The Vortex Blaster

Edward Elmer SmithProject Gutenberg · United StatesDec 2019

3.6

Word count: 48K words
Chapters: 5

Summary

Project Gutenberg was the first provider of free electronic books, or eBooks. Michael Hart, founder of Project Gutenberg, invented eBooks in 1971 and his memory continues to inspire the creation of eBooks and related technologies today.The Vortex Blaster by E. E. SmithAuthor: Smith, E. E. (Edward Elmer), 1890-1965,Language: English, Class: PS: Language and Literatures: American and Canadian literature, Release Date: Sep 16, 2007

Editor's review

The Vortex Blaster by E. E. Smith is a space opera that belongs to the early science fiction mode characterized by vast cosmic settings and a powerful protagonist. The story revolves around a hero who can manipulate energy vortices; it moves at a brisk pace, with direct conflict and an unmistakable pulp entertainment value. Its significance lies more in exemplifying the mid-twentieth-century science fiction magazine style of narrative: scientific premises serve dramatic scenes, characters are functional, and problems are resolved cleanly and decisively. For readers studying the development of early space opera or interested in Smith's "superhero scientist" figure, this short work offers useful reference. It should not be judged by the rigorous standards of modern hard science fiction; rather, it is best appreciated in its historical context as a tightly paced, boldly imaginative piece of popular science fiction.

Who it's for

A good fit for

Readers interested in early space opera and the history of science fiction
Science fiction fans who enjoy fast pacing, strong premises, and heroic protagonists
Scholars studying mid-twentieth-century popular science fiction narrative modes
Advanced readers who wish to encounter classic science fiction short stories in the original English

Not a good fit for

Readers who prefer the rigorous scientific premises and logical deduction of hard science fiction
Readers expecting complex character development and nuanced emotional writing
Those intolerant of functional characters and blunt conflict in early science fiction

Reading tips

Familiarize yourself with the mid-twentieth-century science fiction magazine tradition before entering the text; its style will then be easier to understand.
Read it as a short piece of entertainment in one sitting; do not overanalyze the scientific details.
Note the connections between the protagonist and the "scientist hero" archetype common in science fiction of the period.
For research purposes, read it alongside representative works of early space opera for comparison.

About the publisher

Project Gutenberg United States · Founded in 1971

Project Gutenberg is a digital publishing project focused on public-domain ebooks. Its publishing direction centers on classic literary works whose copyright has expired, covering genres such as poetry, drama, fiction, and epic. Representative books include Lyrical Ballads by Wordsworth and Coleridge, Proust's Du côté de chez Swann, Shakespeare's Macbeth and The Complete Works of William Shakespeare, Homer's The Iliad, Dante's La Divina Comèdia: Purgatòri, Cervantes's The History of Don Quixote, Volume 2, and Grahame's The Wind in the Willows. Its author resources consist mainly of classic Western writers such as Wordsworth, Proust, Shakespeare, Homer, Dante, Cervantes, Grahame, and Tolstoy. Its publishing feature is the provision of freely accessible ebooks in EPUB and Kindle formats; it is not a traditional publisher, and publicly available information is limited.

FAQ

Do I need to read other works first?

Based on the available information, it is a standalone short work that does not depend on prior reading. You can go straight in, though familiarity with common early space opera conventions will make its narrative rhythm easier to follow.

Is the scientific premise rigorous?

This is an early space opera, and its scientific premises mainly serve dramatic conflict and spectacle rather than the rigor of modern hard science fiction. It is better read for its imaginative approach and narrative style than for its physical details.

Is it suitable for science fiction beginners?

It can serve as an introduction to early space opera, but its characters and conflicts are relatively functional and differ from modern science fiction expectations. If you are used to contemporary works, adjust your expectations and approach it as a period sample.

Comments

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About the author

Edward Elmer Smith Author · American · 1890–1965

Edward Elmer Smith (1890–1965), known as "Doc Smith," was an American science fiction writer and is regarded as one of the pioneers of space opera. Trained as a chemist with a doctorate, he long worked in food technology and wrote science fiction in his spare time; twelve of his works are included in this collection. His best-known series, the Skylark series (such as The Skylark of Space and Skylark Three) and the Lensman series (such as Triplanetary and First Lensman), are famed for interstellar travel, faster-than-light ships, and grand galactic warfare, with sweeping scenes and brisk pacing that deeply influenced later space opera. His works focus on space adventure and galactic conflict; although public biographical detail is limited, their pioneering place in the history of the genre is widely recognized.