Author: Walter Ernsting (Clark Darlton)
First Publication: 1969
Source: Bookstore
Publisher: Ace Books
Series: Perry Rhodan (German) #4
In many ways this is a major story is a major piece of history in the Perry Rhodan universe. As the various countries try to blow up Perry’s ship with a nuclear bomb, other events are coming together to give Perry additional firepower.
Mutants have popped up all over the world. “Twilight of the Gods” shows the beginnings of Perry’s powerful group “The Mutant Corps”. The members introduced to us in this story include a telepath, a telekinetic, a teleporter and another teleporter who is able to teleport through time. I always grouped the time teleporter with Ferro Lad of the Legion of Super-Heroes. Both end up sacrificing their lives to save the universe…or do they? That is a mystery that is many stories away.
The other big event in this story is Perry and his right hand man Reggie get hypno trained the way the Arkonides do. I thought that Ernsting’s writing was not up to its usual standard but this is still worth reading as the series starts to gain steam.
Title: The Radiant Dome
Author: K. H. Scheer
First Publication: 1961 (Germany)
Cover Artist: Johnny Bruck
Series: Perry Rhodan #3
Cycle: The Third Power #3
Synopsis:
In the previous book, Perry Rhodan and his crew established a base in the Gobi Desert. "The Third Power" was created to bring humanity together. As expected, the current governments did not agree with Rhodan's plan. The Arkonide scientist Khrest activates a force field around Rhodan's spaceship/base. The governments of the world do come together to attack Rhodan. Rhodan's doctors work to cure Khrest of his illness. Meanwhile, the governments send three ships with nuclear bombs to destroy the Arkonide ship on the moon.
Title: The Third Power
Author: Walter Ernsting
First Publication: 1961 (Germany)
Cover Artist: Johnny Bruck
Series: Perry Rhodan #2
Cycle: The Third Power #2
Synopsis:
After returning from the moon with the aliens he discovered, Perry Rhodan returns to Earth and sets up his base in the Gobi desert. Rhodan plans on using the alien technology to unite the world but of course the various countries do not agree with him...
We all have guilty pleasures. Some people hide them. Me, I put it out there to show others that every book is liked by someone. But I am getting ahead of myself. Let's go back to the early days of my life long love affair with science fiction...
When I first got the science fiction bug, I was picking up every book I could find that looked even remotely like it belonged in the genre. Some of the books were from the library. Others were ones I bought in stores. One of the malls we visited had a J. C. Penney's store. If you go to one today, you won't find any book shelves. At that time, at least in our store, they had a few racks of books. And one of the sections was devoted to science fiction. This is where my first copies of the original Foundation trilogy came from.
