David Starr, Space Ranger
First Lucky Starr novel, set on a colonized Mars.
David Starr, Space Ranger kicked off the Lucky Starr series, six juvenile sci-fi novels Isaac Asimov wrote under the pen name Paul French. Completed in 1951 and released by Doubleday in January 1952, the book was meant to launch a TV show—a sci-fi take on The Lone Ranger—but that never happened, partly because another series, Rocky Jones, Space Ranger, was already in development. Since 1971, reprints have featured an Asimov introduction noting that newer knowledge of Mars had made some of the book’s Martian details outdated.
Quick Facts
- Author
- Isaac Asimov
- Cover artist
- Richard Powers
- Country
- United States
- Language
- English
- Series
- Lucky Starr series
- Genre
- Science fiction novel
- Publisher
- Doubleday
- Released
- January 1952
Facts from the source article.
Plot summary
By the year 7000, humans have colonized the inner planets of the Solar System and other star systems, where separate and sometimes hostile governments exist. The Council of Science, the Solar System’s most powerful body, relies on scientific knowledge and field agents to protect Earth’s government from political and military dangers. David Starr, a young biophysicist orphaned as an infant, was raised by Council leaders Augustus Henree and Hector Conway. When people die from poisoned Martian produce, the Council fears a conspiracy to trigger a food panic and ruin interplanetary trade, so they send Starr undercover to Mars. There, he meets John “Bigman” Jones, a Martian farmboy blacklisted by the Farming Syndicates for witnessing shady dealings. Starr gets jobs for both of them, and they encounter farm owner Mr. Makian and agronomist Benson, who claims native Martians living underground are poisoning the food to drive humans away. After a survey led by Hennes’ friend Griswold nearly kills Starr, and a fight sends Griswold into a crevasse, Benson hires Starr as his assistant. Bigman returns that night, revealing he recognized Starr as a Council member.
Reception
Ellen Lewis Buell, writing in The New York Times, reported that Asimov "ingeniously combines mystery with science fiction" and that his "inventiveness and use of picturesque details" were reminiscent of Robert A. Heinlein. Groff Conklin praised the novel as effective juvenile fare, noting "endless imagination, exciting ideas and events." P. Schuyler Miller, reviewing for Astounding, described it as "fast-moving space opera of a type we all know, with no particular regard for scientific plausibility."
Frequently Asked Questions
Who illustrated David Starr, Space Ranger?
David Starr, Space Ranger was illustrated by Richard Powers.
How many pages is David Starr, Space Ranger?
David Starr, Space Ranger has 186 pages.
Which book follows David Starr, Space Ranger?
David Starr, Space Ranger is followed by Lucky Starr and the Pirates of the Asteroids.
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