Synopsis

When her father dies, a princess expects to take control of the Empire, but then her long-thought-dead sister shows up.

History

First publication: Two Complete Science-Adventure Books, Summer 1953

Published as by Killian Houston Brunner.

Review

This is the second in Brunner’s Intergalactic Empire series, but it seems to have no relationship at all to Galactic Storm. I wonder if Galactic Storm isn’t really part of the series. But like Galactic Storm this is an adventure space opera and also a very early work by Brunner. Unlike Galactic Storm, this shows a grasp of writing and feels more professional. At the same time it is still pretty naive. The story seems to be under the influence of the work of Burroughs and Brackett and maybe some of the others that wrote for Planet Stories in the 40s. You have that blend of fantasy and science fiction. And you don’t have any sign of the sort of thing that was published in Astounding—no hard science fiction. Really, I think this story could have left out the science fiction elements and still read the same. But in the 1950s fantasy still was not all that popular, while science fiction was very popular. Could it be that Brunner was asked by the editor to add the science fiction elements? I don’t know. I think it more likely that Brunner was just trying to emulate the work of Burroughs or Otis Adelbert Kline. Beyond that, while the story is enjoyable as an adventure, it is too simple and naive for modern readers. I can only recommend it for those who enjoy the simple pulp adventures of the past.