Lensman

The first installment in the groundbreaking Lensman series, one of the greatest space opera sagas of all time. Nevia, located many light years from the Earth's sun, is running out of iron, the primary source of energy for the planet's dominant amphibious race. Armed with technology that can extract iron atoms from anything it encounters - rock, machinery, man-made structures, even human blood - the Nevians set their sights on a rich lode of the precious element: the planet Earth. Descending on its unsuspecting target, the Nevian space-ship destroys the city of Pittsburgh and its defenseless inhabitants before heading home with three human specimens in its hold. Among them is Conway Costigan, an undercover intelligence operative for the Triplanetary Patrol. From deep within the bowels of the enemy ship, Costigan must do the impossible: find a way to defeat the Nevians before every man, woman, and child on Earth is annihilated. Known as the "father of space opera," E. E. "Doc" Smith imagined remarkable future worlds and breathtaking intergalactic battles before the heyday of Robert Heinlein and Isaac Asimov, and decades before Star Wars and Star Trek became part of the popular culture. His best-known work, the Lensman series, was one of five finalists for the Hugo Award for Best All-Time Series.

Triplanetary is the thrilling opening novel of E. E. "Doc" Smith's legendary Lensman series, one of the most influential space opera sagas in science fiction history. Originally published in 1934 and later expanded, this novel lays the foundation for an epic intergalactic struggle between the forces of good and evil, spanning millennia and galaxies. The story follows the secret war between two powerful alien races: the benevolent Arisians, who seek to guide the evolution of intelligent life, and the malevolent Eddorians, a ruthless and expansionist species determined to dominate the universe. Humanity unknowingly becomes a crucial pawn in this cosmic conflict, with Earth's history-from ancient times to the near future-serving as a backdrop for the larger battle at play. Key characters include heroic space adventurers of the Triplanetary Service, an alliance between Earth, Mars, and Venus, who must face dire threats, including space pirates, alien invasions, and superweapons capable of planetary destruction. The novel introduces themes of advanced technology, psychic abilities, and the origins of the mysterious Lens, a powerful tool that will become central to later books in the series. A fast-paced blend of action, intrigue, and visionary science fiction, Triplanetary is a must-read for fans of classic space opera. With its grand scope, larger-than-life heroes, and thrilling space battles, it remains a cornerstone of the genre and an essential starting point for the epic Lensman saga.

Triplanetary was first serialized in Amazing Stories in 1934 and it later on formed the first of the Lensman series, where it set the stage for what is one of the greatest space-opera sagas ever written. This original publication brings us to a distant planet inhabited by a highly developed aquatic race called the Nevians. They have managed to harness the atomic power of iron and have an enormous need for the metal to generate energy, but their planet has virtually no iron reserves. They build a spaceship to venture into the universe and find iron. Eventually they discover that Earth has huge amounts of iron and the Nevians start to extract all the iron out of Pittsburgh with a special ray. This ray shoots into the city and immediately vaporizes and removes any iron from the buildings, machines, earth, and even from human blood. It is up to Conway Costigan, a mercilessly competent, two-fisted whiz agent of the military Triplanetary Service, and his colleagues to save the planet.

First Lensman is the second installment in E. E. "Doc" Smith's groundbreaking Lensman series, a cornerstone of the space opera genre. Serving as a direct bridge between Triplanetary and Galactic Patrol, this novel chronicles the birth of the Galactic Patrol and the rise of the legendary Lensmen-elite warriors chosen to protect civilization against the forces of evil. The story follows Virgil Samms, the first human to be granted a Lens-a powerful, telepathic device created by the benevolent Arisians. Tasked with uniting the planets of the Solar System and beyond under a single, just government, Samms must battle corruption, spacefaring criminals, and the sinister forces of the Eddorians, an ancient race bent on galactic domination. Alongside fearless allies such as Roderick Kinnison and the formidable warriors of the newly formed Galactic Patrol, Samms sets out to establish law and order across the stars. Featuring breathtaking space battles, political intrigue, and mind-expanding scientific concepts, First Lensman lays the groundwork for the epic struggle between good and evil that will define the entire Lensman saga. With its visionary world-building, larger-than-life heroes, and thrilling adventure, this novel is a must-read for science fiction enthusiasts and fans of classic space opera.

Kimball Kinnison is one of the greatest Lensman to ever live. Galactic Patrol follows his early career and his rise to prominence. The Boskonians are the most feared pirates in the galaxy. Their ships are much faster than almost anything the Galactic Patrol posses. The one exception is their new experimental ship the Britannia. Built to be the fastest ship in space, she has abandoned the traditional ray armament of a star ship for weapons much older - explosive artillery. Her mission is to capture a Boskonian ship intact so that the Lensman my find the secret to the Boskonin phenomenal speed. The experimental nature of the Britannia's weapon means that she would be useless to a man experienced only in using the standard weapons of the time, so she is given to the inexperienced Kinnison to command and a legend is born!

Galactic Patrol is the third novel in E. E. "Doc" Smith's legendary Lensman series and marks the beginning of the saga's main storyline. Originally published in 1937, this classic space opera introduces readers to the elite Galactic Patrol and its most iconic hero, Kimball Kinnison, as they battle against the forces of chaos and tyranny in an epic struggle for galactic order. The story follows Kinnison, a newly minted Lensman-one of the select few granted a Lens, a telepathic device that enhances the wielder's mental abilities and marks them as a champion of justice. As the Galactic Patrol fights to maintain peace in the universe, Kinnison is tasked with taking on the formidable Boskone-a ruthless and mysterious interstellar empire seeking absolute domination. Armed with advanced technology, unmatched courage, and his unbreakable will, Kinnison embarks on a thrilling adventure across deep space, infiltrating enemy strongholds, engaging in high-stakes dogfights, and uncovering sinister secrets that could determine the fate of the galaxy. Packed with relentless action, daring heroics, and groundbreaking sci-fi concepts, Galactic Patrol set the standard for modern space operas and heavily influenced later works, including Star Wars and Star Trek. A must-read for fans of classic science fiction, this novel continues to captivate readers with its grand vision of interstellar warfare, superhuman determination, and the ultimate battle between good and evil.

Kimball Kinnison, the greatest Lensman of his day, is on a mission to destroy the dreaded space pirates known as the Boskone. The Boskonians are set on complete conquest of the civilized worlds. Their strongholds are shielded from the Lensman by impenetrable thought screens. Kinnison is up to the task, but what he doesn't know is that Boskone's influence reaches all way into his beloved Galactic Patrol. Will he discover this before it's too late. A grand adventure from the father of Space Opera.

Book 5 of the Lensman series. Kimball Kinnison and Clarissa MacDougall, two of finest lensman to ever live, plan to get married, but first they must come up with a plan to keep Earth safe from the Boskonians. It will take all the Lensmans' skills and training to keep humanity safe. A rollicking Space opera!

The fourth novel in E. E. "Doc" Smith's epic Lensman series, Second Stage Lensmen takes the intergalactic battle between good and evil to new heights. As the conflict between the benevolent Arisians and the sinister Eddorians intensifies, the Galactic Patrol faces its greatest challenge yet-one that will require a new breed of heroes, the Second Stage Lensmen. Kimball Kinnison, now one of the most powerful warriors in the universe, has undergone intense Arisian training to reach the next level of mastery. As a Second Stage Lensman, his mental abilities are beyond anything humanity has ever known, granting him near-limitless power in his fight against the dreaded Boskone. But even with his enhanced abilities, Kinnison is up against a terrifying enemy-a vast criminal empire with spies, warlords, and unimaginable weapons of destruction. Teaming up with fellow Second Stage Lensmen, including the formidable Clarissa MacDougall, the first female Lensman, Kinnison embarks on a desperate mission to dismantle Boskone's operations from within. His journey takes him to hidden enemy bases, treacherous political arenas, and the darkest reaches of space, where only his superior intellect, raw power, and unbreakable determination can keep him alive. Filled with pulse-pounding action, telepathic duels, and breathtaking space battles, Second Stage Lensmen is a thrilling continuation of the Lensman saga. A defining work of the space opera genre, this novel cements E. E. "Doc" Smith's legacy as one of the pioneers of grand-scale science fiction adventure.

Book 6 of the Lensman series. Galactic Co-ordinator Kimball Kinnison finished his second cup of Tellurian coffee, got up from the breakfast table, and prowled about in black abstraction. Twenty-odd years had changed him but little. He weighed the same, or a few pounds less; although a little of his mass had shifted downward from his mighty chest and shoulders. His hair was still brown, his stern face was only faintly lined. He was mature, with a conscious maturity which no young man can know. Epic space opera awates.

Neal "Storm" Cloud failed his Lensman exam, But life has a strange way of making heroes of even those who sometimes fail. Cloud's family is tragically killed when a misguided attempt to blow out a vortex lands one of the fragments right on his house. Devastated by the loss of his family, Cloud takes a leave of absence from the Radiation Lab where he works studying the vortices. As he drives he is struck with an idea for "blowing out" a vortex. It is slightly technical (Smith explains it so it can be easily followed), but the general idea is that Cloud's brain works so fast that he can calculate exactly where the center of the vortex will be at a moment in time and how big an explosive is needed, then hit it with a bomb that is set at the exact strength to actually extinguish the vortex instead of blowing it apart and making more vortices. As it continues the book tells of Cloud's new job as the universe's one and only vortex blaster. This job takes him from planet to planet where he blows out vortices, matches wits against drug dealers and gangsters, meets new life forms, and acquires a crew for his small scout ship. His adventures are many and varied, and the lifeforms he meets are strange and interesting.

A thrilling standalone adventure set in the universe of E. E. "Doc" Smith's legendary Lensman series, The Vortex Blaster follows the exploits of Neal "Storm" Cloud, a brilliant scientist turned reluctant hero. Unlike the Lensmen, Cloud does not possess a Lens, but his genius and determination make him one of the most formidable forces in the galaxy. After a catastrophic atomic vortex destroys his home and family, Cloud dedicates his life to mastering the science of vortex control. His groundbreaking research allows him to harness the immense energy of these deadly space-time anomalies, making him the only person capable of neutralizing them. As he embarks on a daring mission to rid the galaxy of these chaotic storms, Cloud finds himself drawn into a larger conflict-one that pits him against space pirates, corrupt warlords, and the ever-present threat of the Boskonian empire. As his reputation grows, Cloud becomes a reluctant warrior, proving that intelligence and innovation can be just as powerful as brute strength. Along the way, he allies with the Galactic Patrol, faces unimaginable dangers, and redefines what it means to be a hero in a universe dominated by super-powered Lensmen. Filled with high-stakes action, cutting-edge science fiction concepts, and Smith's signature larger-than-life storytelling, The Vortex Blaster is a must-read for fans of the Lensman saga and classic space opera adventures.