Space Patrol Chronicles

Space Patrol Chronicles - Missions of Daring, a two-book set of science fiction novels, written and color illustrated by American author, Warren Chaney, are both a prequel and sequel to Chaney’s earlier work, Space Patrol - the novel, all of which are based upon the early 1950s television program, , which also included a parallel radio and comic book series. The novels open in a future world of the 35th century but soon afterwards, the reader is whisked backward to an earlier time following an interplanetary war where a newly appointed Commander-in-Chief of the Space Patrol, Buzz Corry, must lead an effort in a darker age, to combat an intergalactic enemy bent upon the destruction of the solar system. What transpires, directly impacts the future’s destiny in the 35th century.
Plot summary
BOOK ONE
Following Planet Earth’s narrow escape from a destructive asteroid, Jason Wainwright, Commander-in-Chief of the Space Patrol in the year 3500 ACE, returns to the Planet Earth’s Space Academy. Accompanying him is his assigned junior officer, Cadet Dallas Clark. Wainwright, soon to retire, delivers a commencement address to the Academy’s new graduates, soon to become commissioned Space Cadets in the Space Patrol. During his presentation, the retiring Commander recounts the origins of the United Planets’ famous military/police force, formed shortly after the devastating War of the Planets.
In the early days of space travel, the atmosphere and gravity of most planets, aside from Earth, made them uninhabitable. As human life spread from Earth to other parts of the solar system, technology developed to make those planets and their moons habitable. Atmosphere shells, gravity blocks, and terraforming activities gradually permitted planetary populations to increase and civilizations to develop. Pioneers from Earth rapidly settled the more immediate planets so that as the 30th Century approached, space travel and exploration of the immediate planets in the solar system were common.
Unfortunately, interplanetary rivalries erupted into a war that eventually engulfed the entire solar system. The War of the Planets brought havoc and destruction and setback progress for centuries. To restore peace and bring order to the solar system, a new central government was formed, The United Planets of the Universe. It in turn, established the Space Patrol led by its first Commander-in-Chief, “Kit Corry”. Shortly after his assignment, Kit is abruptly taken ill and replaced by his brother, Edward “Buzz” Corry. Buzz had originally been considered for the position because of his remarkable war record, however his brother was selected instead, having a greater rank and more seniority at the time.
A recent graduate of the Space Academy, Cadet Lynn “Happy” Osborn is given an internship at Space Patrol headquarters on the manmade planet Terra and assigned to Commander Corry. During his narration, Commander Wainwright relates how the force’s second Commander-in-Chief, suddenly appointed to the new command, discovers that he has become humanity's last chance of survival. Almost immediately, Corry and Cadet Osborn find themselves and the Space Patrol embroiled in a major conflict with space-pirates operating from the Vestrian jungles of the Planet Venus. As Corry and his Cadet lead the investigation, Terra comes under assault from an unseen enemy who seemingly controls technology that can stop all rockets, machinery and engines, while destroying a planets’ entire energy system.
On Venus, an assault by a Space Patrol attack fleet, destroys the planet’s space-pirate base. Barely escaping destruction, Corry and his cadet manage to board an enemy spacecraft where they learn that Terra is currently under attack. Aboard ship, they encounter their nemesis, Dr. Eric Malengro, a once renown scientist, who informs them that their home planet will be destroyed within hours and that there is nothing that they can do to stop the annihilation. Before the Space Patrolmen can react, Malengro escapes leaving Buzz and Happy confronted with a dire situation. They must find a way out of the perilous position they are in as well as developing a workable defense for the grim situation on Terra. Thus begins an adventure that carries the Space Patrol on a mission from its headquarters on the manmade planet Terra to the outer reaches of Pluto. With the United Planets under direct attack, Commander Corry finds that he must implement a daring strategy if there is any hope of saving the universe.
Book One ends on a cliffhanger, to be continued in Book Two.
BOOK TWO
Space Patrol Chronicles - Book Two originates in the 35th Century, continuing where the previous Book One sci-fi adventure left off. Commander Wainwright, returning from a break, continues has account of Space Patrol’s origins. Returning in the story to the distant past of the 30th Century, Wainwright explains that the malicious Dr. Eric Malengro, is the mastermind behind the space pirate base on Venus and the unexplained cyber attack that collapsed Planet Terra’s entire power system. To the dismay of Commander Corry, Malengro escapes. However, Corry uncovers the location of an invisible interplanetary device, hidden in space near Jupiter, that is creating the massive power failure. He launches a fleet of Space Patrol battleships that take out the device, restoring Terra’s power systems. Yet, as this threat ends, a new one emerges. A planet (project named Planet X) has been sighted by a distant space observatory approaching the United Planets’ solar system where it threatens existing orbits of all its member planets.
Corry, realizes that he must lead the Space Patrol beyond the edge of the solar system in order to save it from the rapidly approaching alien menace. Once he and his cadet reach the remote space observatory, the Commander organizes a fleet of battlecruisers for an impending invasion of the deadly planet. However, the rogue planet abruptly stops its advance just beyond the reach of any Space Patrol spacecraft. The Commander-in-Chief, suspecting that there is intelligence behind Planet X’s movement, realizes that there is no alternative but to attempt traveling to the planet using a newly developed but untested spaceship that employs a hyperdrive that will permit space travel at incredible speeds.
Commander Corry and his Cadet pilot their new spacecraft, the Terra V, to Planet X where their suspicions are confirmed. They find Dr. Malengro in the company of Ladomér Baccarratti, a would be malevolent dictator seeking to destroy the United Planets. Almost immediately, the Space Patrolmen are captured, only to escape and later discover a planetary secret that can destroy Baccarratti and his barbarous interplanetary outpost.
In the story’s climax, Commander Corry and the Space Patrol engineer a planetary collision between Planet X and a distant trailing moon. Baccarratti’s operation is destroyed and its leader is killed. Corry and his Cadet return to the United Planets, realizing that other adventures await the members of the Space Patrol.
Commander Jason Wainwright’s tale of the Space Patrol’s origins conclude. Following a standing ovation, Wainwright announces his imminent retirement and introduces the new “Commander-in-Chief” of the Space Patrol and reassigns his Cadet, Dallas Clark, to the new commander. Midst the Academy’s celebration, Wainwright quietly exits the Academy Hall. Cadet Dallas follows the Commander outside and offers his thanks for being permitted to remain assigned to the Space Patrol headquarters. When Dallas asks what his plans are, Wainwright replies, “Right now, I must find my new space to travel in.”
The Cadet replies, Well, don’t worry Sir. There’s always tomorrow.
As the cadet returns to the Hall to rejoin the newly appointed commander, Wainwright whispers to himself, You’re right, Cadet. There is always tomorrow and who knows what tomorrow may bring.
Publication
Space Patrol Chronicles, Mission of Daring, was published by Remington-Collier, London on March 11, 2014. The first publication in hardcover with 4-color illustrations, was a limited edition, accompanied by a series of original 1950s Space Patrol trading cards that had been restored and reprinted, accompanied by a second set of newly designed Space Patrol trading cards. A second publication in hardcover and color was in July 2015.
The author dedicated both volumes of the Chronicles to Ed Kemmer, the actor who portrayed the character of “Buzz Corry” in the original '. Kemmer was a real life hero as well as a celluloid one. He was a decorated World War II pilot and a former prisoner of war. His forceful presence in the ‘50s television and radio Space Patrol series was said to have had a profound impact on viewers across generations.
Editions
The first edition of Space Patrol Chronicles, Missions of Daring was a collector’s edition published in hardback with heavyweight paper using 4-color process illustrations. The books were packaged in a cardboard slip cover along with two sets of Special edition Space Patrol trading cards. Subsequent editions were issued as separate books without the cards.
Reception
The Space Patrol Chronicles generally received favorable reviews. In a starred review, Dale Ames, the sci-fi editor of The Galaxy Patrol, declared, “Space Patrol Chronicles is a 5 Star masterpiece.” Ed Pippin of The Solar Guard wrote, “In his twin book epic, Space Patrol Chronicles, Warren Chaney has masterfully brought back the ‘Missions of Daring’ from a childhood that so many of us remember as the ‘Age of Space Flight and Wonder’ or as the ‘Future as It Should Have Been!’.” Jeffrey Sanborne, of Ravenwood Literary Digest, said in his book review that, “The work appears painstaking in its detail and it never loses the interest of the reader nor fails to entertain.” Swapsale Magazine Editor, Bruce David, declared, “Author Warren Chaney is a time traveler who has gone back to the 1950s to resurrect one of television's first great sci-fi heroes,” and book reviewer, Elliott Swanson, also of Swapsale, wrote, “The book is truly such stuff as dreams are made of.” Writing of the volumes’ artwork, James Whitman of the Oxford Herald said, “Chaney’s chapter illustrations are breathtaking in scope.
Characters
The following is a partial list of characters from Warren Chaney's novel Space Patrol Chronicles - Missions of Daring: Books One and Two. The novels were published in early 2014, with its narratives set in the future of the 30th and 35th Century.
*Commander-in-Chief, Jason Wainwright: Wainwright is the Space Patrol’s Commander-in-Chief at the turn of the 35Th Century and the one who narrates the origins account of the Space Patrol.
*Commander-in-Chief, Edward “Buzz” Corry: Corry is the newly appointed Commander-in-Chief of the early Space Patrol of the 30th Century. Shortly after his appointment, he is faced with a potential threat to the security and well-being of the United Planets.
*Cadet Lyn “Happy” Osborn: “Happy” as the Cadet is nicknamed, is a recent graduate of Earth’s Space Academy and is assigned to Commander Corry at Space Patrol Headquarters on the Planet Terra.
*Major Ken Robertson: Major Robertson is the Security Chief of the Space Patrol and a close friend of Commander Buzz Corry.
*Carol Carlyle: Carlyle is the daughter of the Secretary-General of the United Planets, Edward Carlyle and a potential love interest for Buzz Corry.
*Prince Ladomér Baccarratti: A would be malevolent dictator seeking to destroy the United Planets. His tentacles span the universe, creating havoc and anarchy.
*Dr. Eric Malengro: Malengro was once a renown scientist working with the United Planets, but now engineers a plot to decimate Planet Terra.
*Captain Daggert: Daggert, a cunning and perhaps delusional space-pirate, controls a large-scale space freight hijacking operation out of the Vestrian jungles on Venus.
*Tonga - Queen of Diamonds: Tonga is a mysterious agent of Prince Baccarratti’s, however, her loyalties to him diminish and all but vanish when she is compelled to undergo mind orientation using the Space Patrol’s fMia, nicknamed the Brainograph.
*Mr. Proteus: Proteus is a clever master of disguise, appearing where he is least expected and able to penetrate even the inner workings of the Space Patrol.
*Secretary General Edward Carlyle: Edward Carlyle, a statesman, was the first elected Secretary-General of the United Planets governmental body.
Analysis
Space Patrol Chronicles is written as retro-science fiction, described by Elliott Swanson of Swapsale Magazine as recreating the science fiction of the 1950s while maintaining that era's values, characters, and settings. Each chapter of the books is written as a cliffhanger with the chapter’s ending compelling a reader to move forward to a succeeding chapter. Although the books are primarily science fiction and action-adventure, they do contain underlying love interest themes along with faint theological undercurrents.
Style
The writing style of both Chronicles book volumes is casual with each chapter building to a different climax that must be resolved in a succeeding chapter. In turn, the books' chapters lead to a climax and in Book One, its solution remains to be read in Book Two. Scientific jargon in kept to a minimum and explanations of a scientific nature are brief, yet credible. The writing tends to support an easy readability.
Physical Location
Outer space is the primary location for the books followed by various locations on the planets, Terra, Venus, and a mystery orbiting sphere, Planet X.
Scientific Accuracy
In his article, The Science and Fiction of the Space Patrol Chronicles, writer Jonathan Macken, notes that the early sci-fi Space Patrol television series had the lean and dark look of 50s television. He states that Chaney’s novels provide the reader with a similar “feel” resulting from sparse times following a “War of the Planets” (as described in the book). Macken further states that Chaney adheres to contemporary science regarding evolution and life on other planets as opposed to sci-fi's more speculative theory. Overall, he felt this provided the books increased credibility, calling for less suspension of belief.
* Space travel: Space travel in the Space Patrol Chronicles occurs on an evolutionary basis beginning with a very primitive rocket powered craft called the Terra I and ending with a newly engineered hyperdrive spaceship, the Terra V. In the far distant future of the 35th Century, space travel is discovered to be even more advanced. Dale Ames in an article for The Galaxy Patrol observed that the novel’s 35th spacecraft was something that might appear in a Star Wars film.
* Time Travel: is only hinted at in the Space Patrol Chronicles. Instead, a pre-time travel mechanism, called a star-drive reactor, is used to cross vast reaches of space. It appears to access both the modern theory of space wormholes and the concept of near light-speed travel.
* Manmade Planet Terra: The manmade planet, constructed between the orbits of Earth and Mars, houses the Space Patrol’s home base as well as serving as the headquarters for the United Planet’s government. To avoid interplanetary conflict on where to locate the governmental body, the decision was made to build the manmade planet. At the center of Terra’s core, are soil samples collected from all nine planets, thus demonstrating that while Terra was the headquarters for the elected body, it truly belonged to the entire solar system.
* The fMia or Brainograph: The fMia, nicknamed brainograph, has the ability to examine a criminal’s mind, pinpointing and removing criminal tendency abnormalities. Afterwards, the reformed individual can be reintroduced into society.
Religion and science
Good and evil are relative in Space Patrol Chronicles - Missions of Daring. Commander Corry prays twice, and the natives of Venus also appear in worship services. Following the death of Corry's brother, there is a memorial religious service at Earth's Space Academy.
Influences and Background
Warren Chaney’s Space Patrol Chronicles, Books One and Two were considerably influenced by the earlier 1950s television and radio series, along with a brief run of a limited edition, comic-book. The look and feel of the series are recognizable in the new novels along with certain of the popular key characters of the time. Whereas, the television, radio and comic book series substantially differed from each other with little continuity between them, Chaney has combined elements of all of them to form a uniform story that does create a link between the three. Books One and Two do appear to use the television, radio and comic book series as background for its new story, however the new storylines are original and not a retelling. Nonetheless, reviewers have noted that the earlier inspirations are apparent.
* Space Patrol Television Series: Space Patrol was one of television’s first mass media phenomenon. It began broadcasting in 1950 and continued through 1955. The show has been credited with influencing careers of many scientists, engineers, and military personnel in the 20th and 21st Century. The Chronicles draws upon the dark, almost foreboding look of early television to recreate the world of the 30th Century following an interplanetary war.
* Space Patrol Radio Series: The Space Patrol radio series ran concurrently with the television series ran from 4 October 1952 to 19 March 1955 producing approximately 129 episodes. This series, was equally popular, consistently ranking in the top 10 shows for a Saturday. Its episodes had little crossover with its television counterpart but it was also not limited by the studio sets and thus became more expansive in scope and story. Elements of the radio series, not appearing in the televised episodes, such as the atmosphere ships used for planetary travel, do appear in the Space Patrol Chronicles. Also, several of the radio program themes are hinted at in the books as well.
* Space Patrol Comic Series: The comic book series published by Ziff-Davis in 1952, ran two issues and featured cover paintings by Norman Saunders and Clarence Doore. Bernard Krigstein illustrated the scripts by Phil Evans.
* Space Patrol - the novel: was the first Space Patrol Book written by Warren Chaney and published in weekly installments by Edge Publishing for Swapsale Magazine. Space Patrol Chronicles - Book One, serves as a prequel to the book while Book Two is a sequel. However, a reader need not have read the original novel as its contents are summarized for explanation in the new book series.
Further reading
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