New Lensman: The Space Age Sequel To E. E. Doc Smith’s Immortal LENSMAN Series by William B. Ellern

My rating: 4 of 5 stars


I am a huge fan of Doc Smith’s Lensman series, but there was one book I had never read because I needed to locate a copy. This is that book, and I located an old but quite readable paperback copy online. This novel is not by Doc Smith, but it was authorized by him. Would it stand up?

The story is set contemporaneously with the events of First Lensman, and a number of those happen off-stage in this book. Some of these include the attempt on Virgil Samms’ life, and the climactic battle between the Grand Fleet of the Galactic Patrol and the Black Fleet of the enemy. And characters like Knobos, the Martian Lensman, Roderick Kinnison, and Virgil Samms make appearances. But while the Lensman novels cover vast distances, this novel is all set in one place, the Moon. Our hero, Lieutanant Larry McQueen of the Triplanetary Service, goes to Copernicus Base because there are plots afoot. Early on in the book he is kidnapped by enemy agents, but manages to escape. But people keep showing up to attempt sabotage, and it eventually becomes clear they are part of the same enemy as the Black Fleet, and that their sabotage is intended to coincide and align with the Black Fleet attack. Copernicus Base is a major military installation and taking it out of action would be a major loss to the Patrol. As Lieutenant McQueen is trying to stop these attacks, he starts to hear that Virgil Samms is turning the Solarian Patrol into the Galactic Patrol, and that he is creating a force of “Lensmen”. And in due course McQueen receives his Lens and joins that elite fraternity. Of course, in the end the good guys prevail.

I thoroughly enjoyed this book, and would recommend it to fans of Doc Smith. That said, unlike the Lensman books proper, this isn’t really Space Opera because all off the action happens in one small, confined space. But I think the fans will find it very familiar, and it does touch on an aspect not really covered in the series proper, about how the changes Samms made affected the lower level operatives of the Triplanetary Service.



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The Dragon Lensman by David A. Kyle

My rating: 4 of 5 stars


E.E. “Doc” Smith was most famous for his series of books about the Lensmen, who were selected by the Arisians to battle against the forces of Eddore. This series is often regarded as the height of Golden Age Space Opera. The core of the series was a story of a breeding program to produce an advanced group of beings who could do what the Arisians themselves could not do, and kill the Eddorians. The breeding program was established on four planets and four different races, but the main focus was of course on the human race and their Lensmen. The Penultimate human specimen, Kimball Kinnison, did something hitherto unknown and go back to Arisia for additional training and become a Second Stage Lensman. But this also happened for the 3 other races, and they also produced Second Stage Lensmen.

David Kyle was given the opportunity to write a trilogy where each book focused on one of those three other champions. This one, Book #1 in the trilogy, focuses on Worsel of Velantia, and begins the story arc that will carry through all three volumes. If you are a fan of the original Lensman series this is worth picking up, but as a stand-alone it would lose much of its appeal, in my view.



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Lensman from Rigel by David A. Kyle

My rating: 4 of 5 stars


E.E. “Doc” Smith was most famous for his series of books about the Lensmen, who were selected by the Arisians to battle against the forces of Eddore. This series is often regarded as the height of Golden Age Space Opera. The core of the series was a story of a breeding program to produce an advanced group of beings who could do what the Arisians themselves could not do, and kill the Eddorians. The breeding program was established on four planets and four different races, but the main focus was of course on the human race and their Lensmen. The Penultimate human specimen, Kimball Kinnison, did something hitherto unknown and go back to Arisia for additional training and become a Second Stage Lensman. But this also happened for the 3 other races, and they also produced Second Stage Lensmen.

David Kyle was given the opportunity to write a trilogy where each book focused on one of those three other champions. This one, Book #2 in the trilogy, focuses on Tregonsee of Rigel, and continues the story arc from Volume #1, Dragon Lensman. If you are a fan of the original Lensman series this is worth picking up, but as a stand-alone it would lose much of its appeal, in my view.



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Z-Lensman by David A. Kyle

My rating: 4 of 5 stars


E.E. “Doc” Smith was most famous for his series of books about the Lensmen, who were selected by the Arisians to battle against the forces of Eddore. This series is often regarded as the height of Golden Age Space Opera. The core of the series was a story of a breeding program to produce an advanced group of beings who could do what the Arisians themselves could not do, and kill the Eddorians. The breeding program was established on four planets and four different races, but the main focus was of course on the human race and their Lensmen. The Penultimate human specimen, Kimball Kinnison, did something hitherto unknown and go back to Arisia for additional training and become a Second Stage Lensman. But this also happened for the 3 other races, and they also produced Second Stage Lensmen.

David Kyle was given the opportunity to write a trilogy where each book focused on one of those three other champions. This one, Book #3 in the trilogy, focuses on Nadreck of Palain, and concludes the story arc developed over all three books. If you are a fan of the original Lensman series this is worth picking up, but as a stand-alone it would lose much of its appeal, in my view.



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Works of E. E. “Doc” Smith by E.E. “Doc” Smith

My rating: 4 of 5 stars


If you want to learn about Space Opera from the Golden Age, this is not a bad place to start. Smith is considered by many to the Father of Space Opera, and this collection is a convenient place to get started. The works are somewhat uneven, with Masters of Space really filled with cardboard characters and “gee-whiz” plotting, but on the other end Triplanetary and The Vortex Blaster are pretty good. Since this is generally available inexpensively on the usual e-book sites, give it a try. You might find something you like.



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The Vortex Blaster by E.E. “Doc” Smith

My rating: 4 of 5 stars


The Vortex Blaster is set in Smith’s Lensman universe, and some Lensmen and the Galactic Patrol make an appearance, but is really a stand-alone novel that really does not need to be read as part of the series. The plot involves a man with a computer in his brain who takes on the job of snuffing out “atomic vortices” that periodically erupt from nuclear power stations. It turns out that he is the first person capable of doing this, which sets him up a tour of the galaxy and various adventures. And being in the Lensman universe, mental powers are involved, but in this case distinct from the powers of the Lensmen.



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Triplanetary by E.E. “Doc” Smith

My rating: 4 of 5 stars


This is really a “prequel” written somewhat later, but in internal chronology it is the first in the Lensman series, and fills in some background. We are introduced to the benevolent Arisians, who are responsible for all life in this universe through a kind of panspermia. Then the evil Eddorians come in from another universe looking for worlds to rule, and the battle of the millennia ensues. The human race is one of the “Arisian” races, and the plan involves a breeding program over centuries leading up to something, and this book tells some of that story.

I read this as part of a collection “The Works of E.E. “Doc” Smith”





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Spacehounds of IPC by E.E. “Doc” Smith

My rating: 3 of 5 stars


The Spacehounds of IPC is the kind of book you could write back in the classic pulp age when everything was possible. The solar system could have many different intelligent species, and some of them could have six-fold symmetry. Jupiter’s moons could have life and breathable atmospheres. The first half is “Robinson Crusoe” experience, followed by a good bit of space opera. This is an example of the kind fiction written by people like Smith, John W. Campbell, and Edmund Hamilton.

I read this as part of a collection “The Works of E.E. “Doc” Smith”



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Skylark Three by E.E. “Doc” Smith

My rating: 3 of 5 stars


The Skylark Three is the second of four novels in Smith’s Skylark series. The three in the title refers to the third spaceship they built. Like most Smith novels, it moves along with a lot of action. Overlord Seaton of the Central System deals with interplanetary war between the planets of the system. Then the monstrous Fenachrone race is introduced, and they threaten the whole galaxy with conquest. Only Seaton can stop them! If you ever wanted to know what pulp fiction of the classic age of science fiction is like, this series is a good place to start. Smith is regarded as the “Father of Space Opera”, and this is where he started.

I read this as part of a collection “The Works of E.E. “Doc” Smith”



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The Skylark of Space by E.E. “Doc” Smith

My rating: 3 of 5 stars


The Skylark of Space is the first of four novels in Smith’s Skylark series. Like most Smith novels, it moves along with a lot of action. A government chemist discovers a power source that will let him roam the galaxy, but no one believes him. So he buys the rights from the government for next to nothing. But a colleague with a evil bent does believe he was on to something, and resolves to steal the invention. The next thing you know everyone is out in space, and interstellar war happens. If you ever wanted to know what pulp fiction of the classic age of science fiction is like, this is a good place to start. Smith is regarded as the “Father of Space Opera”, and this is where he started.

I read this as part of a collection “The Works of E.E. “Doc” Smith”



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