West of the Sun [Mass Market Paperback]

Edgar Pangborn (Author), Richard Corben (Illustrator)

Book Description

Publication Date: July 1, 1980

Stated "1st new Dell printing"; second of two editions by Dell of this 1953 novel. Pangborn's second novel (his first, the mystery "A-100," was published under the pseudonym "Bruce Harrison"). "West of the Sun" concerns six human astronauts stranded on the distant planet Lucifer, who must learn to survive along with the planet's two sentient native species. When a rescue ship finally arrives they decide they would rather remain to further develop the society they have established. Far from his best work, it is still lyrical, poignant and inspiring.

Product Details

• Mass Market Paperback: 219 pages
• Publisher: Dell Publishing (July 1, 1980)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0440193664
• ISBN-13: 978-0440193661
• Product Dimensions: 6.9 x 4.3 x 0.7 inches
• Shipping Weight: 4 ounces
• Average Customer Review: 4.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (3 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #3,235,576 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

3 of 3 people found the following review helpful:

3.0 out of 5 stars Interesting Look at First Contact, June 10, 2000

By 

Marian Powell - See all my reviews

This review is from: West of the Sun (Mass Market Paperback)

West of the Sun is, I think, a very early work by Edgar Pangborn. I ran across it and was pleasantly surprised that it's still good. Yes, it has a major flaw that really isn't the author's fault, the attitude towards women. At least the women take an active part in the story, but they're still out of the 1950s. That aside, this is a good account of first contact with not one but two alien races on a planet. The little group of six astronauts accidentally land in a messy conflict, on top of which they have their own conflicts within their group. Everything is nicely drawn and I like the fact that the end of the story is not the end but clearly a beginning for all three races.

1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Delightful story of three different species interacting., March 25, 1999

By A Customer

This review is from: West of the Sun (Mass Market Paperback)

I first read this book at the age of 10 or so and loved it.

The first human ship to explore another solar system crash lands on a planet which is home to two intelligent species. One species is gorilla-like---large, gentle, peace-loving. The other is a female-dominated race of warlike cannibalistic pygmies. A basic theme is that intelligent species should think alike and have similar emotional makeup. It explores the way individuals within species can be enemies and looks at the formation of inter-species alliances.

Good character development. Some very heart-warming episodes. But the story follows very predictable lines.

3 of 4 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Great Novel of First Contact, December 27, 2001

By 

Michael Walsh (Baltimore, MD) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: West of the Sun (Mass Market Paperback)

The reprinter of E E Smith's Lensman series - Old Earth Books - has begun reissuing all of Pangborn in classy carefully proofread editions. This is the first one in the program. The new edition has praise from Harry Turtledove, Kim Stanley Robinson, and John Clute. Well worth owning.