Dated story and poor narration

I read these books when I was a teenager and thought them the best rip-roaring read I'd ever had. Now, 25 years on, they have dated even more than they had when I first read them. In the Lensman universe, high technology is all metal and machinery and you get a feeling that the smell of lubricating oil must pervade every spaceship's bridge.

That said, the scale of Doc Smith's imagination is second to none. I still want to meet an Arisian, to be Kimball Kinnison, to meet an auburn goddess and pile scorn on the Eddorians in the same way as I would boo and hiss at a pantomime. It's a man's universe that he conjures, of the Flash Gordon variety but without the high camp and I still love it.

The only thing that stops me from purchasing another book is the poor narration. Reed McColm is a master of 100 voices; unfortunately all of them his own. So, instead of adding to my enjoyment of the story with sharp vocal characterisation, his narration confuses me as I try to work out whether the character he's vocalising is Virgil Samms, Granite jawed hero of the Universe, or Clio, perpetually demur love interest and air head.

Please audible - a new narrator please.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

3 people found this helpful

E.E. Doc Smith .. One of the best So To great

If you haven't read Smith before read them all. All his story's are as riveting

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

2 people found this helpful

A great book

I read this book many years ago and it's still a great story
It's even better when read ro you .

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

1 person found this helpful

great story but !

This is a story of it's time. Violent, sexist, gender stereotypes abound and even simplistic. It took me back to my teens when you felt this would be cutting edge science.
Now I see it differently. To my shame I'm going to listen to book 2.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

2 people found this helpful

Triplanetary

Enjoyable but so very gungho! The optimism and matter of fact nature of the characters I found quite refreshing at first but it begins to pale. I suppose it is a product of it's time, and now dated all the same a Sci Fi classic

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

1 person found this helpful

Odd narration

The narrator broke the sentences at odd places, sometimes dropping me out if the story to work out where pauses and emphasis should have been. Undoubtedly a lot of this was Smith’s clunky prose, but at times it felt as this was the narrator’s first look at the text!

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

For nostalgic reasons only - definitely not pc.

Persevere. You will hear the beginnings of many a S.O. essential. Listened to again for nostalgic reasons only - definitely not pc.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

1 person found this helpful

Good lead in

The book and attitudes, especially to women and genocide are very outdated and jarring, however the book is useful to lead into the lensman series, which is excellent

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

fantastic Sci fi

I have loved tje lensman series for many years. it's lovely to be able to listen to it and share it with a younger generation.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

2 people found this helpful

It’s cheesy, but in a good way

Look, this was written decades ago, so lacks the sophistication of modern SciFi, but it is a lot of fun.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

1 person found this helpful