Book description
The Empire of Earth, spanning more than a thousand solar systems, is
threatened by a conspiracy from within. Now, with more than
three-quarters of the Galaxy ready to fall into enemy hands, the Empire
is forced to call on its top-secret weapon: the renowned Circus of the
Galaxy featuring the d'Alembert family, a clan of circus performers with
uncanny abilities. But even these super agents may not be in time to
save the Empire. The Imperial Stars is the first book in the
"Family D'Alembert" series. E. E. 'Doc' Smith (1890 - 1965).
Edward Elmer Smith was born in Wisconsin in 1890. He attended the
University of Idaho and graduated with degrees in chemical engineering;
he went on to attain a PhD in the same subject, and spent his working
life as a food engineer. Smith is best known for the 'Skylark' and
'Lensman' series of novels, which are arguably the earliest examples of
what a modern audience would recognise as Space Opera. Early novels in
both series were serialised in the dominant pulp magazines of the day:
Argosy, Amazing Stories, Wonder Stories and a pre-Campbell Astounding,
although his most successful works were published under Campbell's
editorship. Although he won no major SF awards, Smith was Guest of
Honour at the second World Science Fiction Convention in Chicago, in
1940. He died in 1965. Stephen Goldin is an American SF author.
