"E. E. Doc Smith - Lensman 8 - The Dragon Lensman" - читать интересную книгу автора (Smith E. E. Doc)

historian knew "Doc" for many years, having met him in his space-roamer's garb
of
"Northwest Smith of Earth," at the Second Worldcon in Chicago, Tellus-and,
having had
him for a lifetime as a guide, appreciates that he was unique. Let no one be
deluded,
least of all your present historian, into thinking that this new series of
books will be
indistinguishable from the presentations of the original histories. Unique
"Doc" was, and
unique he will remain. But the spirit will not be changed-the entire
historical research
department will see to that. This historian, whose responsibility is not taken
lightly,
pledges fidelity to the "E. E. Smith way" knowing that The Galactic Roamers
will not
tolerate anything less.

David A. Kyle Tellus

_ Prologue

After the destruction of Onlo and the fall of Thrale and the "cleaning up" of
Lyrane VIII,
with the Boskonians no longer fomenting trouble in the First Galaxy, the
Galactic Patrol
was prepared to become a police force instead of a military machine. The
Patrol's four
greatest operatives, the illustrious Second Stage Lensmen, were confronted
with their
most difficult tasks-making adjustments to peace. Each one faced his problem
in his own
way, representative as he was of his own distinctive race and culture. Kimball
Kinnison,
the Tellurian, humankind's incredible hero, had little choice but to accept
the responsibility
of being Galactic Coordinator. Nadreck, the Palainian, frigid-blooded poison-
breather
with his metabolic extension into the fourth dimension, carried on his
psychological
research and pursued his personal death feud against the escaped Kandron of
Onlo.
Tregonsee, the hard-shelled Rigellian, profound meditator on the Cosmos, "put
away his
Grays" and explored the galaxies with his superior sense of perception,
completely
committed to his "Project Quicksilver."

The fourth Second Stage Lensman, Worsel, the Velantian, the biggest, smartest
and