The Last Planet (aka Star Rangers) (Central Control, Book 1, M-151) [Mass Market Paperback]

Andre Norton (Author), Barton (Illustrator)

Book Description

Publication Date: 1966

Cover code M-151 indicates a 1966 printing. Novel first published in 1953 as "Star Rangers". First in the "Central Control" sequence, which also includes the 1955 novel, "Star Guard."

Product Details

• Mass Market Paperback: 192 pages
• Publisher: Ace Books; later paperback printing edition (1966)
• Language: English
• ASIN: B000O8DPAK
• Average Customer Review: 5.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (2 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #3,187,087 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A standout scifi adventure from 50 yrs ago., December 24, 2007

By 

Morgan Cahall "so many books so little time" (Delaware, USA) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

Story:
The Stellar patrol is dying. It is a nusicance that reminds those that are trying to take over the empire of a time when the Central Control ruled all and the loyal stellar patrol and its rangers spread its message and enforced its laws without interference from squabbling warlords interested only in gaining more power. One of these warlords decides to rid his system of the pesky stellar patrol by ordering the vegan crusier StarFire to map long forgotten systems on the edge of explored space and not return until done. The loyal stellar patrol, bound by its rules and traditions, has no choice but to follow these orders. The StarFire journeys through many systems before having to make a emergency landing on a strangley familar world. Upon landing the surviors find that they are not alone and that the forces that are tearing apart the empire have followed them. They also find that the world they are on was once home to an advanced alien race. One journey has ended and another has begun. Will the remains of the patrol be able to survie themselves and the strange alliances they find on this uncharted planet?
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This is definetily a interesting book. It starts of with the old legend concering a roman emperor that commanded a very loyal legion unit to march east until they found the end of the world and the logical assumption that they met their end before the found the end of the world. The author then takes this idea moves it to the far future where the tattered remains of the stellar patrol still cling to the even more tattered authority of Central Control and will go wherever and do whatever it is told to do by CC. This is interesting because even when they are stranded on the planet they still act as if their entire world is run by a goverment that no longer exists and how most of them come to terms with it. Some adapt and some refuse to change and work with their alien allies. This book is also written in the old style. It is self contained and it makes sense. No 5oo page sequels here just a simple will written self contained story, that makes you think a bit. Would recommend this to any one who likes scifi. mac

2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars The Patrol- and incorruptible Service in a dieing Empire, March 16, 2006

By 

OAKSHAMAN "oakshaman" (Algoma, WI United States) - See all my reviews
(VINE VOICE)    (TOP 1000 REVIEWER)   

_It always confused me that Andre Norton's first novel about the Stellar Patrol (1953) should deal with its demise. For that is what this excellently crafted novel deals with, the end of that noble service after 1000 years as guardians of peace and order in the First Galactic 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.

_Specifically, this is the story of the last voyage of the Vegan Scout, Starfire. She was sent on a final, futile mission, along with her sister ships to remap and rediscover forgotten worlds near the galactic rim. In reality, she has been sent out by an ambitious Imperial bureaucrat to die- yet due to their ancient trust and loyalty the patrol obeys. Her Patrol crewmen and elite Rangers (think of them as Marine Scouts, but with finely trained telepathic powers) finally crash land on a world so ancient that all record of it has been lost. But sometimes endings come full circle- and beginnings are found and restored....

_If there had been no other creator of hard science fiction, or of fantasy, in the second half of the 20th century, Andre Norton would have been enough.