K. H. SCHEER & WALTER ERNSTING – Enterprise Stardust. Perry Rhodan #1, Ace, paperback original;1st printing, 1969.

   The first of a long German series, in two parts, probably first punished separately. Comments of each follow. Tolerably good writing and translation. Interesting enough to read more. [I never did.] Overall rating **½

  “Enterprse Stardust.” Rhodan and his crew make the first landing on the moon, to find the disabled Arkonides’ spaceship. Perry agrees to help the dying Khrest in return for the aliens’ support in stopping incipient warfare on Earth.

   The lunar landing is more physically difficult than it appears to have actually been, and it seems preferable for man to have done it on their own, than to depend on advanced alien technology. Yet you can’t sneer at a helping hand.

   I didn’t understand why Earth was not automatically advanced on the civilization scale, without Rhodan’s personal  report to Khrest that humanity was about to begin the conquest of space. Here they are, on the moon after all. **

   “The Third Power.” Back on Earth, Rhodan must convince all sides that he means to stop all war, even as he appears to have become a traitor in the meantime. The resulting alliance of enemies is heavy-handed in treatment, but the point is made.

   Having the first two installments published in the same book makes for more repetition, which otherwise would have been useful in keeping details of the previous story in mind. Next time the stories will stand on their own. **½