The Science Fiction Novel - Lester del Rey

I'm still plugging away at my book selections. I'm hoping to finish a couple of more by the end of the month, but we'll see. Right now let's get right on with my ongoing look at the Science Fiction novel.

The Science Fiction Novel - Lester del Rey

Lester del Rey

Lester del Rey was an American Sci-Fi writer and editor. He was born Leonard Knapp in Minnesota in 1915 and died in New York City in 1993. Besides writing many Sci-Fi books he, along with his wife Judy-Lynn was the editor at Del Rey books, the Sci-Fi / Fantasy wing of Ballantine books.

Del Rey started publishing stories in pulp magazines in the 1930s, the Golden Age of Sci-Fi. He was associated with Astounding Science Fiction from the time its editor John Campbell published his first story in 1938. During the early 50s he edited a number of pulp magazines. His first two novels were also published in 1952. Del Rey's most successful editing was with his 4th wife Judy-Lynn with whom he established Del Rey books in 1977. Del Rey was also a member of the Trap Door Spiders and was portrayed by the character Emmanuel Rubin in Isaac Asimov's Black Widowers mystery series.

During his life Del Rey wrote over 25 Sci-Fi novels and a number of short story collections, as well as various non-fiction works. I have read three of his novels in the past years. I'll highlight those.

1. The Eleventh Commandment (1962).

"As the Supreme Court was considering if the 10 Commandments were appropriate decoration in public schools in the '60s, sf writer & history professor Lester del Rey was pondering what might be the result of established state religion. He set the stage for such in The 11th Commandment.

Following a nuclear exchange which destroyed the Vatican, a new pontiff was elected by American Cardinals. When Europe also elected a Pope, Americans split from the Old World in a schism establishing the priority of an 11th commandment: "Ten were given to Moses, for the Hebrews, & our Lord instructed us to observe them. But what we call the 11th—it should be called the Original—was given by God the Father to the entire human race thru Adam, to whom He said, 'Be fruitful & multiply & replenish the earth.' It was the foundation of our accomplishments."
 
These principles found fertile ground in a decimated land. To Boyd Jensen, Mars colony immigrant, the culture is frightening. Four billion live in N. America, a billion in S. America. Most are American Catholic. Contraception is illegal. Boyd's profession, biologic research, is restricted to priests. Poverty is commonplace among the laity, practically unknown in the clergy. In addition to mass misery, mutations & plagues are everywhere. Boyd learns he's not allowed to return to Mars, as he's been exposed to Earth diseases. There's a hint his DNA is damaged, that he was tricked into coming to Earth to remove him from Mars' gene pool.

Boyd believes he'll survive without subscribing to the state religion. He wears an unobtrusive patch to keep him sterile; he isn't the type to succumb to the bleeding disease; he's more valuable training in cytology than many priests. He hasn't reckoned with two things, however. 1st, at a higher gravity than Mars', the contraceptive is ineffective. Boyd impregnates a woman. Her baby is taken by the Church to be raised in a special facility. Boyd is determined to help rescue it. 2nd, the Church knows more than admitted about the extent of the mutations. The 11th Commandment may be the only thing guaranteeing human survival.
 
Del Rey's conception of a Catholic America is predicated on the 3rd world. Long Island seems like Caracas or São Paulo. He seems to suggest Catholicism causes poverty & overcrowding. Reading on, however, his message comes clear: The root cause of this misery is the need to contend for survival. You don't get to opt out of the game, as Mars has done with her pure racial stock. The crucible is where the metal is purified & made strong, not the shelf.

The 11th Commandment seems hardly dated. Its plot needs little amendment to be conceivable as a possible future. The warning that the fruitful will multiply & the meek inherit the Earth, is worth considering." (3 stars)

2. Siege Perilous (1966).











"He was PRTSAC: Permanent Resident Through a Special Act of Congress. A set of initials, a title unique in history. And a human being -- the most homesick human being in history.

Fred Hunter was the permanent resident of the space station...the doughnut...because a hideous accident had rendered him physically incapable of returning to Earth. For ten years he sweated it out, while others came and went on tours of duty only a few months long. For ten years he stayed sane, while space gnawed at the minds of his companions.

Then came the invaders, the strange beings who seemed to be not men, not beasts, not machines. Fred Hunter knew he must face them alone...and what could one crippled man do against their might?"

3. Outpost of Jupiter (1963).











""When his father's sudden illness stranded the Wilsons in the tiny human colony on Jupiter's moon, Bob gave up his plans for college and joined the colonists in their struggle against the brutal environment of Ganymede.

The challenges, the comradeship he found, and the awe-inspiring spectacle of Jupiter filling the sky—all exhilarated Bob far beyond his expectations. So did his investigation of the major mystery behind the strange globe that was hidden out in the hills and that seemed to be trying to communicate with the colony.

Before he could find the answer, a plague struck and crippled the colony. Then enraged and fearful colonists accused Bob of being the carrier!"

The complete list of Del Rey's books can be found at this link. 

Have a great week!