The very first Lucky Starr book! Lucky, a member of the high ranking meritocracy (the Council of Science), has to solve a series of poisonings that seem to originate on Mars. He joins a farm there to try to track down the poisoners. Along the way he picks up his midget assistant, Bigman, a vociferiously aggressive clown who mainly serves as comic relief. He also runs into the native Martians, who give him a special mask and a special name, "Space Ranger", neither of which we ever see again in succeeding "Lucky Starr" books.
Lucky eventually tracks down the killers, and manages to get one to confess by pretending to poison him (would that hold up in a court of law?). Then he decides to take Bigman on as his personal valet/pet, and they go off to have other adventures together.
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Review Summaries
"This is the first thrilling book in the Lucky Starr series! David (as he is called in this book only) Starr is sent to Mars to find the cause of poisonings of food being exported from Mars. He takes a job as a farm labourer and descends underground into Mars where he meets bodiless alien life. The aliens give him a mask (which he has to use to get back to the domed Martian farm through a sandstorm) and the name of 'Space Ranger'. Lucky solves the mystery of the poisonings and finds who is to blame and comes out on top (as always!)"
Lee, Resident Isaac Asimov Scholar
" The very first Lucky Starr book! Lucky, a member of the high ranking meritocracy (the Council of
Science), has to solve a series of poisonings that seem to originate on Mars. He joins a farm there
to try to track down the poisoners. Along the way he picks up his midget assistant, Bigman, a
vociferiously aggressive clown who mainly serves as comic relief. He also runs into the native
Martians, who give him a special mask and a special name, "Space Ranger", neither of which we
ever see again in succeeding "Lucky Starr" books.
Lucky eventually tracks down the killers, and manages to get one to confess by pretending to
poison him (would that hold up in a court of law?). Then he decides to take Bigman on as his
personal valet/pet, and they go off to have other adventures together. "
Steve, Resident Isaac Asimov Scholar
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Overall Review
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Plot
Composition of Book Descript. of chases or violence - 20% planning/preparing, gather info, debate puzzles/motives - 30% Feelings, relationships, character bio/development - 20% Descript. of society, phenomena (tech), places - 30%
Tone of book
- very upbeat
FANTASY or SCIENCE FICTION?
- science fiction story
Spying & Investigations
Yes
What is main char. doing?
- unraveling a conspiracy
- finding a spy/saboteur
Is this an adult or child's book?
- Adult or Young Adult Book
Main Character
Identity:
- Male
Profession/status:
- government investigator
- scientist
Age:
- 20's-30's
How sensitive is this character?
- sensitive to others' feelings
- hard edged
Sense of humor
- Mostly serious with occasional humor
Intelligence
- Smarter than most other characters
Physique
- very athletic
Main Adversary
Identity:
- Male
Age:
- 40's-50's
Profession/status:
- scientist
How much of work is main antagonist actually present in:
- a little/some
- a moderate amount
How sensitive is this character?
- mean, arrogant
Sense of humor
- Mostly serious with occasional humor
Intelligence
- Smarter than most other characters
Physique
- bulging muscles
Setting
Terrain
- Planet surface, need spacesuit
- Domed/Underground City
A substantial portion of this book takes place on a non-Earth planetary body:
- humans in a futuristic society
Planet outside solar system?
Yes
Style
Person?
- mostly 3rd
Accounts of torture and death?
- generic/vague references to death/punishment
scientific jargon? (SF only)
- none/very little science jargon needed
- some scientific explanation
How much dialogue?
- significantly more dialog than descript
- significantly more descript than dialog
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