Lensman Series · 5:55am Oct 4th, 2023
One of the pioneers of Sci-fi was E E "Doc" Smith (1890-1965). He was one of the VERY few people who created New Ideas during H G Wells' lifetime.
One of his most famous series was The Lensman Series. (Published 1938-1948.) The 4 core novels were (Galactic Patrol, Gray Lensman, Second Stage Lensman, Children of the Lens. He later added the prequel novels Triplanetary, First Lensman, and a novel set between Grey Lensman, and Children of the Lens called Masters of the Vortex. For many years it was considered The Greatest Space Opera Ever Written. (Think the first Star Wars movie.)
During the 1980s David Kyle wrote 3 additional novels The Dragon Lensman (about Worsel), The Lensman From Rigel (Tregonsee) & The Z Lensman (Nadrek). Set between Second Stage Lensman and Children of the Lens, they are well worth reading.
In many ways it is Not Politically Correct & a LOT of the science is outdated
Basic Plot
The inhabitants of the planet Edore fought among themselves, first with physical weapons then which psychic powers. Having hit a dead end, they went looking for other worlds to conquer but found no other universes with inhabited planets (I'll get to that) until they came across ours.
The Arisians were about on their level but decided that it would be too tough to fight them directly. So, they picked the 4 most promising races & secretly nurtured them (think the beginning of the movie "2001: A Space Odyssey" to produce a champion capable of defeating Edore. They chose the Velantians, the Rigelians, the Palanians + humans as the most promising candidates.
Recommended reading order
Triplanetary
I've seen reviews that recommend viewing the first 2 books as secret history taught by the Arisians to the Children of the Lens & read AFTER Children of the Lens
First Lensman
Set a year or 2 after the end of Triplanetary. Describes the efforts of Virgil Sam's & several other characters from Triplanetary to set up Civilization & the Lens Council.
GalacticPatrol
Set several centuries (exact time unspecified) after First Lensman.
Grey Lensman
Set immediately after Galactic Patrol
Second Stage Lensman
Set immediately after Grey Lensman.
In fact, like Lord of the Rings, these 3 novels are really 1 long novel broken into 3 books.
Masters of the Vortex although you can skip it with no great loss. It occurs sometime between Second Stage Lensman and Children of the Lens
The Dragon Lensman
About Worsel & his efforts during the time between Second Stage Lensman and the early part of Children of the Lens
Clarissa
The Lensman From Rigel
Tregonsee during the same time.
The Z Lensman
Nadrek during this time.
Children of the Lens
Starts when the oldest child of Kimball Kinnison and Clarissa graduates the Patrol Academy.
Ends with the destruction of Edore and the Arisians leaving our universe, presumably to get some peace & privacy to try & advance themselves.
