a corporate concern which more or less controls Earth) he is recruited by Interplanet to help with their own research into creating a seetee bedplate, the elusive grail which will allow matter and anti-matter to be joined, and so control the energy of seetee which will provide free unlimited power for the entire Solar civilisation.
Interplanet’s interests are less philanthropic. As the main supplier of power from uranium and other dwindling sources they would want to suppress any free power supplies, but would be interested in the creation of seetee bombs.
Then Drake senior and his partner, Rob McGee, discover a seetee asteroid with unusual properties. Rich receives an odd message from Captain McGee telling him to be ready to be picked up at the space port, a message which McGee, when he arrives, denies sending.
Captain Anders of Interplanet, has intercepted the message, sent from the region of the anomalous asteroid, and both parties set out for the area to uncover the mystery.
What follows is a convoluted time-paradox tale in which an ancient seetee ship is found composed of terrene and contraterrene matter, which may provide the secret to creating a functioning seetee ‘bedplate’.
This is a vast improvement on Williamson’s earlier work, particularly since he has this time given due consideration to practical matters of gravitation and atmosphere. Asteroids, for instance, are made habitable by the use of ‘paragravity generators’ which produce localised Earth gravity conditions with some interesting effects and consequences.
It is also interesting that Williamson – in the middle of World War II, has written what is effectively an anti-war and particularly anti-militaristic novel.
The Martians, who are a very minor aspect of this book, are Nazis, and we learn in passing that Mars culture is an Aryan Reich. For readers of the time this must have been a topical and perhaps chilling aspect, and the very subtlety of its use renders it all the more effective.
Williamson must also be applauded for the inclusion of a female character who does rather more than scream and stand about waiting to be rescued. Anne O’Banion is a feisty female engineer/pilot who eventually thaws the heart of the Interplanet Captain, Paul Anders.
September 13, 2011
This paperback was an omnibus with both ""Seetee Ship"" and ""Seetee Shock"" in it. Both are Golden Age Sci Fi published within a year of each other (1949 and 1950). Neither was especially good. ""Ship"" was the better novel -- faster paced and a more interesting story. ""Shock"" was too talky. I probably won't be seeking more Williamson any time soon.
June 21, 2017
Showing its age I'm afraid.
On the positive side of the ledger there's a couple of interesting characters, and the background is intriguing and plausible.
On the other side, the"science" gets very fifties handwavy fast, and once you have figured out the central premise it gets old and obvious fast.
Recommended for fans of the author and/or historical sci fi only.
On the positive side of the ledger there's a couple of interesting characters, and the background is intriguing and plausible.
On the other side, the"science" gets very fifties handwavy fast, and once you have figured out the central premise it gets old and obvious fast.
Recommended for fans of the author and/or historical sci fi only.
February 10, 2016
A friend in college turned me on to this. At the time, it was definitely a story unlike anything else I had read.
Displaying 1 - 14 of 14 reviews