History: Fiction or Science? (Chronology, No. 1)

Book Description

Recorded history is a finely-woven magic fabric of intricate lies about events predating the sixteenth century. There is not a single piece of evidence that can be reliably and independently traced back earlier than the eleventh century. This book details events that are substantiated by hard facts and logic, and validated by new astronomical research and statistical analysis of ancient sources.

Customer Reviews:

Calculations are only as good as your numbers.......2007-08-03

Yes, we can all agree that mainstream history is nearly 100% BS due to politics, economics, ego, problems with dating techniques, and various conspiracies. Agreed. But, I've been researching the distinct possibility that human history (in terms of civilizations) are much more ancient than we've been told, so coming across this book was very interesting to me. I wondered how Fomenko could be wrong (if at all) because he is very persuasive in his presentations. Then it dawned on me. If at previous times in prehistory, due to the various catastrophies that are well documented (comets, asteroids, planetary disruptions, plasma discharge, pole reversals, etc) the Earth was in a different position in relation to the sun, different tilt on its axis, different orbit, different rotation (in terms of velocity and DIRECTION), and the continents were in different positions, then would this not cause the ancients to see the sky (constellations) differently? In other words, is Fomenko making erronious assumptions about the physics of the Earth in pre-history, which then corrupt his data with regards to dating the relevant astrology? The last event to seriously disrupt our planet occured roughly 3500 years ago, according to other good researchers, so is it possible Fomenko has been confused by this? The vastly different physics of our planet in the not so distant past may explain this confusion, which is not to say the "mainstream" version of history is correct; on the contrary. I am not an expert in these fields, but wanted to see if this idea could spark discussion.

Pants on fire?.......2007-07-19

Will people ever read before spamming? Yes, Jesuits could not rewrite world history alone, they had help. Anyway, Dr Prof Acad A.Fomenko does not point to jesuits as the driving force of world wide history manipulation in published volumes 1,2,3;, actually he barely mentions the poor devils. Check it with 'Search inside' feature, please. China is rarely mentioned either, in fact, Dr Fomenko is completely eurocentric. Right, his theory contradicts all mainstream schools of history, because in their actual state they are all built on blatantly erroneus chronology. You don't need a mysterious cabal (conspiracy) to falsify history, the falsification is its modus operandi. It is inherent to history(ians) to falsify (distort) events, as it is inherent to humans to boast as it is inherent to power (authority) to legimize itself by referrring to glorious past made to its own order. Dr Prof Fomenko and team have identified scores of instances of such manipulation in Russian, European, etc.. history, and delivered valid statistical proof thereof. His own 'reconstruction' is completely another story. Forget c14 as a valid method of dating. W.Libby has initially discovered a brilliant method of INDEPENDENT dating. Too bad, c14 method has become a joke after a forced marrige with dendrochronology with consensual chronological scale inbuilt. Radiocarbon method can't stand blind tests, but is so very productive as a rubberstamp.

Accepted History & Chronology Must Be Changed. .......2007-04-09

There is no doubt that history as most know it is a sham, & institution's version of History both University & Church is fradulent & inaccurate. Everything was established with an agenda, The real "Dark Ages" are now when we have access to incredible amounts of information past authorities & more important 'common folk' didn't have but our institutions & educators are slow to evolve because of what has ignorantly & arrogantly been taught for too long. This is on many subjects not just Chronology.

For anyone to question "Why would a Mathematician have anything credible to say of History?" The answer is from Dr. Fomenko's preface in the book: "It would be worthwhile to remind the reader that in the XVI-XVII century Chronology was considered to be a subdivision of Mathematics." These volumes could possibly be some of the most important works to date & should be read by everyone with an interest in History, especially professors & educators who have a duty to the public. I have read both books & must say that 'Chronology 1' has some very eye opening & revolutionary information. Even if these volumes are part true the implications are profound & opens the doors to further investigations & questions which must be done. I speak several different lanquages & must say the logic Dr. Fomenko uses with "inflection" of words & words being read from left to right in one region & right to left in another then written backwards, the removal of vowels & get down to basics of words, or different cities & locations having the same name etc. is correct. Vowel usage has always been optional & varied, actually complicating linquistics & study. The first thing one has to understand is that words never had a fixed spelling in history like we do now, the spelling of words was mutable & regional, as well as names & titles of people were vast, varied & changed, NOTHING WAS FIXED or understood linear. Matters of Life & Death as well as financial profiteering yesterday & today were & are made with ignorant, illogical & conspiratorial views of history & reality, it's time people get closer to the Truth & society collectively grow up.

Very Interesting.......2007-03-07

It is a good proposal and I believe it will mature into something even better in the future. I think it deserves to be read.

History as Science Fiction.......2007-01-10

Anatoly Fomenko has written a very intriguing book, full of pictures, charts, and computer 'proof' of his thesis: backwards of AD900 we don't really know what happened or when. Between AD900 and AD1600 there is more certainty, but there is still a lot of fuzzy ground, and things don't get reliable until we get past the 1600's where the printing press made it very difficult for the perpetrators of this timeline manipulation to change anything that had been committed to print. The Dark Ages did not happen. Books were burned for a reason. One organization has doubled the actual length of its existence by expanding the real chronology. Read why.

I had always wondered why Christ died about AD33 and yet men waited until the 11th century to form the Knights Templar, the Cathars, etc and go after the Holy Land by force. Why the 1000 year gap? Turns out there wasn't more than a 10-12 year gap and he proves it using astronomy. This also implies that the planet is not as old as we have been told, and current Christian and other creationist scientists are already championing that idea without being aware of Fomenko's book. The two groups, creationist scientists and the Russian mathematical analysts corroborate each other. Fascinating.

Of course, all this flies in the face of what we have been told traditionally is the 'proper' chronology of western civilization, and most readers will experience 'cognitive dissonance' in reading this book. It means that our history going backwards from AD1600 becomes progressively more incorrect and unreliable until it cannot be trusted at all... in the space of 700-800 years.

Naturally, the curious, open-minded reader will want to know WHO did this, WHY, and did any of the events we think of as really ancient ever happen?
Dr. Fomenko is a respected scientist/mathematician at Moscow State University who has already answered these questions to the satisfaction of his initially skeptical colleagues. Most of them are now believers, a few still refuse to believe (the usual diehards), and of course the western press has ignored Fomenko's work -- for obvious reasons when you read the book. The ones who perpetrated this chronology ruse have a lot to answer for. They are still with us. That's why this book is a well-kept secret.

I gave the book a 4-star rating because I was unable to check out some of his claims; those I checked were as he said. But if even 1/3 of his claims are true, this punches a big hole in what we think is our history, the meaning of western civilization, our educational process (for repeating the ruse as gospel), and the trustworthiness of the organization that perpetrated this ruse, well-intentioned or not.

This book relates to current research into a Young Earth paradigm, to John Keel's discoveries about our planet, and Fr Malachi Martin's insights (in his now out-of-print books). We are indeed sheep who are manipulated and kept ignorant -- for a reason. While knowing what these men have to say may be the "booby prize" (as in: 'what can you do with this knowledge?'), it will provide interesting reading. Didn't someone say: "...and the Truth will set you free."?? For you to judge if this book contains the truth.

History: Fiction or Science? Chronology 2 (Chronology)

Average customer rating:

Check and see
Suprise! Suprise!
Prescient St Augustine?
Something of a disappointment
Romulus courts Helen, Paris founds Rome, Moses goes to Troy..

History: Fiction or Science? Chronology 2 (Chronology)
Anatoly T Fomenko
Manufacturer: Delamere Resources LLC
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

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ASIN: 2913621066

Product Description

`History: Fiction or Science? Chronology 2` is the second volume of the most explosive and astounding tractate on history ever written - however, every theory it contains, no matter how unorthodox, is backed by rock solid scientific data. The book is easy and pleasant to read; it is well-illustrated, contains hundreds of charts, graphs and illustrations, copies of ancient manuscripts, and countless facts attesting to the falsity of the chronology used nowadays. You will be amazed to discover: - That the chronology universally accepted today and taken for granted is simply wrong; - That ALL methods of dating of ancient sources and artefacts known today are erroneous or non-exact; - That there is not a single document that could be reliably dated earlier than the XIth century; The Author refers to the Middle Ages as the Antiquity and proves mutual superimposition of the Second and the Third Roman Empire, both of which become identified as the respective kingdoms of Israel and Judah. Furthermore, he asserts that the famous reform of the Occidental Church in the XI century by Pope Gregory Hildebrand was the reflection of the XII century reforms of Byzantine emperor Andronicus who in his turn identifies with Jesus Christ. The Trojan war counted by Homer happened only as late as of the XIII century A.D. and the great poet actually lived in XIV century A.D. No stone in history of Antiquity is left unturned. Literally. This book is the beginning of a major correction to the chronology we live with.

Customer Reviews:

Check and see.......2007-06-21

I don't care what other people say of this book. Those affirmig it's fake, they hadn't ever read it. Or have some special reasons to do so. "Living is easy with eyes closed, misunderstanding all you see..." This book won't make you feel comfortable. It'll make you feel free. It'll make you feel you're "not the only one" to feel you'd been lied to for centuries.

Suprise! Suprise!.......2007-03-22

Here is a serie of books which turns "the whole world" upside down. I learned a lot of it and I hope that a new book from A.T. Fomenko will follow very quick. A absolute must for everybody who is interested in history or even a little bit from it.

Prescient St Augustine?.......2006-02-05

We can so far divide the New Chronology into the following three parts:

a) The verifiable theory that proves consensual chronology wrong with the aid of astronomy, statistics and mathematics;

b) The new chronology hypothesis based on a new understanding of known historical facts and the most likely logical explanation of the most obvious inconsistencies inherent in the official version of history;

c) The history conjectures, that is experimental historical reconstructions based on assumptions that the authors believe to make sense in the light of their research and linguistic parallels - void of ironclad factual support to date.

Fomenko's theory complies with the most rigid scientific standards as a whole:

It gives a coherent explanation of what we already know.

- It is consistent: independent lines of inquiry all lead to the same conclusion.

- The predictions it makes are confirmed empirically.

Fomenko goes by the following axioms:

- Chronology is the basis of history;

- Human evolution has always been linear, gradual and irreversible;

- The "cyclic" nature of human civilization is a myth, likewise all the gaps, duplicates, "dark ages" and "renaissances" that we know from consensual history;

- The accumulation of geographical knowledge as reflected in cartography is a gradual and irreversible process;

- The chronological distance between a given manuscript and the events described therein is proportional to the amount of distortions it contains;

- There is no "useless" information in authentic ancient sources.

Why the mainstream historians do not shower mathematician Academician Dr.Prof Fomenko with thanks and laurels?

The Russians:

Because Fomenko asserts that there was no such thing as the Tartar and Mongol invasion followed by three centuries of slavery, providing a formidable body of documental evidence to prove his assertion. The so-called "Tartars and Mongols" were the actual ancestors of the modern Russians, living in a bilingual state with Arabic spoken as freely as Russian. The ancient Russian state was governed by a double structure of civil and military authorities. The hordes were actually professional armies with a tradition of lifelong conscription (the recruitment being the so-called "blood tax"). Their "invasions" were punitive operations against the regions that attempted tax evasion. Fomenko proves that Russian history as we know it today is a blatant forgery concocted by a host of German scientists brought to Russia by the usurper dynasty of the Romanovs, whose ascension to the throne was the result of coup d'état, charged with the mission of making their reign look legitimate. Fomenko proves Ivan the Terrible to be a collation of four rulers, no less. They represented the two rival dynasties - the legitimate rulers and the ambitious upstarts. The winner took it all! Over some 30 years of controversy, Russian historians have made a most remarkable transition - they were initially accusing the young mathematician Fomenko of anticommunist dissident activity and attempts to deface the historical legacy of Soviet Russia; nowadays the middle-aged mathematician is accused of adhering to "pro-communist Russian nationalism" and defacing the proud historical legacy of Great Russia.

The Westerners:

Because Fomenko blows consensual Russian history to smithereens, successfully removing a crucial cornerstone from underneath the otherwise impeccable edifice of World History. Fomenko adds insult to injury, wiping out one by one the Ancient Rome (the foundation of Rome in Italy is dated to the XIV century A. D.), the Ancient Greece and its numerous poleis, which he identifies as the mediaeval crusader settlements on the territory of Greece, and the Ancient Egypt (the pyramids of Giza become dated to the XI-XV century A. D. and identified as the royal cemetery of the Global "Mongolian" Empire, no less). The civilization of the Ancient Egypt is irrefutably dated to the XII-XV century A. D. with the aid of the ancient Egyptian horoscopes cut in stone. He was the first one to decipher and date all such horoscopes, coming up with mediaeval dates in every case. English historians rage at the suggestion that the history of Ancient England was de facto a Byzantine import transplanted to the English soil by the fugitive Byzantine nobility. To reward the English historians who consider themselves the true scribes of World History, the cover of the present book portrays Tintoretto's Jesus Christ crucified on the Big Ben.

The Chinese:

Because Fomenko wipes out the Ancient History of China outright. No such thing. Full point. The compilation of the so-called Ancient Chinese History is reliably datable to the XVII-XVIII century only. It is perfectly recognizable as the Ancient European history, reworked and transcribed in hieroglyphs as yet another historical transplantation, this time performed on the Chinese soil by the loving Jesuit hands. The Chinese are the next in line to go berserk. Chinese history is inevitably bound to get both more ancient and more eventful, proportionally to the growing involvement of China in the world affairs. Chinese historians will keep on finding valid proof of prehistoric Chinese spaceflights until the Politburo orders them to shut up.

The Arabs:

Too bad. Islam with all its key figures is datable to XV-XVI century A. D. Arabic historians may find consolation in the crucial historical role of the Ottoman Empire in the XVI-XVII century. The trouble is that this empire was initially a Christian state, with Hagia Sophia identifiable as Temple of Solomon, according to Fomenko! We can only guess if the acquisition of Alexander the Great (a Macedonian and a Christian) as the founder of the Muslim World Empire will make Fomenko's theories more acceptable to the Arabic mainstream. He certainly does not spare any holy cows at all, claiming The Stone of Qa'Aba in Mecca to contain the lost Arch of the Covenant.

The Divinity:

Despite of reiterated statement that his theory is all about chronology and not Religion, Fomenko stirs up a whole condominium of wasp nests. His collection of anathemas, fatwa, and other condemnations from all parties concerned is already considerable. Little wonder, considering that the history of religions à la Fomenko looks as follows: the pre-Christian period (before the XI century and JC), Bacchic Christianity (XI-XII century, before and after JC), JC Christianity (XII-XVI century) and its subsequent mutations into Orthodox Christianity, the Catholicism, Islam, Buddhism, and so on.

According to Fomenko we know strictly NOTHING about the events that predate the X century A. D.

St Augustin was prescient when he spoke unto us: "be wary of mathematicians, particularly when they speak the truth."

Something of a disappointment.......2005-09-09

After having read the first volume of this expected series of 7 volumes I was triggered by the thesis of these authors that ancient Greek and Roman history did in fact take place in the Middle Ages. So I started studying medieval history of the Middle East - also known as Islamic history - to find out if the opponents of the ancient Greeks and Romans - the Acheamenid Persians, Sassanids, Scythians, Egyptians, etc. - also have their duplicates in medieval history. My search was disappointing: none of the many medieval Islamic dynasties seemed to correspond to the ancient middle eastern rulers.

However, I did find a close correspondence between Herodotus' Persian kings and medieval events:

- the defeat and capture of an Anatolian king - the Lydian Croesus - by the Persian conqueror Cyrus is identical to the defeat and capture of another Anatolian king - sultan Bayezid - by the Asian/Mongol conqueror Tamerlane;
- the Persian conquest of Egypt by the cruel tyrant Cambyses reds almost exactly as the Ottoman conquest of Egypt by Selim the Grim (note the nickname!);
- Darius the Lawgiver of the Persian Empire looks very much alike to Sulayman the Magnificent, the Lawgiver in Islamic history;
- Xerxes, whose main claim to fame is to be defeated by the Greeks at the naval battle of Salamis, looks like Selim II (the Sot) whose main claim to fame is to be defeated by a Spanish-Italian alliance at the naval battle of Lepanto.

I should have expected Fomenko et al. to arrive at similar conclusions, however, they claim that the Persian kings are the alter egos of the Angevin kings of Sicily whose biographies do not contain the exploits of the Persian kings.

The similiarities I indicate lead to the conclusion that Herodotus must have written his Histories at the close of the 16th century. But this is extremely late, given that Herodotus is "the Father of History", so therefore all other "ancient" histories must have been fabricated even later. Yet, the founders of modern chronology - Scaliger and Petavius - laid their foundations also at the close of the 16th century and had the full corpus of ancient histories already at their disposal.

It seems to me that Fomenko has to address these inconsistencies, maybe in the forthcoming 5 volumes?

Another critique of their book is that the correspondencies between different rulers are often based on a superficial comparison of the biographies; upon a more thorough comparison many details appear that do not correspond at all.

Finally, the authors rely heavily on the works of Gregorovius (1821-1891!!) - his medieval histories of Rome and Athens - as the source of medieval history; these works are - at least in the West - hoplessly outdated and have been superceded by more up-to-date works (for instance, Julius Norwich's trilogy on Byzantine history is not even cited).

Romulus courts Helen, Paris founds Rome, Moses goes to Troy.........2005-07-30

If you agree with Fomenko that Roman chronology is basically the foundation of the entire edifice of global chronology; you would also certainly agree that despite its numerous gaps and inconsistencies, Roman history is the best-documented field of ancient history, and thus a reference scale. But how well is the actual date of the Eternal City's foundation known?

Firstly, Rome is supposed to have been founded by the Trojans who had to flee after the fall of Troy. Some claim Rome to have been founded by Aeneas and Ulysses shortly after Troy had fallen; others are of the opinion that there was an entire dynasty that ruled for 500 years between the fall of Troy and the foundation of Rome.

Well, that's just an innocent 500 years long misunderstanding compared with what heretic Fomenko says, asserts, proves in his second volume: Second Roman Empire, Third Roman Empire, Biblical Kingdom of Israel, Biblical Kingdom of Judah, Holy Roman Empire are stories about basically same events, written from different points of view at different times. The underlying events have actually taken place during xii-xv cy. These histories have been written and perfected by multitude of highly talented humanist and clerical writers of xiii-xvi cy disguised as "ancients" with glorious names like Homer, Pluto, Thucydides etc..Chronology 2.0 beta..

Historians are kindly invited to report the bugs.

Out of the Darkness (Babylon 5: Legions of Fire, Book 3)

Average customer rating:

Good conclusion to the trilogy, though this book is incredibly scarce!
Great Book, but Subtract a Star for LIMITED AVAILABILITY
An unlikely hero in an outstanding finale
An Excellent Ending to a Good Trilogy
One of the Best Babylon 5 novels

Out of the Darkness (Babylon 5: Legions of Fire, Book 3)
Peter David
Manufacturer: Del Rey
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Mass Market Paperback

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ASIN: 0345427203
Release Date: 2000-10-31

Book Description

Centauri Prime declares war on the Interstellar Alliance in Book Three of the epic trilogy that continues Babylon 5's brilliant legacy . . .

Blind to the fact that he is a pawn in the Drakh's deadly strategy, Centauri prime minister Durla launches an overwhelming blitzkrieg, sending Centauri warships to devastate other races' homeworlds and pave the way for total conquest. Yet Durla is forced to fight a war on two fronts. Even as he mobilizes the massive space fleet for its glorious attack, resistance leader Vir Cotto works feverishly to counter the Drakh's evil influence on Centauri Prime.

Emperor Londo Mollari possesses the key that can reveal the presence of the Drakh, but to do so would spell disaster, so he is forced to remain silent. But when the Drakh bring another pawn into play--David Sheridan, son of Alliance president John Sheridan--the time for silence may be past. If Vir and the Resistance are to prevail, it will be only through action, and with help from very strange allies . . .

Customer Reviews:

Good conclusion to the trilogy, though this book is incredibly scarce!.......2006-09-12

Peter David writes a generally believable novel here which wraps up most extant plot threads from the previous 2 stories, as well as pieces from War Without End.

The Drakh story thread is mostly resolved, though this is written with almost no reference to the human efforts against the drakh. The reasons G'kar, sheridan and delenn are on centauri prime are offered, as well as resolution of the thread of the keeper left for their son. Vir (whose changes in previous books make him an almost unrecognizable character) continues to lead an insurgency which eventually places him on the throne. In a piece I wonder was included as a requirement, it even offers a reason for Londo to narrate the film In the Beginning - because he asked delenn for her side of the story while she was a prisoner. This was probably the only piece in the story I felt overly contrived.

Great resolution, doesn't insist on tearing up what we saw in tv episodes (unlike the techno-mage trilogy), however actually getting this book is a problem.

Great Book, but Subtract a Star for LIMITED AVAILABILITY.......2005-04-28

Out of the Darkness is an excellent wrap up book three in the Babylon 5: Legions of Fire Trilogy, but difficult to find.
Books one and two were no problem to locate, plenty out there new or used.
I lucked in this one at a used book store by chance.
*** Come on Ballantine/Del Rey, how about a 2nd printing? ***
To pay $49.95 on Amazon, bid $25.00 or more for it on Ebay is ridiculous for a paperback retailing for $6.50!

An unlikely hero in an outstanding finale.......2005-02-20

Vir Cotto, Hero! Vir Cotto, Emperor! Of course, Babylon V fans knew that Vir would become Emperor after Londo. We also knew that G'Kar would kill Londo and that the capital city of Centauri Prime would be in flames. We also knew that Sheridan would be in time limbo. However, this book, which covers the years 2274-2278 tells us how we got to that point.

The Centauri, under the malevolent guidence of the Drakh, have been building their war machine and are just about ready to strike. Vir has been leading an underground that has cause minor irritation to the plans of Durla, and ultimately, the Drakh, but it didn't put an end to them. That is until Durla was at the final moment of triumph when the underground attacked Durla in his position of strength.

However, getting there, what was the trick. Along the way, there was intrigue, betrayal, and love both won and lost. This was a wonderful storyline, completely consistant with what we already knew about the Babylon V timeline. In fact, this novel fills in a lot of holes that were left in the series, especially considering that this covers the future from the perspective of the Babylon TV series, a future that we got only a glimpse of through prophecy and time distortions.

For the Babylon V fan, this entire trilogy is a must read. I will definately be reading some more Babylon V books, hoping they are as good as this series has been.

An Excellent Ending to a Good Trilogy.......2004-09-08

The final book of the trilogy, and it does not disappoint. Vir rises up and becomes the leader of his people before he even wears the crown. The final days of Londo are filled with mystery and intrigue, along with some excellent witty commentary between himself and his nemesis/friend G'Kar. Overall, an excellent ending to a most excellent side-story in the Babylon 5 storyline. All three books are well worth your time to pick up and read, especially if you enjoyed the sniping between Londo and G'Kar in the tv series.

One of the Best Babylon 5 novels.......2004-04-13

Peter David's riveting Centauri trilogy comes to a splendid conclusion in "Babylon 5 Legions of Fire Book III: Out of the Darkness". Centauri Prime Minister Durla becomes an unwitting pawn of the Drakh Entire as he prepares the Centauri Republic for an all out war against the Interstellar Alliance. It is Durla, not the aging Emperor Londo Mollari, who holds the reins of power on Centauri Prime. Interstellar Alliance President John Sheridan and his wife Delenn must come to grips with a deadly terror that his ensnared their son David. Peter David offers a riveting look at G'Kar's final, fateful journey to Centauri Prime. And last, but not least, Vir Cotto will demonstrate why he becomes a worthy successor to Mollari as Centauri Emperor.

The Long Night of Centauri Prime (Babylon 5: Legions of Fire, Book 1)

Average customer rating:

Whatever happened to Londo and Vir anyway?
Great storyline, writing a little off
Picks Up Where the TV Series Implies
Not quite good
You will be alright.

The Long Night of Centauri Prime (Babylon 5: Legions of Fire, Book 1)
Peter David
Manufacturer: Del Rey
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Mass Market Paperback

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ASIN: 0345427181
Release Date: 1999-12-07

Book Description

The beginning of an exciting new adventure that continues the Babylon 5 legacy . . .

Bombed to the brink of oblivion, the planet Centauri Prime is starting the slow and painful process of rebuilding, under the watchful eye of Emperor Londo Mollari. But Londo is in turn being watched--and manipulated--by the conquest-hungry Drakh. The malevolent beings are reshaping the Centauri Republic into a secret seat of power from which to strike out at their enemies--especially the Interstellar Alliance.

All but helpless to resist, Londo watches as his beloved Homeworld is transformed into a ruthless police state. And the Drakh have willing allies, including one of Londo's own countrymen--Durla, a powerful official with his own sinister agenda.

As the abuses of the repressive new Republic escalate, the double-edged Drakh master plan begins to unfold. Their goal is to smash the Interstellar Alliance by assassinating its president, John Sheridan, and to obliterate Earth, using a fabled, monstrous Shadow weapon known as a Planet Killer . . .

Customer Reviews:

Whatever happened to Londo and Vir anyway?.......2005-11-25

Peter David fleshes out Michael Straczynski's outline on whatever happened to Londo Mollari after the series Babylon 5 completed its five-year run. The three novels--The Long Night of Centauri Prime, Armies of Light and Dark, and Out of the Darkness detail the tragic fall of Emperor Mollari at the hands of the vengeful Drahk and Vir's quest to undermine Centauri Prime's enemy and reveal them as the agents working to destroy his homeworld from within the government.

Aside from some rather unbelievable coincidences and some rather stupid "superior aliens" (who cannot figure out that Vir is leading the guerilla movement), the novel is well-crafted and well plotted. In fact, the novels are more satisfying B-5 fare than the Psi-Corp trilogy written by J. Gregory Keyes a few years back; here there is definitely a sense of closure to the characters and their actions make sense. And, should you even be interested, there are some characters from Straczynski's short-lived follow-up series Crusader appearing, apparently an attempt to tie the novels in with the television show. Of course, the show had come and gone before the series had even been completely published.

Great storyline, writing a little off.......2005-02-12

For Babylon V fans, getting more on what is occuring on Centauri Prime is a boon. Londo, now emperor, was involved with the Shadows, but betrayed them, something that the Drakh have not forgiven.

This book reintroduces us to some familiar characters, former Ambassador, now Emperor, Londo Mollari, his former aide de camp, now ambassador in his own right, Vir Cotto, Londo's divorced wive Mariel, and the one he kept Timov.

The storyline itself was written by J. Michael Straczinski, but the quality of the writing was not up to the level of the story itself. For Babylon V fans, this is a must read due to the background info we gain about the situation on Centauri Prime. If you are not family with Babylon V, I recommend getting familiar with it before reading this book, because it does assume a familiarity with the general plot line of the series, particularly as they played out over the last two or three seasons.

Picks Up Where the TV Series Implies.......2004-09-01

Babylon 5 is simply one of the best SciFi tv shows that I have ever seen. This book picks up from the tv series where Londo Mollari has acended to the position of Emperor. In the last three tv episodes, much is alluded to as to what happened to Londo and his friend Vir Cotto. This book jumps right into what is alluded to, and how Londo handles his "hidden enslavement" to the Drakh. The twists and turns the plot takes are excellent reminders of the twists and turns that Londo's scheming and planning took the entire tv show over its five seasons. Very good beginning to a series, and it leaves you wanting more in the final pages.

Not quite good.......2004-06-22

First off I would like to say the authors like Peter David are what has killed sci-fi literature. This book, and the others in the series, only offers stale and emotionless sequence actions taken by the fairly flat characters in the book. It would have been more enjoyable as a two-page outline of events. At least then I would not have felt cheated.

You will be alright........2004-02-23

This book, based on an outline from Babylon 5 creator J. Michael Straczynski (so you know it's official), covers the period in B5's history detailing the first years of Emperor Londo Mollari's rule of Centauri Prime, all while under the thumb of the Drakh.

Weaving in and out of the final episodes of the Babylon 5 series, this book gives a greater insight into the events shown, and explains things that were never fully explained as well.

Book Description

Lots of Soldiers Work for Civilians

They don't Like,

but these Romans had It Worse

than Most --

Their Commanders were

Blue-Skinned Aliens!

The guilds of star-traveling merchants had strict rules to prevent their technology from falling into the hands of the natives of planets they were exploiting: military operations had to be carried out with weaponry no more complex than swords and bows.

That was no handicap to merchant princes with a galaxy to scour for military slaves to do their fighting for them. Some came to Earth for soldiers and returned to the stars with the best the planet had to offer. For over two thousand years the aliens thought they'd succeeded brilliantly -- but then things changed!

Set in the universe of Ranks of Bronze, masterful new novellas by

David Drake

Eric Flint

S. M. Stirling

Mark L. Van Name

and David Weber

explore the bleeding edge between human courage and the science of alien slavemasters. The right man with a sword is just as deadly as a technician with a laser --

And not all the blood spilled is red!

YESTERDAY THEY WERE THE BEST

INFANTRY ON EARTH-

NOW THEY'RE GOING TO TAKE ON THE

WHOLE GALAXY.

Customer Reviews:

Disappointing.......2007-07-11

David Drake seems to be recycling a lot of his work and Eric Flint and Weber become more and more verbose. Incidentally, Weber's story reads like a ripoff of a story that Poul Anderson wrote for Analog many years ago.

Enjoyable set of stories by several authors.......2006-09-22

overall this was an enjoyable read. comments on individual stories/authors follow

ranks of bronze (short story version) - you can see why this was so intriguing drake was pushed for a novelization.

sir george and the dragon - it seemed a bit dull, probably because in great part it is a re-run of the original novel with another set of humans.

lambs to the slaughter - dry drake story, he didn't show any occupation-force/pacification activity in original story, wonder if this is an afterthought.

a clear signal - interesting concept, though half the story being flashback to establish relationship between protagonist and antagonist was dull as dirt. this could easily have been a generic SF story ported to the ranks of bronze universe by simply changing the nature of the aliens, there is really nothing else involving drake's concept here.

the three walls/32nd campaign - roman legion in another battle, with familiar characters. written pretty much in character, straight military story

cartago delenda est - the most interesting of the stories - what happens after the legion returns to earth, and the guild figures out where they have gone with the missing ship. overall flint does a good job with this, though i am baffled as to why he needs to have a 'funny' character in his stories. In this case clodius afer becomes the 'funny' character, with his wailing and moaning during one battle sequence. I do think the conclusion could have used some more expansion (despite getting the historical reference to the ending of the third punic war, something the title gives away anyway with cato's famous mantra), but what do i know...

Foreign Legions.......2001-12-13

Liked some of the concepts, Good writeing, Would have liked to see more, highly recomend this book.

Drops you into battle and plays you out with music.......2001-05-23

One of David Drake's earliest stories (and one of his best known), is "Ranks of Bronze", which leads off this volume of tales. "Ranks" dealt with a short, ugly campaign by a group of bought-and-paid-for Roman Legionnaires, the survivors of Crassus' utterly disastrous Parthian campaign. To the aliens, the primitive humans are useful puppets who can be used to conquer other primitive worlds. But THESE puppets have swords, which can cut strings... and their masters' throats.

The stories in this volume range from non-stories like S. M. Stirling's "Three Walls", which is a fairly dull run-of-the-action description of a battle, turned into a story only by a throwaway moment at the end which warns of what is to come in the final story.

There's also "A Clear Signal", which doesn't really feel as if it fully belongs in this book, since the political circumstances described don't match anything else, nor do the Romans even get mention. It's not a bad story, but it really belongs elsewhere.

Drake himself contributes "Lambs to the Slaughter", which I'd call the sprightliest tale in the book, being how one underofficer, known to all and sundry as "Froggie", manages to outwit both his masters and his enemies. I laughed like hell at the ending of this one, and Drake doesn't usually do that for me.

David Weber contributes "Sir George and the Dragon," which serves both as solid entertainment and as a reminder that humans are dangerous, whether they be Romans or English, and a tribute to what has probably been the finest weapon of battle ever created, the English Longbow.

Finally, Eric Flint's "Carthago Delenda Est" is the treasure of this volume, and it was worth getting this volume for this story alone, even without Weber and Drake's work. I don't want to spoil it, but read the other stories first, then read "Carthago." The beauty of this one is that you have to read the story to understand both why and how it ends, and in my case, it took me a few seconds to puzzle it out, but the reward for doing so was to know true joy.

Well worth the time invested.

Average customer rating:

First Laumer, but not the last

Legions of Space
Keith Laumer
Manufacturer: Baen
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Mass Market Paperback

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Dauntless (The Lost Fleet, Book 1)

ASIN: 0743488555

Book Description

Two complete novels, and a host of novelettes fill a large volume by the master of science fiction adventure. In the first novel, A Trace of Memory, a drifter named Legion is hired by a millionaire who claims to be centuries old, but has nearly complete amnesia. He can only remember that something is hunting for him, and Legion's job is to protect him. The job turns out to be more than Legion bargained for when he finds himself and his employer on a prehistoric starship hurtling into the unknown. In Planet Run, Laumer joins forces with SF legend Gordon R. Dickson in a novel of two ancient heroes who are going to trade the rest of their lives for one sweet year, and the chance to solve the secret of the last unexplored planet in this sector of the galaxy. Plus four short novels of exciting interstellar action and adventure. With an introduction by Joel Rosenberg, author of the best-selling "Guardians of the Flame" series.

Customer Reviews:

First Laumer, but not the last.......2006-12-09

This is the first book (well, technically, set of stories) I have read by Keith Laumer, but it won't be the last. Written from the late 60s into the early 70s, many of these stories still seem fresh today. Space exploration, coming of age, alien invasions - all of these and more are covered in the stories in this excellent book. Although sometimes the writing jumps between scenes without warning, it is for the most part crisp and clean and very enjoyable. Eric Flint did the editing honors and there is a foreword by Joel Rosenbaum that helps to set things into perspective. All-in-all, highly recommended by this reviewer.

Armies of Light and Dark (Babylon 5: Legions of Fire, Book 2)

Average customer rating:

Entertaining and easy reading
Vir's Growth Continues
Second Book in Series - Even Better Than First
Drink before reading, don't want them to know.
Vir hits the big time

Armies of Light and Dark (Babylon 5: Legions of Fire, Book 2)
Peter David
Manufacturer: Del Rey
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Mass Market Paperback

Babylon 5 | Media | Science Fiction & Fantasy | Subjects | Books

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ASIN: 034542719X
Release Date: 2000-05-02

Book Description

The Drakh have assaulted Earth with deadly Shadow technology--but the worst is yet to come in this stunning continuation of the Babylon 5 epic adventure . . .

Centauri Prime has been infiltrated by malevolent allies of the Shadows, creatures known as the Drakh. While Centauri citizens continue to rebuild their war-torn planet, their secret masters work feverishly toward one ultimate goal: to crush the Interstellar Alliance once and for all.

As the Drakh carry out their horrific plans, Emperor Londo Mollari languishes on his throne, a puppet of the Drakh-bred keeper, an insidious creature that monitors his every thought, word, and action. While the emperor broods, the power-obsessed Lord Durla--an unwitting Drakh pawn--follows his own agenda.

But Drakh control is not absolute. Vir Cotto--a most unlikely hero--has begun a resistance movement, and Alliance President John Sheridan has sent his most trusted troubleshooter, Michael Garibaldi, to investigate. Yet this move may prove costly, and though the Centauri continue to build a new military machine, the Alliance avoids any overt confrontation, hoping the problem will go away.

Customer Reviews:

Entertaining and easy reading.......2007-03-08

I am a lomg-time B5 fan, who purchased and retaina all video versions and spin offs, which I dust off and re-watch ever other year or so.

This is My first printed story by independent authors following outlines by B5 creator, J. Straczynski. I liked the book and in my opinion it was credible, well-written, entertaining, and followed the B5 story line well. I thank the author, Peter David, for his effort in writing the Final Reckoning - The Fate of Bester. I have no negative comments about the book or the author, and I hope he will write more B5 stories. I will probably buy all the B5 paperbacks eventually.

Vir's Growth Continues.......2005-02-16

I have to say that I really like the way Vir is developing as a character in this book. Vir was always the bumbling aide de camp for Londo, but he has taken on an entirely new role during this crisis faced by his homeworld, and I must say that it rather becomes him.

This volume covers the time period from 2267-2273. Centauri Prime is falling deeper and deeper into the abyss and there is nothing Emperor Londo Mollari can do about it. Durla has all but taken over all of the functions of government in Centauri Prime and the anti-foreigner campaign is taking a new life among the Centauri.

A small number are prepared to resist this new order, led by Vir. Vir has help, namely from the mysterious technomages.

Garibaldi and G-Kar come into the story about halfway through the book, and President Sheriden at the end. This story very skillfully brings us from a hurting world, smarting from the beating it took at the hands of the Alliance to the subterfuge Durla and his followers use to rebuild Centauri strength.

Sure, Earth parallels are in evidence, as I suppose seem to be inevitable. However, for Babylon V fans, this storyline makes a lot of sense and is compelling. For those not familiar with the Babylon V universe, get familiar with it and read book one before picking up this volume. While this isn't heavy reading, the background information is highly useful for understanding what goes on in the book.

Second Book in Series - Even Better Than First.......2004-09-01

The second book of the trilogy depicting the reign of Emporer Mollari and the hidden occupation by the Drakh. This particular book deals with the further fall from grace of Emperor Mollari, and the beginning of the rise of Ambassador Vir Cotto to prominence as the leader of an underground revolution. The twists and turns of the plot continue to be well done. There are numerous mentions to the Babylon 5 series "Crusade" through the eyes of the TechnoMage Galen. A very good book that will keep you turning its pages throughout the night.

Drink before reading, don't want them to know........2004-02-23

This book, based on an outline from Babylon 5 creator J. Michael Straczynski (so you know it's official), covers the period in B5's history detailing the continuing rule of Emperor Londo Mollari's of Centauri Prime, all while under the thumb of the Drakh.

As the Drakh continue the plans of the Shadows, their former masters, forces start brewing both on and off Centauri Prime once certain people learn what's going on. And the Drakh attack on Earth sure didn't help much.

This book continues to fill in the twenty-year gap at the end of the Babylon 5 series, and is just as riveting as the show, because we know what happens, and when, but these books explain how and why. Strongly recommended.

Vir hits the big time.......2003-04-22

This middle part of the trilogy is the best page-turner of the three. While Emperor Mollari becomes increasingly irrelevant to events on his world, the government around him grows into something he would not have dreamed and is powerless to stop. His former attache, Vir Cotto, finds the undying love of a beautiful woman and is, to his credit, ambivalent about the whole affair. And the much-beloved techno-mage Galen makes some beautifully crafted appearances, filling in his time away from the Excalibur during the same time frame of the "Crusade" series.

This volume gathers nearly the entire cast of characters from "Babylon 5," as they relate to the Centauri homeworld, and uses them variously as foils or informing observers to the action going on with Londo, Vir, and several other major Centauri characters introduced in the first book. The Drakh, imitating their Shadow masters as the universe's newest evil puppeteers, are setting up the Centauri as their unwitting allies, and one Centauri stands in their way. On to book three...

Average customer rating:

Fun read, but not my favorite

idea good, writing... not so good

Okay fluff

A snapshot of *Astounding*/*Analog* in its prime

Save your money!

Pandora's Legions
Christopher Anvil
Manufacturer: Baen
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Mass Market Paperback

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Transgalactic

ASIN: 0671318616

Customer Reviews:

Fun read, but not my favorite.......2004-11-16

This book reads like a collection of short stories that happen to have a common universe and thread going through them. The premise of alien invasion of earth from the aliens' perspective is a fun twist, but it makes it more difficult on the writer to make us have much empathy for the main alien characters we follow. Caricatures abound of "us humans," bureaucracy, and global politics, some to better effect than others.

Who won? A rather satisfyingly ambiguous ending there.

Main praises: nifty premise, fun romp through the caricatures

Main complaint: a choppy read cutting between micro-episodes and the macro-Big Picture events

Recommendation: 4 stars in the sci-fi genre. Go read it, but consider buying used. Be sure you read the whole thing, including the "extra story" at the end which is really quite good.

idea good, writing... not so good.......2004-09-14

For the most part, this was an enjoyable read. It's a very interesting concept (earth is invaded by a race of aliens who are less intelligent than us). But the concept is really all that it has going for it.

Anvil's writing style is not bad but it's also not great. He takes the really cool concept, builds some neat ideas on top of it (like the 'Trap' story another reviewer mentioned), and then does a mediocre job of translating the concepts into writing. There are some passages that are even painfully bad--near the end of the book there's a space battle that is about 20 pages of the most tedious writing I've ever read.

If you read a lot of SF, sure, pick this up. You will probably appreciate the good aspects of the book. Just don't expect too much.

Okay fluff.......2003-03-04

This was an enjoyable SF military fluff book. The originality of writing from the point of view of the alien invaders was a lot of fun, and made a sort of game out of deciphering what the aliens were talking about when they encountered Earthmen and their ways.

However, I had a lot of problems with the execution of the plot points. Logical or physical elements of the story were overlooked or simply 'waved away' by not discussing them. Space fleets arrived when they were needed, with no explanation of how long it takes to travel from one system to another; technology was presented as "anything is possible as long as someone thinks up to do it" with no explanation of the physics behind it. It was as though the author didn't want to be bothered, and simply said 'ok, assume this works'.

It isn't necessarily a bad thing -- the characters were primarily required to use their wits, and not their guns. But if you like your science fiction with a lot of realistic (or realistic-seeming) science, this book will probably frustrate or bore you.

A snapshot of *Astounding*/*Analog* in its prime.......2002-11-01

There's a button often seen at science fiction conventions that reads: "Save the Mundanes. We Need Them For Breeding Stock."

That about sums up the character of the sole negative reviewer on this particular work. Christopher Anvil's short fiction written around the premise of an alien race luckless enough to "conquer" Earth (and finally collected here by Eric Flint), typifies the *Humanity Uber Alles* problem-solving science fiction beloved of John W. Campbell, who bought and published Anvil's stuff back in the '50s and '60s. More than any other single person, Campbell was responsible for the transformation of Gernsback's "super scientifiction" into the genre we know today, and neither the whining mamzers of the '60s "New Wave" (especially the soggy *New Worlds* dimwits like Moorcock who've been trying to pass off badly-written fantasy as if it were SF) nor the other proponents of "soft science fiction" have ever been able to appeal to the sort of people who read and enjoy the genuinely speculative fiction fostered by Campbell when he began his editorial career.

At a convention some years ago, I recall a neofan asking Jack Chalker how to write science fiction. Chalker paused for a moment, trying to get a grip on the neo's abysmal depth of ignorance, before replying: "Well, you've got to start reading it in 1952."

And that about sums up the fund of knowledge upon which our preceding reviewer predicates his opinion of this book. I'm willing to bet that if said putz were asked who Gernsback or Campbell were, he would either gape at you in bafflement or start waffling so vigorously that the air would be scented with maple syrup. Ghu knows what he'd make of queries about E.E. "Doc" Smith, or L. Sprague DeCamp, or any one of a round dozen top writers of the '30s, '40s, or '50s.

Though Anvil's *Pandora's Planet* is certainly dated, it offers an insight into the literary history of science fiction that only a damned fool could fail to recognize and value. On top of that, it's an entertaining read, certainly fulfilling Poul Anderson's old saw about "writing for beer money," in that the price of a paperback book is about the same as that of a six-pack of decent suds, and it's the author's obligation to provide the purchaser of his book with at least as much pleasure as might be derived from the aforementioned half-dozen cans of brew.

Anvil's work delivers that much at the very least.

Note: Looking up the writings of the late Poul Anderson is left as an exercise for the reviewer who came upon *Pandora's Planet* and failed to figure out how to get the pop-top open.

Save your money!.......2002-06-16

The only reason why I didn't return it was that I had already read fifty pages and my wife wouldn't let me return a "used" book. Honestly, I haven't read a sillier story in I don't know how long. As one of the reviewers implied, this is veeeeery juvenile fiction that, unlike Heinlein's, is NOT suitable for anyone over age 12 or so. It really belongs in the obscurity of really bad pulf scifi and I have no idea why Eric Flint rescued it when there are so many better scifi authors/stories unknown to today's readers.

IF you allow yourself to be fooled by the other two reviews AND you buy this book, DON'T allow your spouse/significan other to talk you out of getting your money back. And don't say that I didn't warn you!

Average customer rating:
Three from the Legion, the Legion of Space, the Cometeers, One Against the Legion

Manufacturer: Nelson Doubleday, Inc.
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover
ASIN: B000GLV36S

Average customer rating:

Dated, but a page-turner

Full of more holes than a cheese grater

Good Old Fashioned Space Opera

When to be alien was to be evil

"Legion" a classic of pre-Campbell science fiction

The Legion of Space
Jack Williamson
Manufacturer: Pocket
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

Williamson, Jack | ( W ) | Authors, A-Z | Science Fiction & Fantasy | Subjects | Books
General | Science Fiction | Science Fiction & Fantasy | Subjects | Books
ASIN: 0671466836

Customer Reviews:

Dated, but a page-turner.......2007-10-02

You've got to love a sci-fi novel that predicts that seven centuries from now, ALBUQUERQUE will be the capitol of the entire solar system.
Seriously.
That's due, certainly in part, to the book's author having lived and taught for years in Portales, New Mexico, and I suppose the idea of Albuquerque (Population: Really Not That Many) as the big city to beat must have worked its way into his thoughts and his work.
The story tells of a crew of Musketeer-like space soldiers travelling across the solar system to rescue a girl from evil, jellyfish-like aliens bent on taking over the solar system, because the girl knows how to build a powerful weapon that can save the fate of everyone. The story frequently defies logic, but is almost always fun--particularly the character of Giles Habibula, who, when locked in a cell for a few hours, just can't believe he wasn't in there for weeks and weeks, he's so hungry.
My favorite part was when they disentegrated the moon, and it was all okay because the aliens were on it. No big deal! It was just the moon! Nothing important! It only influences Earth's tides and gravity, that's all. Good thing no one was hurt! Whew.
The story has great (although extremely 1930s-pulp) characters, and was good enough that I bought its three sequels after reading it.

Full of more holes than a cheese grater.......2007-01-22

If you can suspend your disbelief as an adult, this novel is a lot of fun. If you can't, don't bother, because you're going to be annoyed by mistakes on every page. I'm sure Williamson did the best he could, but it was 1935 when he wrote this novel, and he didn't seem to know that if spaceships didn't continually fire their rockets, they wouldn't slow down in space. You get the idea. And it's page after page of these mistakes. Then, you have to deal with the fact our heroes are the luckiest guys in the universe. Everything goes right! And the aliens of course are Evil with a capital E. I'm sure if I was 12 years old in 1935 I would have been in ecstasy while reading this book. And that's who this silly, wonderful book is aimed at -- 12-year-olds.

Good Old Fashioned Space Opera.......2005-03-05

Jack Williamson is one of the most noted Grand Masters of Science Fiction. This is one of his earlier works, and has the unmistakeable feel of the era (Flash Gordon or Buck Rogers). It is very dated, but still a 'ripping good' read.
This book introduces one of my favorite characters in all Sci-fi: Gile Habibula - who is loosely based on Falstaff (according the JW himself).
Sit back with this book, and enjoy as the Legion legens (John Ulnar, Hal Samdu, and Giles) - fight the evil members of the reactionairy Purple Hall.

When to be alien was to be evil.......2002-02-05

It is always interesting to read science-fiction written before Childhood's End and Stranger in a Strange Land, back when anything that wasn't human was necessarily evil and bent on humanity's destruction. Most of today's sci-fi's writers go to great lengths to create and explain alien civilizations; not so in The Legion of Space. The aliens are ugly and they want to kill us. Period.

"A reader" has already accurately summed up the novel. I will add only that The Legion of Space is an interesting read for its gender portrayals. As one would expect from the 1930s, the male characters are all obsessed with how fragile and vulnerable the heroine is; they must do whatever they can to protect her and shelter her and the thought of her in danger or even uncomfortable fills them with chauvinistic horror. Williamson allows the men to carry on this way throughout the book, all the while giving us a woman character who needs no protection whatsoever and saves the day herself. No weeping in hysterics for this heroine; Leia-like she leads the escape from the alien fortress while the men hesitate. She and she alone has the secret to the weapon of ultimate destruction, and she unhesitatingly builds it and deploys it. Not bad for 1936, eh?

"Legion" a classic of pre-Campbell science fiction.......1997-04-14

Isaac Asimov was fascinated by "The Legion of Space" as a boy, but found it unreadable when he came back to it as an adult. This isn't particularly surprising. "The Legion of Space" is a perfect snapshot of 1930's space opera, or "super science stories" as they were known at the time. Reading it for the first time recently, I can only imagine what mind-blowing effect this breathless tale would have had on an imaginative twelve year old in Depression-era America. No doubt inspired by the sort of adventurous, gadget-oriented science fiction that E.E. Smith began in the late 1920's with "Skylark of Space" and the stories John W. Campbell, Jr. was writing a few short years later, "Legion" takes us into the 30th century with a swashbuckling fight for the solar system. Owing much to "The Three Musketeers," the few remaining members of the Legion travel via hyperspace (remember, this is 1935!!!) to a wandering star populated by the Medusae, who are classic pulp BEMs (Bug Eyed Monsters), complete with gelatinous tentacles. They get to rescue a beautiful girl who is able to build a secret weapon known only as AKKA. Needless to say, the good guys win. The "super science story" became comic-book fodder within a few years when John W. Campbell, Jr. became editor of "Astounding Science Fiction" magazine (later "Analog"). Campbell presented the world with Isaac Asimov, Arthur C. Clarke, Robert Heinlein, and a host of other writers who took science fiction in a much more serious direction. Williamson, unlike many others, managed to adapt to the world editor Campbell was building. Others did not, or didn't even try (like E.E. Smith). I was struck by the parallels of "Legion" with the "Star Wars" series of films. The remnant of a kind of knighthood, the villainous relative who in the end redeems himself, and a secret weapon powered by (as we learn in the novel's 1936 sequel, "The Cometeers") "the force" . . . is the similarity a coincidence? Possibly. Imagine it is 1935. You're twelve years old. You pick up a copy of "Astounding," and you discover within its covers a distant future, and a group of fierce Legionairres who are determined to save the world. Enjoy.

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