Edward E. Smith
Personal Information
Description
Edward Smith was born in Sheboygan, Wisconsin, the son of staunch Presbyterians of British ancestry. The following winter, his family moved to Spokane, Washington, and, in 1902, to Seneaquoteen, Idaho, to farm. He received two degrees in Chemical Engineering from the University of Idaho in 1914. He married in 1915. One evening, while he and his wife were visiting friends, a discussion about space travel led to Smith agreeing to co-author a novel with one of the friends, although after getting about a third of the way through, they abandoned it. Smith went on to receive a Master's degree in Chemistry from George Washington University in 1917 and a doctorate in Chemical Engineering in 1918. In 1919, he became chief chemist for F. W. Stock & Sons of Hillsdale, Michigan. That same year he resumed writing his first novel, The Skylark of Space, which he finished in 1920, although multiple submissions failed to get it published until 1928. He continued to write and publish stories through the 1930s. In 1936 he took a job as a food technologist at the Dawn Doughnut Company of Jackson, Michigan, while continuing to write and sell fiction. During World War II, he worked for the U.S. Army, and after the war he took a job with the J. W. Allen Company, which he held until his professional retirement in 1957. After his retirement he and his wife moved to Clearwater, Florida in the winters and Seaside, Oregon in the summer. He continued to write until his death in 1965.
Books
Children Of The Lens (Lensman Series, No 6)
Children of the Lens is the sixth and concluding volume of the six classic Lensman books, long recognized as the greatest space opera ever written. Twenty years have passed since the events portrayed in Second Stage Lensman. To Kimball Kinnison and his wife Clarrissa have been born five children Kit, the eldest, and two sets of twin sisters. These are the 'Children of the Lens' the offspring of uncounted generations of selected matings. The most capable, the most brilliant minds in the universe. Their job is the conclusion of the Boskonian war, and how they accomplish this end and gain ultimate victory makes up the greater part of the book.
Skylark Of Valeron
Skylark Series, Book 3 of 4 As the mighty spaceship Skylark roved the intergalactic world, scientist Richard Seaton and his companions uncovered a world of disembodied intelligences. A world of four dimensions where time was insanely distorted and matter obeyed no terrestrial laws . . . where three-dimensional intellects were barely sufficient to thwart invisible mentalities!
Triplanetary
Lensman series, Book 1 of 7 Even back before the first bits of this story hit the newsstands, the folks who published it in Amazing Stories (January through April, 1934) knew they were on to something special. "We are sure that our readers will be highly pleased to have us give the first installment of a story by Dr. Smith. It will continue for several numbers and is a worthy follower of the Skylark stories which were so much appreciated by our readers. We think that they will find this story superior to the earlier ones. Dr. Smith certainly has the narrative power, and that, joined with his scientific position, makes him an ideal author for our columns." An awful lot has gone under the bridge since 1934, but you know, the folks at Amazing were on to something. Triplanetary really is all that special, and we're thrilled to offer it to you now anew. Amazon.com Review This is the first of E. E. "Doc" Smith's seven Lensman books, and although it isn't as fast-paced as later Lensman novels, it sets the stage for what is perhaps the greatest space-opera saga ever told. Through a series of vignettes spanning millions of years, readers will learn how the titanic struggle between the good Arisians and the evil Eddorians first came to pass, and about how humanity was chosen (and bred) to assume the awesome power of the lens. A short foreword by science fiction scholar John Clute puts the entire series into perspective. Review HUGO Finalist for Best Science Fiction All-Time Series --Science Fiction Digest
The Skylark of Space
Skylark Series, Book 1 of 4 Brilliant government scientist Richard Seaton discovers a remarkable faster-than-light fuel that will power his interstellar spaceship, The Skylark. His ruthless rival, Marc DuQuesne, and the sinister World Steel Corporation will do anything to get their hands on the fuel. They kidnap Seaton's fiancée and friends, unleashing a furious pursuit and igniting a burning desire for revenge that will propel The Skylark across the galaxy and back. The Skylark of Space is the first and one of the best space operas ever written. Breezy dialogue, romantic intrigue, fallible heroes, and complicated villains infuse humanity and believability into a conflict of galactic proportions. The Amazing Stories publication of The Skylark of Space in 1928 heralded the debut of a major new voice in American pulp science fiction and ushered in its golden age. Legions of interstellar epics have been written since that time, but none can match the wonder, dazzle, and sheer fun of the original.
Skylark Duquesne
Skylark Series, Book 4 of 4 Dick Seaton & Marc DuQuensne are the deadliest enemies in the Universe--their feud has blazed among the stars & changed the history of a thousand planets. But now a threat from outside the Galaxy drives them into a dangerous alliance as hordes of strange races drive to a collision with mankind. Seaton & DuQuensne flight & slave side by side to fend off the invasion--as Seaton keeps constant, perilous watch for DuQuesne's inevitable double-cross.
The best of E. E. Doc Smith
The Best of E.E. "Doc" Smith (1975) is a collection of eight short selections from The Master, assembled roughly ten years after his death. They span a period from 1928 to 1964, most all of his writing career. Smith did not publish a lot of short fiction, so this may be considered a fairly representative volume. The stories are: "To the Far Reaches of Space" (Amazing, 1928), "Robot Nemesis" (Thrilling Wonder Stories, 1939), "Pirates of Space" (Amazing, 1934), "The Vortex Blaster" (Comet, 1941), "Tedric" (Other Worlds, 1953), "Lord Tedric" (Universe, 1954), "Subspace Survivors" (Astounding, 1960), and "The Imperial Stars" (If, 1964). Two of the stories are excerpts from novels. "To the Far Reaches of Space" is an excerpt from The Skylark of Space, and "Pirates of Space" is an excerpt from Triplanetary. "The Vortex Blaster" and "Subspace Survivors" are not excerpts, but they provided the basis for two novels. Of the six "non-excerpt" stories, "The Vortex Blaster" has been the most oft-reprinted, with "Robot Nemesis" a distant second.
Grey Lensman
this is the 4th book in a series of 7 about the LENSMEN and their families.
Second stage Lensmen
From back cover of Jove/HBJ paperback October 1977: interplanetary spy Kim Kinnison was Number One Man of his time. To him fell the incredible assignment of infiltrating the inner circle of Boskone. Kinnison's deadly job was to become a Boskonian in every gesture, thought, and deed. He had to work himself up through the ranks of an alien enemy organization, into the highest echelons of power -- until it was he who would be issuing the orders that would destroy his own civilization!
First Lensman
Lensman series, Book 2 of 7 In First Lensman, we find the benevolent super-beings of Arisia ready to bestow the first "lens" on a human being (which, among other things, will give humans telepathic powers). The honor goes to Virgil Samms, who will ever after be known as the "First Lensman." But it's a title that he'll have to earn by establishing the Galactic Patrol, a group that is at once powerful and incorruptible, and will protect the universe from the evil and almost-unstoppable Eddorians. If that weren't tough enough, Samms must also dodge assassination attempts at home and help his second-in-command, Rod "The Rock" Kinnison, win the presidency of North America. And that's just the beginning of his troubles.
Galactic Patrol
From back cover of Jove/HBJ paperback February 1979: terror from space The pirates of Boskone raided at will, menacing the whole structure of interstellar civilization. Masterminded by a super-scientist, their fleets outgunned even the mighty space cruisers of the Galactic Patrol. When lensman Kim Kinnison of the Patrol found the secret Boskonian base, it was impregnable to outside attack. But a single infiltrator might penetrate its defenses -- if he wanted to take on million-to-one odds! Kinnison took them -- with the future of the civilized Universe riding on his shoulders!
Skylark three
Seaton and Crane return in this exciting sequel to "The Skylark of Space!" In Skylark Three, Seaton has developed a "Zone of Force" to protect his ship, the Skylark. But with the Zone up and running, he can no longer control his vessel. Can this new invention help them prevail against the Fenachronians, with their advanced technology...and their determination to conquer the galaxy, starting with the destruction of Earth? And what of DuQuesne and his villainous plans? Classic space opera at its best!
Atkinson & Hilgard's introduction to psychology
Includes chapters on memory, language and thought, intelligence, personality, and psychological disorders.