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Perry Rhodan - English #15
Escape to Venus
1st Orbit Futura 1976 paperback vg+ In stock shipped from our UK warehouse
- GenresScience FictionFiction
Paperback
First published January 1, 1969
66 people want to read
About the author
Clark Darlton
917Ìýbooks9ÌýfollowersPen name of German science fiction author Walter Ernsting.
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Displaying 1 - 9 of 9 reviews
September 24, 2022
In rereading these SF novels of a time long gone I cannot help thinking sometimes how much potential the stories had and how poorly in most cases they were handled. I am not saying they should be written in Tolstoy style or even Asimov style. The writing capabilities of the author were good enough to produce exciting novels but for some reason they decided not to do it.
This is an excellent example. Finally the exciting extra-terrestrial Thora gets some room. So far she had only be a minor figure whose only purpose was to get on our heroes nerves and to be beautiful. What a waste. (And the same is true for almost all characters, like the mutants. Everyone could have been the the center of a good story instead they are only used as tools. (With the exception of Ernst Ellert.)
So Thora decides that she had enough of Rhodan’s stalling. She wants to get back to Arkon and the way to do it ist to escape to Venus and send for help from there. That was excellent. With great dialogs with her accompanying Robot. She gets more lines here than in all previous books combined.
Unfortunately Rhodan follows her and the main part of the book is about his adventures of the planet. (Let Barrier X just happen a bit earlier.)
Here is how I would have done it. Keep Rhodan completely out of it. Have Thora and her Robot alone make it to the station. Have them discuss the ethical question of her doing. Let her finally decide that she will give in. And then, since that might not fill the book have a flash-back telling some part of her life on Arkon. Okay, I am dreaming.
As it is it is an okay story, better than most actually, but not good enough.
This is an excellent example. Finally the exciting extra-terrestrial Thora gets some room. So far she had only be a minor figure whose only purpose was to get on our heroes nerves and to be beautiful. What a waste. (And the same is true for almost all characters, like the mutants. Everyone could have been the the center of a good story instead they are only used as tools. (With the exception of Ernst Ellert.)
So Thora decides that she had enough of Rhodan’s stalling. She wants to get back to Arkon and the way to do it ist to escape to Venus and send for help from there. That was excellent. With great dialogs with her accompanying Robot. She gets more lines here than in all previous books combined.
Unfortunately Rhodan follows her and the main part of the book is about his adventures of the planet. (Let Barrier X just happen a bit earlier.)
Here is how I would have done it. Keep Rhodan completely out of it. Have Thora and her Robot alone make it to the station. Have them discuss the ethical question of her doing. Let her finally decide that she will give in. And then, since that might not fill the book have a flash-back telling some part of her life on Arkon. Okay, I am dreaming.
As it is it is an okay story, better than most actually, but not good enough.
December 1, 2018
(June 1981) While the earth celebrates the tenth anniversary of the first manned landing on the moon, Thora steals an experimental destroyer craft and streaks toward Venus, where she hopes to establish contact with Arkon, using the hyperwave sender in the Venus base. However, the ship has not yet been programmed with the proper authentication signals to be cleared for entry into Venus base. Her craft is shot down in the jungles, where Thora and the robot pilot R-17 fall in with Sergeant Rabow, one of Tomisenkow's men, dispatched to investigate the crash.
The Russians stranded on the moon have broken into several warring factions, and Rabow is considering abandoning Tomisenkow and joining the rebels, who have determined they will stay and colonize Venus, rather than continue the general’s effort to capture the technology of Venus base and use it to conquer the earth. Having turned Thora and R-17 over to Tomisenkow, Rabow and his company are sent to investigate fighting at the rebels' settlement.
Rhodan, John Marshall, and Son Okura pursue Thora in a second of the experimental destroyers, and like Thora, are shot down in the jungles by Venus base's defenses. Investigating the fighting around the rebel settlement, they, too, are found by Rabow. A third faction of Russians, the "totalitarian pacifists," led by Lieutenant Wallerinski, has attacked, and virtually wiped out the peaceful colonists. They turn next to Tomisenkow. Rabow and Rhodan escape, rejoin the mutants, and rush to warn Tomisenkow and to free Thora.
Bull approaches Venus in a Good Hope class cruiser, but the positronic brain has reacted to the (assumed) attacks by activating "secret barrier X," a defensive shield that prevents anyone from entering Venus� atmosphere. Only an Arkonide or Rhodan, entering the base itself, can deactivate the shield.
Recognizing what a prize he has in Thora, Tomisenkow tightens security around his camp. These defenses kill Rabow and wound Rhodan as they are approaching. Rhodan resolves to make his way to Venus base. He sends Marshall ahead to the sea, hoping the telepath can establish contact with the semi-intelligent seal creatures (who they had met and assisted in Heft #8: Base on Venus), and gain their assistance crossing the sea.
The Russians stranded on the moon have broken into several warring factions, and Rabow is considering abandoning Tomisenkow and joining the rebels, who have determined they will stay and colonize Venus, rather than continue the general’s effort to capture the technology of Venus base and use it to conquer the earth. Having turned Thora and R-17 over to Tomisenkow, Rabow and his company are sent to investigate fighting at the rebels' settlement.
Rhodan, John Marshall, and Son Okura pursue Thora in a second of the experimental destroyers, and like Thora, are shot down in the jungles by Venus base's defenses. Investigating the fighting around the rebel settlement, they, too, are found by Rabow. A third faction of Russians, the "totalitarian pacifists," led by Lieutenant Wallerinski, has attacked, and virtually wiped out the peaceful colonists. They turn next to Tomisenkow. Rabow and Rhodan escape, rejoin the mutants, and rush to warn Tomisenkow and to free Thora.
Bull approaches Venus in a Good Hope class cruiser, but the positronic brain has reacted to the (assumed) attacks by activating "secret barrier X," a defensive shield that prevents anyone from entering Venus� atmosphere. Only an Arkonide or Rhodan, entering the base itself, can deactivate the shield.
Recognizing what a prize he has in Thora, Tomisenkow tightens security around his camp. These defenses kill Rabow and wound Rhodan as they are approaching. Rhodan resolves to make his way to Venus base. He sends Marshall ahead to the sea, hoping the telepath can establish contact with the semi-intelligent seal creatures (who they had met and assisted in Heft #8: Base on Venus), and gain their assistance crossing the sea.
November 16, 2017
This novel, while interesting, just wasn't as satisfactory as others in the series. Thora decides to head to the base on Venus accompanied only by a robot. When he finds out Rhodan takes after along with two members the Mutant Corps, John Marshall and Son Okura. Due to an oversight the base shoots both craft down, stranding all on Venus and having to get to the base, which has activated a security system which is preventing any other craft from landing. Just to complicate things we have the remnants of the Eastern Bloc invasion fleet from a previous book who seem to have broken up into three groups, one wanting to fulfill their original mission while the other two are willing to start new lives on Venus. At the end of the book we are left wondering how everything will turn out.
One thing that should be mentioned. This novel portrays Venus as a hot humid world with various life forms, including some similar to Earth's dinosaurs. Although we now know this to not be the case, this novel was first published about 1960. At That time that theory still held some traction, given that the space age was just beginning.
There us also an installment of the Scientifilm World column. This one covers When Worlds Collide. For the SF cinema buff this may be of interest. In my case it was neither a plus or minus. It was at least a better read than a letters column. I suspect actually been better if it had been loner.
One thing that should be mentioned. This novel portrays Venus as a hot humid world with various life forms, including some similar to Earth's dinosaurs. Although we now know this to not be the case, this novel was first published about 1960. At That time that theory still held some traction, given that the space age was just beginning.
There us also an installment of the Scientifilm World column. This one covers When Worlds Collide. For the SF cinema buff this may be of interest. In my case it was neither a plus or minus. It was at least a better read than a letters column. I suspect actually been better if it had been loner.
January 10, 2021
The authors seem intent to have time pass... where last story, the ending was a bit of a cliff hanger that seems like to pick up right away.. it seems almost a year has past. So it's more coincidently that the action goes back to Venus.. where Thora has decided she won't want any longer to go home.. she steals a ship to go radio home to get picked up, Perry follows her, and hijinks ensue.
Apparently, the Russians from last book have settled in enough to fight amongst themselves, and Thora and Perry (separately) get involved. There's also a few interludes telling us how animals are people too, which was interesting, and some comic relief with Pucky and Bell.
A bit disjointed (I guess to be expected, since it's multiple authors and still at establishing things), but still fun.
Apparently, the Russians from last book have settled in enough to fight amongst themselves, and Thora and Perry (separately) get involved. There's also a few interludes telling us how animals are people too, which was interesting, and some comic relief with Pucky and Bell.
A bit disjointed (I guess to be expected, since it's multiple authors and still at establishing things), but still fun.
February 15, 2020
Another time jump, now putting us 10 years after the first book, and now we get back to Venus for another round of jungles and dinosaurs
April 9, 2024
Ends on a tree hanger! Enjoyable as not quite so frantic- even though the range of Venusian wildlife is challenging. Love Thora as villain
July 16, 2010
This book was awesome. Awesome in a mental funny way. First off, this author didn't know much about Venus because, according to him, the atmosphere is breathable, the temprature is only +45 celcius, and worst of all he has trees growing on Venus....haha. Anyway, I realize it's sci-fi but still, come on! Another funny thing is there is a little beaver creature named Pucky...lol!
June 20, 2016
Perry Rhodan #15
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