Book Description: When John Gordon first heard the voice inside his mind, he thought that he was going crazy. It came first at night when he was just falling asleep. Through his drowsing thoughts, it spoke sharp and clear. "Can you hear me, John Gordon? Can you hear me call?" Gordon sat up, suddenly wide awake and a little startled. There had been something strange and upsetting about it. Then he shrugged. The brain played strange tricks when a man was half-asleep and the will relaxed. It couldn't mean anything. He forgot it until the next night. Then, just as he began to slip into the realm of sleep, that clear mental voice came again. "Can you hear me? If you can hear me, try to answer my call!"
John Gordon is rather surprised to be mentally contacted by a man claiming to be from a long, long way in the future, who claims he can swap minds in an experiment with a man from the past such as himself.
When he agrees there are beautiful women to try and fool, Galactic Empires to save, battle fleets to be fought, and atom-pistols to be wielded. Oh, and a super Disruptor weapon to protect from falling into the wrong hands.
Not what your average 20th bloke has to go through, that is for sure, but he gives it his best.
Old School Space-Opera The Star Kings was writen during the golden age of science-fiction, that is, many many years ago. You have to keep this in mind to appreciate the book, otherwise some aspects will seem very cheesy.
The setting in this book (and its sequel), is today be considered a classical space-opera on par with what Star Wars: A New Hope was back in 1979. It is with all of this in mind that I read, and liked, Star Kings. Why? Because despite being very typical of the genre, the author managed to avoid all the clichés I'm weary of and yet his book has those I still appreciate.
Different & Awesome! John Gordon and Jarth Arn were both looking for something that was beyond them, beyond the lives they led. For Jarth, it was a world in the past that he had never visited. For John, it was adventure and excitement beyond his dull existence. Jarth needed John to see the world he was looking for and John needed Jarth for the adventure he sought, though John didn't know it at the time. John and Jarth switch bodies and time periods to seek the unknown, but only for a short, limited time. However, as usual, things never go as planned.
Jarth Arn is the second son to one of the most powerful Star Kings. This is just the beginning, as John fights off the League of the Dark Worlds He is torn between the Jarth's love of a mistress named Murn and his love for Princess Lianna, the ruler of a Star-Kingdom. He has to prove his loyalty to his older brother after Jarth's father is assassinated and he is framed for the crime. Then he has to save the entire galaxy from the evil that tries to overtake good.
As I started THE STAR KINGS, I must say it was nothing I ever dreamed of, but boy, it was a great surprise indeed! Mr. Edmund must have had an imagination beyond anything to have dreamed up and written a tale such as this one. From one excitement to the next, I could not stop turning the pages. STAR KINGS is one of the best paranormals I've ever read.
Romance At Its Best ...
Obsessed by it since 1958! Listen lads! I am 50 years old now, and I read "Star Kings" in 1958... I felt devastated then! I could never forget it in 44 years, and I just happened to learn that it was written by Ed Hamilton, right a few days ago!... (The Turkish language edition I had read did not mention the author's name, it was a cheap pulp edition of about 50 cents of the day and I got money from my late dad to buy it, oh dear...) I know it almost by heart after all those years... To all Hamilton fans and the people of every age who dreamed of being a John Gordon, hail! Engin Ardic Istanbul, Turkey
The most fantastic space opera of all times Star Kings is the best book I have ever read. It mixes a great space opera and love story through a non-stop adventure over the galaxy. Star Wars is a pale copy of this book but those who liked Star Wars will surely adore Star Kings. Don't miss the sequel "return to stars" !
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