For my translated copy, I updated the cover design with   
English text and also refreshed some elements of the imagery 
to differentiate it from the original. Shown instead of the 
Kaldorian spaceship and the lunar surface, is the blue moon 
from the end title credits, along with a blue sun - depicting
the situation presented in the novel. The blue sun image is 
"Courtesy of SOHO/EIT consortium. SOHO is a project of 
international cooperation between ESA and NASA."

BACK COVER

The wandering Alphan Moon is relentlessly approaching the lethal coronal eruptions from a massive blue sun. But then, an unknown force begins pushing the Moon off course and towards certain death. The force comes from the planet Peculiar, a dead, hostile world that has been devastated by a gruesome war. Commander John Koenig, Chief Pilot Carter, the Psychon Maya and an exobiologist start towards Peculiar to investigae. There they encounter robots, which are using their most dangerous weapon - the gravity cannon...

THE STORY

This second novel begins with the Alphans frantically working to determine if they are on a collision course with a giant blue sun, a star so large it would encompass the orbit of Mars if placed in the center of Earth's solar system. In an interesting bit of dialog that occurs early on in the Command Center, Carter states that space is so vast that collisions are practically impossible. With the first reference in these books to Year 1, Helena counters with the argument that they have already had a collision: with the planet Astheria!

Although computer predictions indicate that the Moon will miss the blue sun by a large margin, Koenig is still worried that they will pass near enough to encounter problems from the star's lethal coronal ejections. While examining the star with sensors at their extreme ranges, a most unlikely discovery is made - there is a terrestrial type planet in an extremely distant orbit. Very soon afterwards, the Moon's course begins altering unexpectedly, and eventually shifts far enough so that the Moon is now heading directly towards its destruction, straight towards the heart of the star!

Koenig quickly determines that a gravitational weapon has been used on the Alphans and that this gravity cannon must be located on Peculiar - the newly discovered planet. Koenig also realizes that Alpha's only hope of survival is to somehow get control of the gravity cannon and shift the Moon's course back onto a safe trajectory.

Koenig heads up an expedition to Peculiar, only to discover a war torn desolate world, defended by deadly orbiting gravity guns - the still working weapons of a long dead civilization.

COMMENTARY

In this novel, H. W. Springer again uses characters only seen in the Butterworth books. Sahn appears early on, although not as a unique character (contradicting the Butterworth books) with the name used as Sandra Benes nickname. Mark Macinlock makes another appearance in this novel, however this time around he is a major character - heading up two of the Eagle expeditions as the Chief Pilot and having a significant role in the resolution of the story. Jameson also makes a appearance, trigger happy as always, and finally gets to fire some missiles.

After H. W. Springer inundated the reader in The Andromeda Mystery with the introduction of over a dozen new Alphan characters, only a single new character appears in this book (with none of the previous ones returning). Also in contrast to The Andromeda Mystery, is the lack of continuity references to the prior novel. In The Robot Legacy, there is a single mention near the end of the book stating that the earlier incident with the Dju at the edge of the galaxy has negatively affected the AlphanÕs trust of alien species. Unfortunately, that is all that is said.

In this novel, the reader is given a straightforward nonstop action adventure. The characters do not spend much time pondering their role in the universe, but instead are ready to tackle what it has to throw at them. Koenig once again takes the opportunity to lead an expedition and play the hero; not just once, but twice. The context is clearly Space: 1999, but the story comes across as pure pulp sci-fi action - with space battles, shoot-outs with deadly robots and never-ending crises. The pulp action is forgiven though, when an interesting twist in the last 2 chapters leaves the reader with a much welcomed Year 1 style melancholy ending.

All text © Patrick Zimmerman 2016
Any use is prohibited except by permission