Customer Reviews

Z-Lensman: Second Stage Lensman Trilogy, Vol. 3

5 star:		(1)
4 star:		(0)
3 star:		(1)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

I am an AVID fan of E.E. "Doc" Smith's Lensman Series, which according to some people is a seven-book series, but I think of as a six-book series (ending with Children of the Lens).

I wish that "Doc" had written more than six Lensman books, as I'm sure that many others do.

The vast majority of Doc's Lensman books focus on the activities of the various human Lensman, especially Kim Kinnison.

David Kyle's three Lensman books are written from the point of view of the completely alien lensmen.

Z-Lensman gives us a better view of Nadreck, a four-dimensional creature who lives in conditions as cold as Pluto.

Though I do not find Kyle's books as satisfying as I do the Doc Smith books, I still give him five stars because they give us more information about the Lensman Universe.

I do suggest, however, that you read Dragon first, then Z second, as Z builds on some of the events of Dragon, then, of course, read the Rigellian version.

If you love E.E.Smith's books, as I do, then definitely read David Kyle's three Lensman books, written from the points of view of the other three Second Stage Lensmen

Nadreck of Palain IV is the feature Second Stage Lensman in this novel. In the beginning it details how he helped an Arisian stop Gharlane of Eddore, and be invited to become Second Stage.

The rest of the book involves the machine entity A-22 found in Dragon Lensman, the young female Lensman Lalla Kallatra, and working out what do do with both A-22, and how to stop the Eichwoor from gaining a further hold.

A pair of Clouds are influential in this, both Storm Cloud and a new Lensman Cloud, with it all coming to a head at a ball, thanks to a little subterfuge by Worsel.