Mission to A Star [Kindle Edition]

Frank Belknap Long (Author)

Editorial Reviews

Product Description

It began with the sighting of the Scorpion ships in the new 400-inch reflecting telescope on Mount Palomar. The ships landed on Earth to disgorge aliens quite indistinguishable from human beings, except that they were all apparently equal to the genius level of human beings. And, all were in perfect physical condition.
They came in peace, they said. Their leader spoke to a plenary session of the United Nations — nations truly united now in the face of what might be a threat to all the peoples of Earth — and he talked as if he were talking to old and trusted friends.
He said, "You have asked for proof that we are a responsible and enlightened race. There can be no wisdom without strength, no true enlightenment unless the power to work immense harm exists and is deliberately renounced. We have come to Earth on a scientific mission only, just as someday you will travel to the stars. We ask only complete freedom . . . your friendship, trust, and understanding as long as we choose to remain."
He said that the S

Product Details

• Format: Kindle Edition
• File Size: 19546 KB
• Publisher: Electronic & Database Publishing, Inc. (June 7, 2008)
• Sold by: Amazon Digital Services
• Language: English
• ASIN: B001AV10MK
• Text-to-Speech: Enabled
• Lending: Enabled
• Average Customer Review: 1.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (1 customer review)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #753,379 Paid in Kindle Store (See Top 100 Paid in Kindle Store)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:

1.0 out of 5 stars Poorly handled and not at all penetrating, August 3, 2010

By 

Kurt A. Johnson (North-Central Illinois, USA) - See all my reviews
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This review is from: Mission to A Star (Kindle Edition)

When the alien spaceships first arrive bearing the human-like people that called themselves the Scorpions, it seems the start of a golden age. The Scorpions certainly seemed friendly, at first, but it is now beginning to dawn on some people that the Scorpions are hiding something. And when an old man who was traumatized after walking in on a crashed Scorpion ship, and whom the humans hoped would be a source of information, suddenly goes comatose after a Scorpion "accidentally" walked into the room, it appears that they are right.

And so ace reporter, Jim Lawrence, is assigned to go to the town where the downed Scorpion ship is, and see just what is going on. But, the Scorpions know who Lawrence is, and they have a use for him that he little suspects. And soon, he finds himself on a mission to a star - the home planet of the Scorpions to get to the bottom of just what is going on.

Frank Belknap Long (1901-94) was a prolific science-fiction and horror author, and he received awards for his writing. As such, I must say that I was sadly disappointed by this book. At first the book looks like a suspenseful scare-story - are the aliens here to enslave us? Then, Jim Lawrence is kidnapped to space, and the entire tenor of the store changes. After that point the book takes on the tone of social commentary, where we see problems in our own society writ large in the problems of the alien story.

What's wrong here is that the social commentary is poorly handled and not at all penetrating. And, to make matters much worse, the story itself is neither interesting nor exciting. No, this book may have been written by a great author, but it is not a great book. I did not enjoy reading this book, and I certainly do not recommend it.