Rating: 
Summary: Early Finest most scientific series written in the 40's
Review: The lensmen series is the Granddaddy of all the current crop of Sci-Fi. "doc" E. E. Smith is a combination of Asimov and Heinlein
Rating: 
Summary: Inspired a plethora of modern sci-fi books, films and comics
Review: The Lensmen stories were full of many firsts. It was the first true space opera. It was the first sci-fi "epic". And of course, the Lensmen were the first true "superheroes", in classic, altruistic "comic book" sense.So, you'll find much that you recognize here because you've already seen it from derivative sources. Just remember that THIS ONE is the original and the others are the ones inspired by it. The Space Patrol of old-time radio, George Lucas' Jedi Knights, DC Comics' universe-protecting Green Lantern Corps, and many, many others all owe a huge debt to these excellent, pulpy reads.
Rating:
Summary: The beginning of an empire...
Review: This book chronicles the founding of the Galactic Patrol, and sets the stage for the Lensman books to follow. I read it because of Babylon 5 creator J. Michael Straczynski's strong recommendation, and have not been disappointed. In fact, Babylon 5 fans will see a lot of parallels between B5 and the Lensman series. About the only criticism I can think of for Smith's work is that his books move along at a comfortable pace until the last couple of chapters, when the action starts happening at "light-speed". It always leaves me feeling like I've been waiting a long time for the ending and it's over almost before I can enjoy it. But that's a minor criticism, and it hasn't stopped me from reading the rest of this fascinating series of books!
Rating:
Summary: Part of the best space opera ever written
Review: This book, part of the Lensman series, is considered to be
the best space opera ever written, by the man who invented the genre (in 1928 with 'The Skylark of Space'). If you're
a Star Wars fan, you owe it to yourself to check this out. (IMO, the Lensman saga is the best space opera written, and
Star Wars is the best space opera in cinema.) While this is the second book, it is not neccessary to have read 'Triplanetary'--'First Lensman' is a self-contained novel, and all the background is contained in the book. The author
was very careful to write each book so that it could stand
on its own, with an actual ending--something rare in multi-book series these days.
A must read (and reread) book. I almost envy people who can
read it for the first time...have you got a treat in store!
Rating:
Summary: science fiction epic
Review: This is the quintessential SF series. Nothing profound, but vast scope, from the beginning to more or less the end of time. Exciting, page turner. This and SKYLARK are among the best SF series ever written. This was before SF had to be profound.
Rating:
Summary: Inspired a plethora of modern sci-fi books, films and comics
Review: This series is on my short list for best all time reads. Fast moving, galactic in scope, and broadly interesting. Smith wrote characters who called a spade a spade and were unflinching and unapologetic in their opposition to evil no matter how composited...very refreshing in these PC times we now live in where good is called evil and evil is called good and "good men" find plenty of excuses to "do nothing". ("All that is necessary for the triumph of evil is that good men do nothing. Edmund Burke (1729 - 1797)) Interestingly, it's true that Smith's characters aren't "deep" by today's science fiction standards; however their actions speak volumes about their motivations. If you truly enjoy a story excellently told, get this series! You won't regret it.
Rating:
Summary: Peerless Reading
Review: This series is on my short list for best all time reads. Fast moving, galactic in scope, and broadly interesting. Smith wrote characters who called a spade a spade and were unflinching and unapologetic in their opposition to evil no matter how composited...very refreshing in these PC times we now live in where good is called evil and evil is called good and "good men" find plenty of excuses to "do nothing". ("All that is necessary for the triumph of evil is that good men do nothing. Edmund Burke (1729 - 1797)) Interestingly, it's true that Smith's characters aren't "deep" by today's science fiction standards; however their actions speak volumes about their motivations. If you truly enjoy a story excellently told, get this series! You won't regret it.
Rating:
Summary: Read it. Read the whole series
Review: This stuff is the genesis of space opera, period. It's seminal stuff, with fast action, interesting aliens, great stories, and an epic scale. As might be expected for something this old, some parts are dated. And a certain amount of sexism must be overlooked. But that is easily done while in the grip of this series of books.
Rating:
Summary: One of the best Sci-Fi series ever written
Review: Very entertaining and through provoking. A must read.
This series laid the foundation for many other Sci-Fi books/stories, in my opinion. Especially StarWars.
Rating:
Summary: Excellent, technical novel for pure science fiction lovers.
Review: When I was eight years old, my parents bought me a science fiction book titiled "Tom Corbet, Space Cadet". From that moment on I was an avid science fiction reader. That was some forty-one years ago and I still read sci-fi today. THE most meaningful and well written series I have ever read is the 'Lensman' series by E.E. "Doc" Smith. These stories created extremely vivid images of unknown forces such as the Lens of Arisia, fantastic ships with amazing, yet believeable weaponry, and, of course Boskone, the epitomy of Organized Crime. This classic struggle of Good against Evil is epoch with characters who became the best roll models a young person could have; those with an unyielding sense of right and a desire to make the universe (world) a better, safer place to live. I read my paperback copies of these books until they were no longer readable, but I still have them. I have collected science fiction for forty plus years and have a fairly large collection. Of all those books, only a few have the metal it takes to be remembered years after they were read and the Lensman series is one of those. I am so glad to find them in hardcover and would recommend them not only to the young sci-fi reader, but also the true sci-fi reader who is young at heart
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