Subject
Space colonies -- Fiction Books
Best books
H. Beam Piper
Lone Star Planet
"Lone Star Planet" by H. Beam Piper and John J. McGuire is a science-fiction novel first published in 1957. When diplomat Stephen Silk is banished to New Texas after writing a controversial article, he discovers a world where assassinating politicians is legal—as long as the killer proves their victim "needed killin'." His predecessor was murdered, and evidence suggests he's next. Silk must navigate deadly politics while convincing New Texans to join the Solar League against an alien threat.
E. E. (Edward Elmer) Smith
First Lensman
"First Lensman" by E. E. Smith is a space opera novel published in 1950. The story chronicles Virgil Samms, the first being chosen to wear the Lens—a telepathic badge of authority granted by the benevolent Arisians. As founding leader of the Galactic Patrol, Samms must recruit worthy Lensmen across alien worlds to defend Civilization against corrupt politicians, drug traffickers, and space pirates. All leads converge toward a single enemy, culminating in massive space battles and a desperate political campaign to secure humanity's future.
Frank Belknap Long
Mars is My Destination
"Mars is My Destination" by Frank Belknap Long is a science-fiction adventure written in the early 1960s. The narrative follows Ralph Graham, who is deeply driven by his lifelong dream of reaching Mars, a place fraught with both opportunity and violence. As tensions rise in Earth's spaceports and violent confrontations loom, the story opens with Ralph navigating a chaotic environment that sets the tone for an explosive journey into a world of colonization, danger, and personal conflict. At the start of the novel, Ralph Graham senses impending violence in a spaceport bar filled with patrons anticipating travel to Mars. His instincts prove correct when a confrontation escalates, resulting in a shooting that plunges the bar into chaos. Ralph intervenes and finds himself in deeper trouble as he attracts unwanted attention due to his special Mars clearance, symbolizing his importance in the unfolding events tied to the Martian Colonization Board. Meanwhile, a mysterious blonde woman warns him of the dangers he faces, and the intrigue intensifies as Ralph grapples with his ambitions, relationships, and the volatility surrounding the push for human settlement on Mars. The opening sets the stage for a gripping tale of survival amidst social strife and personal dilemmas.
Andre Norton
Star Born
"Star Born" by Andre Norton is a science fiction novel published in 1957. Three generations after colonists fled Earth and settled on the alien planet Astra, young explorer Dalgard Nordis discovers that humanity has returned from the stars. When a new Terran expedition arrives, both groups face a resurgent threat from "Those Others"—a malevolent species that once enslaved the planet. As ancient dangers awaken and loyalties divide, Dalgard must choose between two worlds while fighting for survival in a civilization's ruins.
Frederik Pohl
Search the Sky
"Search the Sky" by Frederik Pohl and C. M. Kornbluth is a satirical science fiction novel published in 1954. When a generation ship fails to contact six colonies, Ross embarks on a journey across the stars to investigate their fate. What he discovers is alarming: isolated human settlements have descended into bizarre, dysfunctional societies—from gerontocratic mockeries to oppressive matriarchies and planets of enforced conformity. Each world reveals humanity's capacity for strange degeneration when cut off from the broader human community.
Keith Laumer
Cultural Exchange
"Cultural Exchange" by Keith Laumer is a science fiction short story published in the early 1960s. Set against a backdrop of intergalactic diplomacy, the story explores cultural and economic interactions between different worlds through a student exchange program. The narrative centers around the main character, Retief, who inadvertently becomes embroiled in the complexities of this exchange, particularly regarding the Bogans, a group known for their past aggressions and a vital wine crop. In the story, Retief is tasked with overseeing the logistics of a cultural exchange program involving Bogan students. As he navigates through diplomatic challenges, he uncovers a plot involving a shipment of tractors bound for the agricultural world of Lovenbroy, which could jeopardize the local economy and fabric of society. When the Bogan students, a youthful group of males, arrive, it becomes apparent that they are not merely here to study but that their presence is connected to broader conflicts, including a mortgage on Lovenbroy's prime grape-growing areas. The narrative unfolds with humor and intrigue as Retief finds ways to facilitate the harvesting of a wine crop while ensuring the students are productively engaged, ultimately leading to unexpected connections and resolutions between the worlds involved.
Murray Leinster
Planet explorer
"Planet Explorer" by Murray Leinster is a science fiction novel written in the mid-20th century. The story follows an outer-space service officer named Bordman, who embarks on an independent survey of the ice-planet Lani III, a challenging and unfamiliar environment. The opening suggests a narrative rich with themes of exploration, survival, and the unforeseen consequences of colonization as Bordman grapples with his responsibilities amid alarming meteorological shifts that threaten human survival on the planet. At the start of the story, Bordman awakens to frigid conditions on Lani III and confronts the unease of being in charge of a colony's establishment as a Senior Colonial Survey Officer. He learns of erratic communications from the parent planet and discovers that the solar constant, crucial for sustaining life, is rapidly declining. As he collaborates with his junior officer Herndon and Riki, Herndon's sister, they try to decode a message warning of dire changes that could make both Lani III and the home planet uninhabitable. The opening captures Bordman's rising tension as he must find ways to combat the chilling threat while also becoming more engaged with the human connections developing around him.
Keith Laumer
The Desert and the Stars
"The Desert and the Stars" by Keith Laumer is a science fiction novel written in the early 1960s. The book explores themes of diplomacy and interstellar politics as it centers around the character Retief, who faces challenges in maintaining peace on the planet Flamme amidst conflicts between different factions. The narrative reflects on the complexities of colonialism, territorial disputes, and the nature of power in a futuristic setting. The story follows Retief, who is a diplomatic envoy caught in a tense situation between the local Boyars and the invading Aga Kagans on Flamme. As he tries to negotiate peace through a series of amusing yet precarious encounters, it becomes clear that the Aga Kagans, despite their seemingly primitive lifestyle, are equipped with formidable military capabilities. Retief’s mission is further complicated by the bureaucratic indifference of his own superiors back on Earth, who prefer non-action over tangible support. Through clever dialogue and unexpected confrontations, Retief must navigate the absurdities of diplomacy while ensuring the Boyars can retain control over their hard-earned lands against the cunning Aga Kagans, ultimately showcasing both the farcical and serious aspects of galactic diplomacy.
Bruce Elliott
The planet of shame
"The Planet of Shame" by Bruce Elliott is a science fiction novel written in the early 1960s. The story revolves around a society established by exiled individuals on a distant planet, where traditional norms and structures from Earth have been discarded. The protagonist, James Comstock, is depicted as a 35-year-old living in a bizarre world where he struggles with concepts of adulthood, sexuality, and authority within a rigid, patriarchal society. At the start of the narrative, the reader is introduced to James Comstock as he grapples with a bewildering array of life experiences that he has been shielded from. The plot quickly escalates as he navigates his family's eccentric traditions regarding adulthood and relationships, punctuated by his alarming health crisis. This tension leads him into an underground lifestyle full of illicit encounters and the pressures of conformity. The opening chapters set the stage for broader themes of rebellion against societal norms, questioning authority, and seeking personal identity amidst the absurdities of a dystopian colony. As Comstock's situation spirals out of control, readers are drawn into a world where the absurdity of expectations clashes with the harsh realities of life on a planet meant for punishment rather than rehabilitation.
Murray Leinster
Med Service
"Med Service" by Murray Leinster is a science fiction novel written in the late 1950s. It follows the story of Calhoun, a Med Ship pilot on a routine health inspection mission to the colony planet Maris III, who encounters a mysterious and deadly plague that has decimated the local population. Accompanied by his peculiar companion Murgatroyd, Calhoun must navigate an unexpected and perilous situation as local inhabitants exhibit strange behaviors and dangerous attacks that suggest deeper intrigues at play. At the start of the narrative, Calhoun and Murgatroyd are approaching Maris III when they experience an alarming incident caused by the planet’s landing grid, which violently attempts to destroy their ship. Upon landing, they discover a seemingly deserted city and a corpse with unanswered questions regarding its death. As Calhoun investigates further, it becomes clear that a recent plague is at the heart of the local mystery. The opening portion of the novel sets a tense atmosphere, blending elements of space adventure with medical science, as Calhoun prepares to uncover the truth behind the plague and the hostile actions of those in the city.
Leigh Brackett
The Jewel of Bas
"The Jewel of Bas" by Leigh Brackett is a weird novel written in the mid-20th century. The narrative explores themes of power, identity, and survival against a backdrop of a richly imagined world filled with fantastical elements, focusing on characters Ciaran and Mouse as they face the threat posed by the androids created by the boy-god Bas, who is asleep with a mysterious power. As the story unfolds, they find themselves fighting against malevolent forces and dark legends that threaten their existence. At the start of the story, Ciaran and Mouse, two wandering mortals, set up camp in a desolate land bordering the infamous Forbidden Plains. Their banter reveals their complex relationship and hints at deeper fears of the rumored darkness and evil surrounding them—specifically the dreadful Kalds that bear servitude to Bas, the so-called immortal presence rumored to guard the Stone of Destiny. An ominous shadow manifests as inherent dangers appear, drawing them deeper into the unfolding legends that may alter their fates and the fate of their world, setting the stage for an epic conflict against the forces of subjugation stemming from Bas's immortal legacy.
Philip K. Dick
Tony and the Beetles
"Tony and the Beetles" by Philip K. Dick is a science fiction novella written in the early 1950s. The story unfolds on a distant colony planet, where a young boy named Tony navigates the complexities of life amidst an ongoing war between humans and an alien species referred to as the Pas-udeti, derogatorily called "beetles" by the Earth settlers. The narrative delves into themes of cultural conflict, identity, and the implications of colonialism set against a backdrop of interstellar warfare. The plot follows 10-year-old Tony Rossi as he grapples with both his childhood ambitions of building a model spaceport and the harsh realities of war. When he ventures into the nearby city of Karnet, he encounters hostility from the Pas-udeti children, who have a historical grudge against the Terrans for their colonization of the planet. Tensions escalate as Tony realizes that the tide of war is turning in favor of the Pas-udeti, leading to a climactic confrontation fueled by centuries of resentment. The story concludes with Tony's disillusionment regarding his identity and the recognition that the territory he grew up on is, in fact, "stolen ground." This experience shapes his understanding of strength and weakness in the broader conflict between the two species.
Recently surfaced classics