Owen K. C. Stephens |
I am a big fan of all Smith. Lensmen helped inform my view of how might should be used for right. I eventually got masters of the Vortex, which is different characters in the Lensman universe.
I also love the Skylark series, which is, if anything, even pulpier. Similarly I am a fan of Spacehounds of IPC, which is not a Lensman story, though it is sometimes presented as one.
I also tracked down Subspace Explorers, which is an interesting psionics book, though the Heinlein-like politics might turn off some readers. Also Galaxy Primes, which is not the same universe but has a lot of similar ideas. I used to have Subspace Encounter, though my copy disintegrated 20 years ago, so I don't remember much about it.
I find the GURPS Lensman book to be a great resource for anyone considering doing a Lensman-themed rpg, no matter what system you use.
I am not a fan, for the most part, of the various Lensman books written by other authors with Smith's (or his estate's) blessing. I read them all, and they are okay, but they feel different.
Oddly I AM a fan of the Family D'Alembert series, despite the fact only parts of the first book was written by Smith, and the rest is all Stephen Goldin.
Reggie |
Big fan of Smith - with a Ph.D. in chemistry he couldn't have been all bad!
I did discover, though, that when I went back and read a bunch of his books years after the first time (as a teen) that his heroes weren't always the nicest of guys - killing the best part of an entire city of aliens with toxic gas in order to escape (although the surviving aliens agreed that it was only fair - they had been holding him prisoner in a luxury apartment, after all!).
He did excell, however, at creating a wonderful image of 'Scientist as Hero'.
Reggie
QXL99 |
The book order is:
Triplanetary
First Lensman
Galactic Patrol
Gray Lensman
Second Stage Lensman
Children of the Lens.
You could start with Galactic Patrol, as the first two books are more about setting up the universe (I believe Galactic Patrol was written first). Starting later would be confusing I think.
You can find omnibus editions (books 1-3, 4-6) online, as well as single editions.
Aaron Bitman |
(I believe Galactic Patrol was written first).
I'm no expert, so everyone should feel free to contradict me, but my understanding was that Smith originally wrote Triplanetary as a standalone. Many years later he wrote the "Lensmen" series (starting with Galactic Patrol), then revised Triplanetary as a prequel, and then proceeded to write First Lensmen to bridge Triplanetary with the real "Lensmen" books.