In Our Hands The Stars

Lore & Background

Reviewing the novel in The Magazine of Fantasy & Science Fiction, James Blish described it as 'quite straight forward—a driving action story ... and in addition, this is a cautionary tale, like the best of Wells ... at once as exciting and as somber as John le Carré ... though not, I am afraid, as well written.' The book was listed by Stanley Schmidt as one of the '10 SF Books For Scientists' for its theme of the misuse of scientific discovery.

Reader's Guide

In Our Hands, the Stars is notable as a science fiction novel that combines a fast-paced action plot with a cautionary message about the ethical responsibilities of scientists and the dangers of military appropriation of new technology. Harry Harrison uses the Daleth effect—a simple, economic space travel method—as a central MacGuffin that forces the protagonist, Arnie Klein, to navigate political and military pressures after defecting to Denmark. The novel's reception highlights its straightforward narrative style and its thematic kinship with the works of H.G. Wells and John le Carré, though critics note it is not as well written as those authors. Its inclusion by Stanley Schmidt in a list of recommended science fiction for scientists underscores its value as a thought experiment on scientific ethics. The book's dual publication titles and multiple translations indicate its international reach, and its serialization in Analog magazine reflects its roots in the genre's pulp tradition. Overall, the novel serves as a period piece reflecting Cold War anxieties about technology, secrecy, and international competition.

Did You Know?

• The novel was originally serialized in Analog magazine in 1969–1970.
• It was published in the United States as The Daleth Effect and in the United Kingdom as In Our Hands, the Stars.
• James Blish reviewed the novel in The Magazine of Fantasy & Science Fiction, calling it a cautionary tale like the best of Wells.