Published in 1970, Moonbase One chronicles the adventures of several young colonists on the lunar surface. It was written for the juvenile market but can be just as easily enjoyed by adults as well. Jones was an effective writer of sf who was able to convey often complex scientific ideas with authority and sufficent verve to hold the reader captivated. This enthralling tale makes for highly enjoyable and relaxing reading and is worth searching out, as are any of his other novels; This Island Earth, et al.

If you have ever seen the spectatular 1950s science fiction film, This Island Earth, you should read this, the book it's based on. Even if you haven't here is an exceptional sci-fi novel any reader can appreciate. It has a strong heroine, and takes place mostly on Earth. The author was one of the top writers of his time. When engineer Cal Meacham places a routine order for parts, he never dreams he is making himself a pawn in a struggle for galactic supremacy. For a mysterious group of aliens who call themselves "The Peace Engineers" are looking for a few good men and women. When the replacement part arrives, it is far superior to anything Earth science could produce. His attempts to track down the source of this alien technology lead him to the Peace Engineers Arizona laboratory, where he meets Ruth Adams, an industrial psychologist working for the Engineers who is suspicious of their motives. Dazzled by the promise of the Engineers advanced science, Cal ignores Ruth's concerns at first. But soon he discovers two things that will change his life forever: The first is that he is falling in love with Ruth Adams; the second is that the two of them have been drawn into deadly game in which solar systems are the prizes, Earth is but an insignificant island caught between the fire of two cosmic enemies and about to be destroyed! Cal and Ruth realize that if they are to save their home world they will have to outwit the enemy and out-think their friends-or there can be no future for their love or the human race. Go for it!

On the bookshelves today, you will find Robert Heinlein, Isaac Asimov, and, if you are lucky, E.E. Doc. Smith. They are all that remain of the myriad of pulp science fiction writers of years ago. The early part of the twentieth century was filled with a number of very good pulp writers in all genres but this style of writing has nearly disappeared. Some of their stories have disappeared for good reasons but many others were lost in the passage of time. This Island Earth is one of those lost. Reading it, you can tell that it was written before political correctness. There is a naivete about the writing with a harshness of someone who has experienced the atrocities of a world at war. It follows the single idea based science fiction writing of the era. The idea is intriguing, 'what would happen if you found a manual of a super high tech machine that seems to be based on scientific ideas no one has seen or heard before.'

This Island Earth starts with an engineer, Cal Meacham, receiving an order of parts that look impossible. When Cal asks for a catalogue from the company, he receives a listing of parts that shouldn't exist and instructions on making a device called an interocitor. Forgetting the adage about curiousity killing the cat, Cal orders the parts to make the interocitor. Single mindedly Cal forges ahead more interested in the engineering and science than what it could mean. Cal doesn't see the danger to himself and the earth until it is too late to stop.

This Island Earth isn't the best written novel. A common practice in the pulp magazine period is to string a series of short stories together into a novel. This Island Earth is a composite of three short stories written over a period of years and it is possible to tell the change of focus between the novelletes. Although pulp writing sometimes lacks a finished polish, it can be great storytelling. Science fiction readers will appreciate glimpsing the roots of today's genre. Historical readers will enjoy the insight into the social mind set of the post World War II and early Cold War period. But anyone who likes good storytelling will enjoy This Island Earth.

This book is great if anyone saw the movie and wants to read the book you won't be dissapointed. Although it gets diffrent halfway you can still see parts that the movie did put in. If you are a fan of the movie you can tell that in the book they realy picked out the right actors for the movie. It is an interesting way how Russel Johnsons' character (the professer) blew up in the book than he did in the movie. The interociters also can pick up brain waves. There are typos however that make it anoying. But just the fact that Raymond F. Jones' fun story is available you can surpass that. Prepare to find out what is going on out there over are heads above THIS ISLAND EARTH!