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C.O.D. Mars / Alien Sea
Ace Double #H-40. Two original science fiction stories. Both Tubb and Rackham were prolific British authors.
256 pages, Mass Market Paperback
Published January 1, 1968
13 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 - 2 of 2 reviews
December 19, 2018
I read this book after people on Twitter said it was strangely similar to the hit series The Expanse. Well, it is. Not to the point of plagiarism but there is certainly overlap in theme, setting and even some vocabulary.
The solar system is populated with humans and different planets and moons have developed their own cultures. Some of these people are from "The Belt" and lower gravity has affected their physical appearance. The secretary general of the United Planets (Nations) gets involved. A strange alien virus/entity is transforming people into highly evolved (I think) beings. There is a detective focused on a task that's all about him and his desires.
Otherwise, COD Mars is fairly typical space opera for its time. Characters ride "Sporses" which are "space horses," literally crotch rockets used for short distance space travel. There are similar kind of goofy sci fi elements you're not going to find in the Expanse.
Whether the authors read this novel before crafting the Expanse is unknown. They've already admitted Alfred Bester's The Stars My Destiny heavily influenced their themes. The entire book and TV series is a modern take on classic space opera. I would not be surprised if Tubbs, Heinlein, Voigt, Vance and others make cameos.
I would compare the similarities between this work and The Expanse with those of Star Trek OS and Forbidden Planet. Yes they're there, but only at an inspirational level.
In the end, this is a good old fashioned space opera written during the decline of old school sf and the rise of the "New Wave."
The solar system is populated with humans and different planets and moons have developed their own cultures. Some of these people are from "The Belt" and lower gravity has affected their physical appearance. The secretary general of the United Planets (Nations) gets involved. A strange alien virus/entity is transforming people into highly evolved (I think) beings. There is a detective focused on a task that's all about him and his desires.
Otherwise, COD Mars is fairly typical space opera for its time. Characters ride "Sporses" which are "space horses," literally crotch rockets used for short distance space travel. There are similar kind of goofy sci fi elements you're not going to find in the Expanse.
Whether the authors read this novel before crafting the Expanse is unknown. They've already admitted Alfred Bester's The Stars My Destiny heavily influenced their themes. The entire book and TV series is a modern take on classic space opera. I would not be surprised if Tubbs, Heinlein, Voigt, Vance and others make cameos.
I would compare the similarities between this work and The Expanse with those of Star Trek OS and Forbidden Planet. Yes they're there, but only at an inspirational level.
In the end, this is a good old fashioned space opera written during the decline of old school sf and the rise of the "New Wave."
August 7, 2023
Ace Double Novel H40
C.O.D. Mars, E.C. Tubb, grade B, not read again.
Alien Sea, by John Rackham
1980 Grade A
2023 Grade B
This actually has a more complex story than the last ace double novel I read, but the pace and the prose are not as well done. The story follows a B-roll "camera-man" who records emotions for editors to add to videos. He accidentally gets involved in a multi-world plot to conquer earth, falls in love with an "alien" human, and eventually helps prevent the disaster. The world building, character development, and story are actually quite good. I can see why I rated it grade A the first time.
Chapter 1 is basically a prolog that takes place 2000 years before the main story. As near as I can tell, it can be skipped entirely, the same as most prologs. Since the prose is overwritten, tedious and a bit ponderous throughout the book, I would suggest starting with chapter 2. I speed read many long paragraphs by just skipping to the start of the next paragraph. It did not seem to create significant problems.
C.O.D. Mars, E.C. Tubb, grade B, not read again.
Alien Sea, by John Rackham
1980 Grade A
2023 Grade B
This actually has a more complex story than the last ace double novel I read, but the pace and the prose are not as well done. The story follows a B-roll "camera-man" who records emotions for editors to add to videos. He accidentally gets involved in a multi-world plot to conquer earth, falls in love with an "alien" human, and eventually helps prevent the disaster. The world building, character development, and story are actually quite good. I can see why I rated it grade A the first time.
Chapter 1 is basically a prolog that takes place 2000 years before the main story. As near as I can tell, it can be skipped entirely, the same as most prologs. Since the prose is overwritten, tedious and a bit ponderous throughout the book, I would suggest starting with chapter 2. I speed read many long paragraphs by just skipping to the start of the next paragraph. It did not seem to create significant problems.
Displaying 1 - 2 of 2 reviews