Skylark (series)
Encyclopedia
Skylark is a science fiction/space opera
series by the late E. E. "Doc" Smith. The first book The Skylark of Space
(first published in Amazing Stories
in 1928) is revolutionary in the genre, in which a scientist discovers a space-drive
, builds a starship
, and flies off with three companions to encounter alien civilizations and fight a larger-than-life villain.
The Skylark of Space was the first of a series which continued through 4 books -- Skylark Three
and Skylark of Valeron
written during the 1930s, and Skylark DuQuesne
(DuQuesne is pronounced "Du Kane"), written much later in 1963. R. D. Mullen declared that "The great success of the stories was surely due first of all to the skill with which Smith mixed elements of the spy thriller and the western story (our hero is the fastest gun in space, our villain the second fastest) with those of the traditional cosmic voyage."
. Newton's laws are obeyed, planets circle suns instead of wandering through space, there is a description of something like a black hole
or neutron star
, and matter-energy conversion is involved in the space drive. It is implied that FTL travel is possible simply because Einstein was wrong - the observation that a spaceship has covered a distance apparently impossible in the time elapsed is met with the response "Einstein's theory is still a theory. That distance is an observed fact"; such effects as time dilation and mass increase are simply ignored. This claim had more potential validity in the 20s, when the story was written, than it does today; after all, many decades of experiments exist to back Einstein's theories up. Much like now-known-incorrect depictions of Venus or Mars in other classic SF, this must be allowed for as a sort of "poetic license" suspension of disbelief.
Enemies -- Dr. DuQuesne; the first of the "disembodied intelligences"; the peoples of the nation of Mardonale on the planet Osnome.
Technology -- The discovery of a mysterious "platinum group" element (suggested to be an ultra-heavy, stable, and non-radioactive transuranic in the story), designated "metal X", which catalyzes the total conversion of matter to energy under the proper stimuli (specified to include an electric current with (in the revised version) simultaneous activation by the radiation field produced by an early particle accelerator); the further discovery that such activated metal can generate a field which is capable of accelerating a ship to faster than light velocities at accelerations (relative to the external universe) on the order of c
, inferred to mean 300,000,000 m/s/s or 30 million g
, but with forces inside the ship of no more than 10 - 20 g; and that such activated metal can be directed to focus on a single specific mass (such as the Earth) for location and direction. (The power used for maximum acceleration can be estimated from the total conversion of 400 lb of copper in 48 hours using E=mc2 as 95 kilotons/second. With an estimated weight of 4,000 tons, the conventional Newtonian acceleration may be estimated as 361 g, hence the propulsive effect itself is clearly not compatible with Newtonian physics in terms of pure propulsive effects) The gift (from the Osnomians) of the process for creating the super-strong, transparent metal arenak. "Attractor" and "Repellor" beams, which may be the first literary appearance of the concept of a tractor beam
. The "educator", a device for transferring memories, and other learned information (including languages and skills or specialty expertise) wholesale rather than by conventional teaching methods.
Weapons -- Radiation-free nuclear explosive
s packagable as handgun
bullets based on "metal X." Various beam and plasma
weapons developed from Osnomian technology.
Enemies -- Dr. DuQuesne, who is seeking to duplicate the capabilities of the Skylark and gain control of Earth; the Fenachrone, a semi-humanoid, fascist, and highly xenophobic species bent on the conquest of the galaxy and the destruction of all other advanced life forms.
Technology and Weapons -- An enhancement of the "educator", allowing the forcible removal of memories and skills. The "zone of force," a total stasis field in the ether
, defined as "fourth order", akin to modern quarks in their place in the subatomic system; advanced propulsion and weapons technology stolen from the Fenachrone; the refinement of these technologies using the total conversion power capabilities of "metal X" as well as the superscience of Norlamin into a comprehensive, massively integrated set of "fifth order" weapons, power, and a communication projector operating at the "first order below the ether" and capable of faster-than-light but still limited propagation speed. At the end of the novel, the massive ship Skylark Three has 20 times the acceleration potential of the original Skylark, and, via the Fenachrone drive, the issues which limited acceleration due to the impact on the crew has been refined so that the drive operates on the entire ship at once, rendering the interior of the ship is effectively weightless.
Enemies -- Dr. DuQuesne, who has succeeded through subterfuge in duplicating not only the capabilities of the Skylark but also of Skylark Three; the surviving Fenachrone; the full colony of "disembodied intelligences"; the inhabitants of a "fourth dimension" that Seaton and crew pass through to escape the intelligences; the chlorine-breathing, amorphous, and rabidly xenophobic Chlorans who are attempting to conquer Valeron.
Technology and Weapons -- Armed with the combined knowledge of the chief physicist and the chief psychologist of Norlamin, Seaton deduces that intelligent thought is a manifestation of "sixth order" forces, faster and potentially more powerful than the fifth-order forces powering the Skylark Three. By the end of the novel, he has refined this into the artificial "Brain" at the center of his 1000-km diameter spaceship, the Skylark of Valeron. The "Brain" is capable of simultaneous thought, computation, and control of all forces from ordinary electromagnetism through gravity up to thought and the other explored bands of the sixth order, and its abilities include the manufacture of the Skylark of Valeron to specification, directly by conversion of ambient energy into matter, in a period of six hours. Valeron includes artificial gravity, the ability to travel intergalactic distances on the order of few months using accelerations of more than 5 times that of Skylark Three (the only benchmark value cited, the intergalactic travel capability noted requires systems with acceleration capability another 500 - 1000 x greater than that; however, this was the acceleration relatively near the end of the Valeron's journey and that the ship may have run significantly faster in the part of the trip that was glossed over); a complete map of the entire universe stored in viewable three-dimensional form, and the necessary controls to direct communications and flight on multi-billion light year scales. Finally, the technology allows Seaton to capture and imprison the intelligences.
Enemies -- DuQuesne, who still attempts to murder Seaton and company prior to their alliance; the logic-driven, monstrous Llurd; the Chlorans (who, it is suggested, exist in multiple places similar to the manner in which various humanoid species exist throughout the galaxies), and occupy similar planets in the universe just as humans find themselves appearing on various earthlike planets.
Technology and Weapons -- Both Seaton and DuQuesne build or upgrade to even larger and more powerful spacecraft than the Skylark of Valeron. One of the Jelmi (humanoid subjects of the Llurd Empire) develops a technology making possible instantaneous matter translation over large but unspecified distances, akin to a space-folding teleportation technique. Seaton develops a defense against using the transference device as well. Both involve fourth-dimensional shortcuts. The transference device is scaled up to battle the Chlorans at the end of the novel, resulting in the destruction of the entire galaxy being taken over by the Chlorans. The Llurd situation is settled peacefully by applying logic to appeal to the Llurdan leader/king/dictator.
1928 publication.) (Transcribed from Amazing Stories
, 1930.)
Space opera
Space opera is a subgenre of science fiction that emphasizes romantic, often melodramatic adventure, set mainly or entirely in outer space, generally involving conflict between opponents possessing advanced technologies and abilities. The term has no relation to music and it is analogous to "soap...
series by the late E. E. "Doc" Smith. The first book The Skylark of Space
The Skylark of Space
The Skylark of Space by Edward E. "Doc" Smith was written between 1915 and 1921 while Smith was working on his doctorate. Though the original idea for the novel was Smith's, he co-wrote the first part of the novel with Lee Hawkins Garby, the wife of his college classmate and later neighbor Carl Garby...
(first published in Amazing Stories
Amazing Stories
Amazing Stories was an American science fiction magazine launched in April 1926 by Hugo Gernsback's Experimenter Publishing. It was the first magazine devoted solely to science fiction...
in 1928) is revolutionary in the genre, in which a scientist discovers a space-drive
Spacecraft propulsion
Spacecraft propulsion is any method used to accelerate spacecraft and artificial satellites. There are many different methods. Each method has drawbacks and advantages, and spacecraft propulsion is an active area of research. However, most spacecraft today are propelled by forcing a gas from the...
, builds a starship
Starship
A starship or interstellar spacecraft is a theoretical spacecraft designed for traveling between the stars, as opposed to a vehicle designed for orbital spaceflight or interplanetary travel....
, and flies off with three companions to encounter alien civilizations and fight a larger-than-life villain.
The Skylark of Space was the first of a series which continued through 4 books -- Skylark Three
Skylark Three
Skylark Three is a science fiction novel by author Edward E. Smith, Ph.D., the second in his Skylark series. Originally serialized through the Amazing Stories magazine in 1930, it was first collected in book form in 1948 by Fantasy Press....
and Skylark of Valeron
Skylark of Valeron
Skylark of Valeron is a science fiction novel by author Edward E. Smith, Ph.D., the third in his Skylark series. Originally serialized through the magazine Astounding in 1934, it was first collected in book form in 1949 by Fantasy Press....
written during the 1930s, and Skylark DuQuesne
Skylark DuQuesne
Skylark DuQuesne was the final novel in the epic Skylark series by E. E. Smith. Written as Dr. Smith's last novel in 1965 and published shortly before his death, it expands on the characterizations of the earlier novels but with some discrepancies . The most significant point is that Dr...
(DuQuesne is pronounced "Du Kane"), written much later in 1963. R. D. Mullen declared that "The great success of the stories was surely due first of all to the skill with which Smith mixed elements of the spy thriller and the western story (our hero is the fastest gun in space, our villain the second fastest) with those of the traditional cosmic voyage."
Science
The science in the "Skylark" series, while not entirely accurate, is more accurate than in, for example, Flash GordonFlash Gordon
Flash Gordon is the hero of a science fiction adventure comic strip originally drawn by Alex Raymond. First published January 7, 1934, the strip was inspired by and created to compete with the already established Buck Rogers adventure strip. Also inspired by these series were comics such as Dash...
. Newton's laws are obeyed, planets circle suns instead of wandering through space, there is a description of something like a black hole
Black hole
A black hole is a region of spacetime from which nothing, not even light, can escape. The theory of general relativity predicts that a sufficiently compact mass will deform spacetime to form a black hole. Around a black hole there is a mathematically defined surface called an event horizon that...
or neutron star
Neutron star
A neutron star is a type of stellar remnant that can result from the gravitational collapse of a massive star during a Type II, Type Ib or Type Ic supernova event. Such stars are composed almost entirely of neutrons, which are subatomic particles without electrical charge and with a slightly larger...
, and matter-energy conversion is involved in the space drive. It is implied that FTL travel is possible simply because Einstein was wrong - the observation that a spaceship has covered a distance apparently impossible in the time elapsed is met with the response "Einstein's theory is still a theory. That distance is an observed fact"; such effects as time dilation and mass increase are simply ignored. This claim had more potential validity in the 20s, when the story was written, than it does today; after all, many decades of experiments exist to back Einstein's theories up. Much like now-known-incorrect depictions of Venus or Mars in other classic SF, this must be allowed for as a sort of "poetic license" suspension of disbelief.
Summary
The entire series describes the conflicts between the Seaton and Crane partnership, and DuQuesne and his minions, which often break into open warfare. It also includes depictions of progressively increasing scales of conflict between themselves, individually and collectively, and a series of non-human aliens bent on universal conquest. Eventually, being forced to cooperate against an alien species which had conquered one galaxy and was expanding into others, they concluded that the universe was large enough to allow themselves to exist together in peace.The Skylark of Space
Allies -- The humanoid peoples of the nation of Kondal on the planet Osnome, and particular Crown Prince Dunark.Enemies -- Dr. DuQuesne; the first of the "disembodied intelligences"; the peoples of the nation of Mardonale on the planet Osnome.
Technology -- The discovery of a mysterious "platinum group" element (suggested to be an ultra-heavy, stable, and non-radioactive transuranic in the story), designated "metal X", which catalyzes the total conversion of matter to energy under the proper stimuli (specified to include an electric current with (in the revised version) simultaneous activation by the radiation field produced by an early particle accelerator); the further discovery that such activated metal can generate a field which is capable of accelerating a ship to faster than light velocities at accelerations (relative to the external universe) on the order of c
Speed of light
The speed of light in vacuum, usually denoted by c, is a physical constant important in many areas of physics. Its value is 299,792,458 metres per second, a figure that is exact since the length of the metre is defined from this constant and the international standard for time...
, inferred to mean 300,000,000 m/s/s or 30 million g
Standard gravity
Standard gravity, or standard acceleration due to free fall, usually denoted by g0 or gn, is the nominal acceleration of an object in a vacuum near the surface of the Earth. It is defined as precisely , or about...
, but with forces inside the ship of no more than 10 - 20 g; and that such activated metal can be directed to focus on a single specific mass (such as the Earth) for location and direction. (The power used for maximum acceleration can be estimated from the total conversion of 400 lb of copper in 48 hours using E=mc2 as 95 kilotons/second. With an estimated weight of 4,000 tons, the conventional Newtonian acceleration may be estimated as 361 g, hence the propulsive effect itself is clearly not compatible with Newtonian physics in terms of pure propulsive effects) The gift (from the Osnomians) of the process for creating the super-strong, transparent metal arenak. "Attractor" and "Repellor" beams, which may be the first literary appearance of the concept of a tractor beam
Tractor beam
A tractor beam is a device with the ability to attract one object to another from a distance. Since the 1990s, technology and research has labored to make it a reality, mostly at microscopic level. Less commonly, a similar beam that repels is called a pressor beam or repulsor beam...
. The "educator", a device for transferring memories, and other learned information (including languages and skills or specialty expertise) wholesale rather than by conventional teaching methods.
Weapons -- Radiation-free nuclear explosive
Nuclear explosive
A nuclear explosive is an explosive device that derives its energy from nuclear reactions. Almost all nuclear explosive devices that have been designed and produced are nuclear weapons intended for warfare....
s packagable as handgun
Handgun
A handgun is a firearm designed to be held and operated by one hand. This characteristic differentiates handguns as a general class of firearms from long guns such as rifles and shotguns ....
bullets based on "metal X." Various beam and plasma
Plasma (physics)
In physics and chemistry, plasma is a state of matter similar to gas in which a certain portion of the particles are ionized. Heating a gas may ionize its molecules or atoms , thus turning it into a plasma, which contains charged particles: positive ions and negative electrons or ions...
weapons developed from Osnomian technology.
Skylark Three
Allies -- The amphibious aquatic humanoid intelligent species of Dasor, and the advanced but ultra-pacifist humanoid scientists of the planet Norlamin, all part of the same multi-sun solar system as Osnome called The Green System. It is suggested that the entire Green System is actually a stable set of orbital pathways for multiple planets passing near multiple close stars in a complex but clearly stable orbital process, the mechanics of which are not clearly defined.Enemies -- Dr. DuQuesne, who is seeking to duplicate the capabilities of the Skylark and gain control of Earth; the Fenachrone, a semi-humanoid, fascist, and highly xenophobic species bent on the conquest of the galaxy and the destruction of all other advanced life forms.
Technology and Weapons -- An enhancement of the "educator", allowing the forcible removal of memories and skills. The "zone of force," a total stasis field in the ether
Luminiferous aether
In the late 19th century, luminiferous aether or ether, meaning light-bearing aether, was the term used to describe a medium for the propagation of light....
, defined as "fourth order", akin to modern quarks in their place in the subatomic system; advanced propulsion and weapons technology stolen from the Fenachrone; the refinement of these technologies using the total conversion power capabilities of "metal X" as well as the superscience of Norlamin into a comprehensive, massively integrated set of "fifth order" weapons, power, and a communication projector operating at the "first order below the ether" and capable of faster-than-light but still limited propagation speed. At the end of the novel, the massive ship Skylark Three has 20 times the acceleration potential of the original Skylark, and, via the Fenachrone drive, the issues which limited acceleration due to the impact on the crew has been refined so that the drive operates on the entire ship at once, rendering the interior of the ship is effectively weightless.
Skylark of Valeron
Allies -- The human peoples of Valeron, a planet of a highly distant galaxy.Enemies -- Dr. DuQuesne, who has succeeded through subterfuge in duplicating not only the capabilities of the Skylark but also of Skylark Three; the surviving Fenachrone; the full colony of "disembodied intelligences"; the inhabitants of a "fourth dimension" that Seaton and crew pass through to escape the intelligences; the chlorine-breathing, amorphous, and rabidly xenophobic Chlorans who are attempting to conquer Valeron.
Technology and Weapons -- Armed with the combined knowledge of the chief physicist and the chief psychologist of Norlamin, Seaton deduces that intelligent thought is a manifestation of "sixth order" forces, faster and potentially more powerful than the fifth-order forces powering the Skylark Three. By the end of the novel, he has refined this into the artificial "Brain" at the center of his 1000-km diameter spaceship, the Skylark of Valeron. The "Brain" is capable of simultaneous thought, computation, and control of all forces from ordinary electromagnetism through gravity up to thought and the other explored bands of the sixth order, and its abilities include the manufacture of the Skylark of Valeron to specification, directly by conversion of ambient energy into matter, in a period of six hours. Valeron includes artificial gravity, the ability to travel intergalactic distances on the order of few months using accelerations of more than 5 times that of Skylark Three (the only benchmark value cited, the intergalactic travel capability noted requires systems with acceleration capability another 500 - 1000 x greater than that; however, this was the acceleration relatively near the end of the Valeron's journey and that the ship may have run significantly faster in the part of the trip that was glossed over); a complete map of the entire universe stored in viewable three-dimensional form, and the necessary controls to direct communications and flight on multi-billion light year scales. Finally, the technology allows Seaton to capture and imprison the intelligences.
Skylark DuQuesne
Allies -- The humanoid species of the Llurd empire and those in the Chloran galaxy. DuQuesne and the remaining Fenachrone, who are also threatened by the Chlorans.Enemies -- DuQuesne, who still attempts to murder Seaton and company prior to their alliance; the logic-driven, monstrous Llurd; the Chlorans (who, it is suggested, exist in multiple places similar to the manner in which various humanoid species exist throughout the galaxies), and occupy similar planets in the universe just as humans find themselves appearing on various earthlike planets.
Technology and Weapons -- Both Seaton and DuQuesne build or upgrade to even larger and more powerful spacecraft than the Skylark of Valeron. One of the Jelmi (humanoid subjects of the Llurd Empire) develops a technology making possible instantaneous matter translation over large but unspecified distances, akin to a space-folding teleportation technique. Seaton develops a defense against using the transference device as well. Both involve fourth-dimensional shortcuts. The transference device is scaled up to battle the Chlorans at the end of the novel, resulting in the destruction of the entire galaxy being taken over by the Chlorans. The Llurd situation is settled peacefully by applying logic to appeal to the Llurdan leader/king/dictator.
External links
(Transcribed from Amazing StoriesAmazing Stories
Amazing Stories was an American science fiction magazine launched in April 1926 by Hugo Gernsback's Experimenter Publishing. It was the first magazine devoted solely to science fiction...
1928 publication.) (Transcribed from Amazing Stories
Amazing Stories
Amazing Stories was an American science fiction magazine launched in April 1926 by Hugo Gernsback's Experimenter Publishing. It was the first magazine devoted solely to science fiction...
, 1930.)