Title
attributed to Andre Norton
& (aka) The Last Planet
& # 1 in the Central Control series
Bibliography ~
¯ (1953) * Published by Harcourt Brace, HC, LCCN 53007869, $2.95, 280pg ~ cover by Richard Powers {Gray Cloth Boards}
¯ (1953) * Published by McLeod, HC, $3.50, 280pg ~ Canadian printing ~ cover by Richard Powers
¯ (1968) * Published by Gollancz, HC, 0-575-00074-0, £ 18s (216p), 288pg ~ UK printing ~ cover by Alan Breese
¯
(1980) * Published by
Fawcett, PB, 0-449-24076-2, $1.75 ~ cover by
Ken Barr
¯ (1985) * Published by
Ballantine Del Rey, PB, 0-345-32308-4, $2.50,
223pg ~ cover by
Laurence Schwinger
¯
Star Soldiers (2001)
* Published by BAEN, HC, 0-671-31827-6, $18.00, 434pg ~ cover by
Stephen
Hickman ~ Omnibus containing Star
Guard (1955) & Star Rangers (1953)
Non English
Editions
~
¯ (1955) Published in Rastatt, Germany; in Pabel, OCLC: 72941808, Utopia Großband 41, 89pg ~ translated by Fritzheinz van Dorrnick ~ German title Weltraum-Ranger greifen ein
¯ (1978) Published in Milan, Italy; by Biblioteca Universale Rizzoli, Fantascienza Junior. Stellar 2000 n. 3, OCLC: 77520346, 190pg ~ translated by Delio Zinoni ~ Italian title Il pianeta degli Dei
¯ (1973) Published in Japan; by Hayakawa Bunko, 41-501-0091-8, SF S48, 345pg ~ translated by Sekiguti Yukio ~ cover by Saitou Kazuaki ~ Japanese title 銀河の果ての惑星 ~ reprinted in 1977
¯ (1997) Published in Poznań, Poland; by Wydawnictwo Poznańskie, 83-861-3863-7, 212pg ~ translated by Włodzimierz Nowaczyk ~ Polish title Gwiezdny Zwiad
Synopsis ~
In 8054 A.D. the Stellar Patrol was the last remnant
of the power of a once flourishing intergalactic empire. It is a time of
decadence and dissolution in the Empire. Sector wars are carrying off more and
more worlds from Central Control. Individual bureaucrats are usurping their
positions to carve out private kingdoms. Only the incorruptible Patrol and its
Code remain to stand in their way. Yet, the Patrol has seen better days. Their
ships are old and there are no replacements- only cannibalization keeps them
running. The supply ships come less and less often. Communications between
sectors- and with Central Control itself is breaking down. There are fewer and
fewer new recruits. The only thing still as strong as ever is the dedication,
honor, and tradition of the Patrol. The Vegan scout Starfire was one of the few
ships left to the Patrol Fleet, which was dispersed on a useless mission to
remap forgotten systems on the edge of the galaxy. The crew of the Starfire
realized that there was little chance that they would ever return – yet they
performed their duty to the best of their ability. Until Starfire crashed and
could go no further. They were stranded on a fertile planet, with breathable
air – but it was completely off their charts. There the mixed crew of aliens
and humans had to face the dangers of a strange planet, and the greatest threat
of all – the breakdown of discipline and the beginnings of anarchy. Quickly
scouting around their crash site, they find evidence of a long vanished high
tech civilization in the Sealed Cities, along with nomadic hunter-gatherer
level groups of humans. Looking for better shelter to tend their injured
personnel, the rangers enter one of the cities, only to find it occupied by
another group of refugees and ruled by the Acturian Cummi, a master telepath,
one who is not above overpowering and directly controlling other people’s
minds, who is bent on becoming the sole ruler of the planet. Zinga, a member of
the ancient historian race of Zacathans, and the human Kartr, both high order
telepaths themselves, though not of the strength of Cummi, end up in a
memorable mental battle with Cummi.
Non-English Covers
(Click on image to enlarge)
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2010 Jay Watts
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