Tue 29 Jul 2025
SF Diary Review: JOHN BRUNNER – Into the Slave Nebula.
Posted by Steve under Diary Reviews , Science Fiction & Fantasy[6] Comments
JOHN BRUNNER – Into the Slave Nebula. Lancer 73-797, paperback. 1968. Cover art by Kelley Freas. Expanded and/or revamped edition of Slavers of Space (Ace Double D-421. paperback original, 1960).
An earlier version was Slavers of Space, which I remember reading, not that any of the details came back right away, but the ending was familiar almost from the beginning of this one. It wasn’t difficult. Do you remember those old cowboy movies, where the outlaws have the hero in their power, and instead of shooting him on the spot, someone says, “No. Wait. I have a better idea,” which proves to be the beginning of their downfall?
Derry Horn of Earth is tracing the path of murdered Lars Talibrand back through space, and the the same time learning the truth about the androids being shipped to Earth, when he is captured by one of ringleaders of the kidnapping gang. For the androids are really humans, dyed blue. Horn is turned blue, too, but allowed to suffer. and so he can reveal the gang’s secret to the first friend he meets. The same is up!
The picture of Earth (domesticated to the point of perversion) and the stars (still havens for adventurers, rougher and tougher as one progresses from Earth) is quite good. It must have been these details that were added. The story itself seems to have been unchanged.
Rating: ***
July 29th, 2025 at 9:07 pm
Minor Brunner. But I find any Brunner to be immensely enjoyable.
July 29th, 2025 at 9:25 pm
The same for me. I really enjoy space opera books this. I did back then, and I still do. Most of Brunner’s early work was in this vein, and I loved it. When his work became more famous and well-known, I stopped reading it. Always intended to, but I never did.
July 30th, 2025 at 12:26 pm
Ace Books was notorious for abridging the novels they published in the Doubles, even the originals. It’s more likely that the later edition restores the original text. Brunner re-released a lot his old Ace books with other publishers and its not unreasonable that he was restoring the original texts.
July 30th, 2025 at 8:43 pm
Right you are. I’m sure of it!
July 30th, 2025 at 4:08 pm
In the late 1970s, DAW Books started publishing new editions of John Brunner’s books. I agree with Kenneth that DAW editions probably restored a lot of the cuts in the older ACE Books texts.
July 30th, 2025 at 5:54 pm
George, I believe you and Ken have the right of it. Ace certainly was cutting down the wordage of novels in their Double series. It wasn’t well known back then,but it is now, and when he had the chance, Brunner eventually had the clout to get them reprinted in their original form.