Sleeping Planet
by William R Burkett
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Science Fiction Encyclopedia described this as a "hard-edged" tale of the 24th-century conquest of Earth by an alien empire the humans had judged too stupid to pull off such a coup. Only a handful of humans escaped the effects of a mutated narcoleptic drug that put humanity into protracted hibernation. The battle to liberate Earth is fought by those few with the aid of a vengeful ghost called "Gremper" by the aliens. The action is fast and furious, while the genius general of the invading show more fleet goes slowly insane at the disruption of his well-laid plans. "A natural-born storyteller," said bestselling author Frank G. Slaughter. A classic reprint of a sci-fi masterpiece. show lessTags
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Member Reviews
I first read this book long ago, perhaps at the end of the 1960s, and remembered it long enough that I was pleased to find a second-hand paperback copy in 1990. In 2023, I bought the Kindle version and reread it.
It’s basically a corny old sf story in the style of the 1950s, very like one of Eric Frank Russell’s stories, in which hostile but not very intelligent aliens are outwitted by humans. However, I really enjoyed rereading it, because it’s an above-average tale of its kind. Burkett turns out to be a good storyteller.
Being a corny old sf story sets it back a bit, and I don’t think it’s quite good enough for four stars, but this is a three-plus. I don’t think I’ll reread it often, but I can reread it occasionally with show more pleasure.
It may be worth noting that all the active characters are male, although the existence of women (and female aliens) is occasionally mentioned. This is quite common in old sf stories, especially those with a military orientation. show less
It’s basically a corny old sf story in the style of the 1950s, very like one of Eric Frank Russell’s stories, in which hostile but not very intelligent aliens are outwitted by humans. However, I really enjoyed rereading it, because it’s an above-average tale of its kind. Burkett turns out to be a good storyteller.
Being a corny old sf story sets it back a bit, and I don’t think it’s quite good enough for four stars, but this is a three-plus. I don’t think I’ll reread it often, but I can reread it occasionally with show more pleasure.
It may be worth noting that all the active characters are male, although the existence of women (and female aliens) is occasionally mentioned. This is quite common in old sf stories, especially those with a military orientation. show less
Dec 17, 2024 (Edited)English (UK)
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Author Information
7+ Works 240 Members
Series
Belongs to Publisher Series
Common Knowledge
- Canonical title*
- El Planeta Dormido
- Original title
- Sleeping Planet
- Original publication date
- 1964 (serialized in Analog) (serialized in Analog); 1965; 1965 (published in book form) (published in book form)
- People/Characters
- Brad Donovan; Jimmy Rierson
- Dedication
- For "MAMA," my grandmother, Mrs. Jessie Burnett DeLong, for obvious reasons.
- First words
- At 11 A.M., Greenwich time 2432 A.D., upon what was to be his last day on Mars, Donald Shey was rudely awakened by the shrill ululation of sirens passing beneath his third-floor hotel window.
- Last words
- (Click to show. Warning: May contain spoilers.)From high above came the deep-bass rumbling of a spaceship's muted propulsors as it settled slowly toward the no-longer sleeping planet.
- Original language
- English
*Some information comes from Common Knowledge in other languages. Click "Edit" for more information.
Classifications
Statistics
- Members
- 119
- Popularity
- 274,734
- Reviews
- 1
- Rating
- (3.36)
- Languages
- English, German, Spanish
- Media
- Paper, Ebook
- ISBNs
- 3
- ASINs
- 8
