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In the second book in the Legion of Space series, Jay Kalam, Hal Samdu, and Giles Habibula fight The Cometeers, an alien race of energy beings controlling a "comet" which is really a giant force field containing a swarm of planets populated by their slaves. The slave races are of flesh and blood, but none are remotely similar to humans. The Cometeers cannot be destroyed by AKKA, as they are incorporeal from the Universe's point of view and exist for the most part in an alternate reality. The show more ruling Cometeers feed on their slaves and literally absorb their souls, leaving disgusting, dying hulks in their wake. It is said that they do so, as they were once fleshly entities themselves of various species. Hence, the ruling Cometeers keep other intelligent beings as slaves and "cattle." They fear AKKA, though, as it can erase all their possessions. show lessTags
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Jack Williamson is one of the great Classic SF writers who formed the Golden Age of Science Fiction. He has been contributing good stories since the 1930s. He invented the terms "genetic engineering" and "terraforming" It's a surprise that he received no awards until the 1994.
World Fantasy Lifetime Achievement winner (1994)
This is the second book. It and the whole "Legion of Space" series, is better then it deserves to be. The series is pure Space Opera but lots of fun. If written by many other authors it would have been 3 stars but Williamson knows how to keep a story moving. After reading the first book I just had to get the second, third and forth in the series. His writing matured as he went but these early book are still great.
World Fantasy Lifetime Achievement winner (1994)
This is the second book. It and the whole "Legion of Space" series, is better then it deserves to be. The series is pure Space Opera but lots of fun. If written by many other authors it would have been 3 stars but Williamson knows how to keep a story moving. After reading the first book I just had to get the second, third and forth in the series. His writing matured as he went but these early book are still great.
This is incredible science fiction. One of my favorite stories. Hard to believe it does not have a review. An ancient race of beings seize control of a comet and use it in an attempt to enslave the universe. I have not read it in over 35 years. Time to buy another copy and give it a spin.
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210+ Works 10,095 Members
Author Jack Williamson was born in Bisbee, Arizona on April 29, 1908. In the 1950's, he received both his BA and MA degress in English from Eastern New Mexico University. After receiving his PhD from the University of Colorado, he taught linguistics, the modern novel and literary criticism at Eastern New Mexico University until he retired in 1977. show more At the age of 20, he published his first story, The Metal Man, in a December 1928 issue of Amazing Stories. Since then he has written more than 50 novels and at least 15 short story collections. Some of his best known works are The Humanoids, The Legion of Time, Manseed, and Lifeburst. He also published numerous collaborations with fellow science fiction author Frederik Pohl. He received numerous awards including the Pilgrim Award from the Science Fiction Research Association, the Hugo Award, and the Nebula Award. He was an inaugural inductee in the Science Fiction and Fantasy Hall of Fame and was named a Grand Master of Science Fiction by the Science Fiction Writers of America in 1976. He died at his home in Portales, New Mexico on November 10, 2006. (Bowker Author Biography) show less
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Common Knowledge
- Original title
- The Cometeers
- Original publication date
- 1936
- Original language*
- Englisch
*Some information comes from Common Knowledge in other languages. Click "Edit" for more information.
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- Members
- 181
- Popularity
- 181,289
- Reviews
- 2
- Rating
- (3.50)
- Languages
- English, French, German, Italian
- Media
- Paper, Audiobook
- ISBNs
- 7
- ASINs
- 12
