MISSION OF EMPIRE Earthmen had colonized hundreds of planets in the four centuries of deep space exploration--independent new civilizations founded by the discontented and adventurous of Terra. Trouble was, they were too independent--and the Terran government had ambitions for a space empire. A giant battle cruiser went out into the starlanes, with instructions to persuade the colonial planets to join the Empire--and with a couple of thousand troops to back up the persuasion ! It looked like an interesting, if easy, mission--after all, what kind of opposition could a bunch of backwoods planets offer to the most advanced military power in the Galaxy? Quite a lot, as it turned out ... and all of it wildly unexpected! One of the "old pros" of science-fiction, Eric Frank Russell has, in THE GREAT EXPLOSION, written a fast-paced and compelling adventure--a fascinating look at a possible tomorrow. A satirical Classic. |