David Starr Space Rngr

It is clear that juvenile space fiction was not Isaac Asimov's strong suit as an author. While the dialog and descriptions are somewhat typical of what is found in such stories, Asimov uses a higher level of scientific discourse than others do. Written under the pen name of Paul French, Asimov wrote a series of stories about David (Lucky) Starr, Space Ranger, in the early fifties. This book was the first in the series. Over fifty years later, the descriptions of planetary conditions are completely inaccurate, as Asimov makes clear in the introduction. Therefore, the story must be read by adopting a mindset of increased disbelief. In many ways the story is similar to tales of the settlement of the American west. The pioneers were sturdy, self-reliant people who solve their problems their own way. Like the dueling code of the west, the human transplants to Mars had their principle of the "fair fight." If such a statement was made, then no person could be held responsible for any negative consequences, even if one of the protagonists were to be killed. The setting is one where there is a large human colony on Mars and a large percentage of the food consumed on Earth is grown there. The quantity is so great that the people of Earth would starve without it. A small number of Earth people have been poisoned and the source is traced back to Martian extortionists. Their goal is to bankrupt the Martian farmers by threatening panic on Earth, bankrupt the farmers and then buy up all the farms. David Starr, newly named member of the powerful Council of Science, travels to Mars to investigate. He poses as an Earthman whose sister was poisoned and his goal is to find out how it was done. While trying to obtain employment, he meets Bigman, a small man living on Mars who is full of spunk and courage. They form an immediate alliance and eventually the extortionist ring is uncovered. Reading this book is a trip back in time to a point where the imagination of a science fiction writer had fewer bounds regarding the conditions on the planets. Asimov could plausibly use a Mars that humans could walk on with only a breathing apparatus. He could also postulate the existence of ancient Martians who now live deep underground and no longer have physical bodies. In their actions and attitudes, the Martians are Gods rather than creatures. I read the book with amusement, it is a demonstration of a less cynical, more hopeful time, and in my experience the young people of today would find it too campy and too cerebral.

In the first book of this six book series it may be difficult to see that Isaac Asimov wrote these stories. In later books Asimov put in significant clues that should have led an astute read to see that Paul French, the pseudonym he used for the original publication of these books. In this book we meet David Starr, who we will know as Lucky for the remaining five books in the series. David is eating in a restaurant when one of the patrons dies. David is soon on his way to Mars to try and understand the source of the poisoning that has killed a number of Earth people randomly across the planet. Working incognito, David encounters John Bigman Jones, a blustering little man whose big mouth is matched by his courage. In spite of the help that Bigman gives David, David's life is nearly ended more than one time. David also discovers a surprise on Mars that he decides does not need to be revealed to anyone else in the solar system. Eventually David figures out how the poisoning was done, and who the poisoners are. The ending of this short book is fun and makes this book a quick read. Isaac Asimov originally wrote the Lucky Starr books in the 1950s. By the time the books were reissued, our knowledge of our solar system had changed dramatically. Asimov's description Mars has been invalidated by flybys and landings from various space craft, as Asimov explains in a forward to the revised books. This book is also available collected with the second and third book in this series as "The Adventures of Lucky Starr" and in a single volume titled "The Complete Adventures of Lucky Starr." The Lucky Starr books are a casual read and perfect for readers who enjoyed the Tom Corbett, Space Cadet series of books and Heinlein's juvenile books. There is a lot of logic in each of the books, and just enough hard science fiction to tantalize a reader and hopefully cause the reader to learn more. These books do have a flavor of Asimov's other books, but are less sophisticated. I enjoy these books, but some other readers may find them too mundane. I recommend these books carefully, because I do not know which category of reader you may be. Good luck!

i have enjoyed these books several times, several years apart. good reading that i enjoyed.

In the 1950's, Isaac Asimov, writing under the pseudonym Paul French (later the books were republished under the Asimov name), wrote six science fiction novels for teenagers about a young agent of the "Council of Science," an organization which has considerable power in a world in the distant future. The agent, David Starr, travels throughout the Solar System to combat crime and to protect Earth. Asimov was using these stories to teach the readers facts about the Solar System. Nevertheless, in an introduction written in 1978, Asimov apologizes for the science inaccuracies in this first volume that are now apparent after all of the space probes to Mars. But, as of 1952, it was accurate. (Actually, this introduction to a later reprinting of a science fiction novel is rather unique. I can not recall another author who makes an effort to point out the changes scientific investigation have provided since the original publication of a story. Asimov should be commended for this. In so doing, he continues to teach.) In this first story, David Starr must discover who is the cause of a series of fatal poisonings on Earth and who is blackmailing the farms on Mars. In so doing, he accidentally comes in contact with ancient Martians living beneath the surface.