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dpmcalister's review
adventurous
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.5
jameseckman's review
3.0
The Solar Queen's crew stumbles into another criminal conspiracy that starts off with the Queen accidentally shipping a strange radiation source that devolves animals into their ancestral forms. It's a bit hokey, but it was a popular trope in the 50/60s (Giant ants!). An animal buddy, one of Norton's favorite shticks, shows up to help the crew and the wonder translator figures out the language almost instantly. Mixed in with some other retro-tech, I'd give the science a barely passing grade. Good characters and an interesting adventure make up for the bad science, and unlike most early SF, space is not filled up with middle class Anglos. It's still a fun read 50 years after it was written!
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