Customer Reviews

The Star Kings

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It just doesn't get any better than this, folks! Not if you enjoy sci-fi, romance, and adventure, all rolled into one!

By means of a futuristic mind-transfer device, Zarth Arn, Prince of the Mid-Galactic Empire, is able to talk John Gordon, a 20th-century worker in a drab office, into exchanging minds with him for a few days so that he can pursue his hobby as an historian, and study old earth (250,000 years in the past!) first-hand.

But it all falls apart for both of them when John (in Zarth's body) is inexpectedly kidnapped by Shorr Kan, the galaxy's biggest villain, and leader of the League of Dark Worlds -- located within a large nebula, called The Cloud. Fortunately, Gordon is rescued in the nick of time, but then is ordered by the Emperor, Arn Abbas (Zarth's father) to return from the isolated laboratory on Earth, to Throon, capital world of the Mid-Galactic Empire, which circles the star, Canopus. There's just one hitch. No living person in that era knows of the mind-exchange, and Zarth had given John strict orders not to divulge that -- under ANY circumstances. So John's in the soup, and Zarth's stranded in the 20th century.

Thus, we see a stunned John Gordon suddenly within the halls of the Great Palace, in a future unimaginable... about to be married to the Princess Lianna of Fomalhaut Kingdom, in a marriage arranged by the Emperor.

To complicate things even more, John first meets Murn, who turns out to be Zarth's morganatic wife -- who adores him! How in the world can he marry Lianna after that, and thus betray Zarth so? But the Emperor demands it!

Wait. It gets even better! John meets Lianna two days before the ceremony and falls in love with her at first sight! And Lianna picks up the vibes... which really puzzles her, because she knows that the impending marriage is meaningless, other than to cement a political bond between the Empire and her kingdom.

I won't spoil things by telling you more, except that all of this groundwork occurs within the first few pages of this most delightful, and often heart-tugging romp, which finds Lianna and John suddenly flung back and forth across the galaxy together in a series of Cloud-perpetuated crises which ultimately leads to John's taking charge of a weapon capable of destroying the entire galaxy... the dreaded Disruptor. The plot moves at the rapid-fire pace of the film serials of old, with never a dull moment.

Edmond Hamilton is my favorite author, and this is my favorite book of all time. The only one I've ever read 9 times! If you're lucky enough to obtain a copy of THIS book, you'll always remember its exciting and haunting story... and you'll never let it out of your hands!

And WHAT a movie this will make, if Hollywood ever realizes what's its been missing. "Star Wars" is PALE by comparison to this!

I stumbled across The Star Kings shortly after I seriously got into SF, probably when I was about 12. This book blew my mind with its very colourful writing (love the characters' names) and the majestic sweep of the universe it presented. Sure the science is pretty badly dated, but if you can look past that, it's a rip-snorting tale as they say. This book still remains in my top 5, although I can't be sure that's not for sentimental reasons. I searched for about 5 years to find the sequel, Return to the Stars. For those who've read and loved this book, check out the campy movie Starcrash starring Marjoe Gortner next time it comes on late at night - the villian's name is Zarth Arn!

Star Kings is the best book I have ever read. It mixes a great space opera and love story through a non-stop adventure over the galaxy. Star Wars is a pale copy of this book but those who liked Star Wars will surely adore Star Kings. Don't miss the sequel "return to stars" !

I originally bought this book when it was published by "Venture" compiled with "Return to the stars"... and its been by my side ever since, i've had it for about 7,8,9 maybe 10 years, cant be certain. When ever im not reading something new, I return to this book. Must of read it a million times by now. I've been trying to find more Edmond Hamilton ever since...

(for those who didnt understand my one-line summary, Claytons made a drink they called "the drink you have when your not having a drink" because it was non-alcoholic, so anything "Claytons" is something you do when your not actually doint it).

As fellow reader Craig Chilton mentioned, "it doesn't get any better". I first read this book back around 1982. It was the FIRST Sci-fi book I could not put down. As I read it, I saw it. I never read anything like it. Alot of the story is still vivid in my mind ( ya so I've read it more than a few times ). As a matter of fact I've purchased this book 3 times after lending it out and not getting it back ( those lucky souls). As of 2-4-98 my search is on again to find another copy, out there waiting for my fourth purchase. So please leave one for me on the self, I have to have it ! As for turning this story into a movie, guess I'm not the only one who agrees it'd be KILLER !!!

I never read a book by Edmond Hamilton I didn't like but with Star Kings his works went to new heights. I could not put it or it's sequel "Return to the Stars" down. There was adventure,romance and humor all rolled up into one. People who have read this book should also try his Starwolf trilogy. Pure excellence!!!!!!

'Chronicles of the Star Kings' are not only the best space operas but also the best science fictions for me. I was ten years old when I met 'the Star Kings'. After finishing to read it, I felt strong empathy with John Gordon and was anxious to return to the world of the stars. A few years after, I encountered 'Return to the Stars'. Can you imagine my delight at that time? Twenty five years have past since then, but John Gordon is still alive in my mind. I am now eagar to read 'Stark and the Star Kings' written for 'the Last Dangerous Vison' which is not exhibited in public.

As others have mentioned, this is possibly the best science fiction book ever written.
I remember reading it first when I lived in Russia, it came in the back of a monthly magazine a chapter at a time and for the next year I was reduced to counting days until the next issue would show up.
After moving to States, the first thing i did was track down the book in some god-forsaken library in St. Louis. Since then I have read it many times. Actually, every time I just pick it up to leaf through it I end up dropping everythign else I am doing and re-reading it again.

This book changed my life. I got it as a birthday present when I was 10. I'm 42 now, and I still think about how obsessed I became with it. That's how I got into astronomy and astrophotography, etc The ending was devastating. Long live John Gordon & Edmond Hamilton! Mike Ledesma NY,NY USA

Great saga.
This novel is in the history of SF. It is a book that a connaisseur of SF can't loose.
Stars and heavens, space battleships, love and danger, mistery and destiny. Great horizons and an amazing immagination are the elements that makes this novel a legend.
This book must be a pillar of every library.