Sargasso of Space (Vintage Ace SF, F-279)

by Andre Norton

Paperback, 1963

Status

Available

Call number

813

Publication

Ace Books (1963), Edition: 2nd PB, Mass Market Paperback

Description

Stellar exploration--and depredation--in the exciting first novel in the Solar Queen series from a "superb storyteller" (The New York Times). In the future, venturing out into the stars is more than a way for humanity to chart the cosmos--it's big business. Every time a new planet is discovered, the highest bidder gets first dibs with exclusive property rights for a year. Anything they can find, they can keep. The planet Limbo was considered a waste of rock to most, which is the only reason apprentice cargo master Dane Thorson and the rest of the crew of the Solar Queen could afford to bid on it. But they soon discover that Limbo is far from uninhabited, the Solar Queen is far from the first ship to explore it--and they can never leave . . . With her many beloved series, including the Solar Queen novels, Science Fiction Writers of America Grand Master Andre Norton remains "one of the most popular authors of our time" (Publishers Weekly). Sargasso of Space is the 1st book in the Solar Queen Series, but you may enjoy reading the series in any order.… (more)

User reviews

LibraryThing member dragonasbreath

Light and fun, this story introduces the crew of the Solar Queen and the world of Andre Norton/Andrew North.
Their adventures are perhaps a bit more believable today than they were when the story was written in 1955 - with Sputnik still 2 years away.

8 more

LibraryThing member jjmcgaffey

This one is Dane's intro to the Solar Queen. It's an interesting setup - they risk everything for a chance of real success and...then things get complicated. People who aren't what they say they are, ancient installations that still work, strange intelligences (though they kind of drop out of the

story after a while) - great space opera. Not quite classic Andre Norton - no (noticeable) psychic powers, nor bonding with an animal - but very nicely done. And designed to be a series - they end up this book with a perfect setup to go exploring on a different world, with a little more information but not much. Next!

Show Less

LibraryThing member Ma_Washigeri

It was ok. Made me reread 'Catseye' and 'The Beast Master' which I have loved over many years. This seems a very slight book by comparison. It always gives me a surprise to remember Andre Norton is a woman as I always think of her as a male writer - probably because she doesn't have any women

characters at all! Not something I noticed when I was a teenager.

Show Less

LibraryThing member superant

Very serviceable old-school space opera from the 1950s. Reads like a boys life adventure from an even earlier period. I breezed through it in 3 days and enjoyed it.

It has a very dated feel today in 2014. Not one female named role. The only mention of alien races have very xenophobic attitudes

toward them.

If you are looking for a brief vacation from the complex sci-fi of today give Andre Norton a try.

Show Less

LibraryThing member AltheaAnn

Picked this up mainly 'cause it's such a cool-looking old pulp paperback (1955). The contents are just about exactly what you'd expect from the packaging - it's definitely a 'boys'' adventure story in space... from back in the day when rockets were tall, pointy, and powered by jet fuel, and new

planets were open to capitalist exploitation by bold and manly explorers....
Our Hero graduates from the Space Academy and is assigned to the Solar Queen, a Free Trader ship. The crew buys trading rights to a sight-unseen planet at public auction.
Will the planet be a worthless wasteland - or the site of valuable artifacts from long-dead civilisations?

Show Less

LibraryThing member leslie.98

Great space opera and did not feel dated to me, despite the fact that it is 65 years old now.

The story is told from the perspective of a new cargo apprentice, traveling on his first Trade ship. I liked Dane and look forward to reading more about him and his shipmates.

LibraryThing member Ma_Washigeri

characters at all! Not something I noticed when I was a teenager.

Show Less

LibraryThing member fuzzi

Although written in the 1950s, Sargasso of Space did not read like a stereotypical early SciFi. The plot flowed along nicely with the technical aspects only vaguely described, which not only made the book more timely but more believable. I enjoyed reading this, and will look for other books in the

Solar Queen series.

Show Less

LibraryThing member leslie.98

Fewer