Ooops!! Being a German science fiction fan myself, I was sceptical when I started reading William B. Fischer's closer look at Hans Dominik and Kurd Lasswitz. But the book reveals the very high level of knowledge and background informations that the author really had.

It's a sad fact that these 2 poets of German science fiction, Dominik and Lasswitz, haven't got more fans today at least in German speaking countries. Unfortunately, there is no book such as THE EMPIRE STRIKES OUT in German language either which could change the situation. Or let's better say: It's a shame...!

Mister William B. Fischer, my honest respect!!

Chris Dohr

This nineteenth-century German science fiction novel ("The Two Planets" or "Auf zwei Planeten") by Kurd Lasswitz (1848-1910), a mathematician, philosopher, and scholar of Kant, was not translated into English until 1971 (by Hans H. Rudnick). Thus, it had very little influence in the development of English or American science fiction. Nevertheless, the novel did have a significant impact. It was a popular book of young German boys, particularly Wernher von Braun and Willy Ley. Thus, the novel had an influence in the development of our space age. It "fired" their imaginations and had a big effect on German astronautics. The "two planets" are Earth and Mars. Three German and Austrian explorers are traveling in a balloon in an attempt to reach the North Pole. They find that a group of intelligent beings, very similar to humans, have set up a base at the Pole. Their balloon is inadvertantly drawn in by the Martian's antigravity device and two of the explorers find themselves guests of the Martians. The Martians have come to Earth to educate mankind, to assist in the development of a utopian Earth, and to ask for air and solar energy in return. However, through a misunderstanding, a "war" arises between the Martians and England, resulting in the formation of a Martian Protectorate over Europe. Unfortunately, a number of Martians soon exhibit the corrupting influences of power, and the Martian rule becomes despotic. An underground movement develops, keeping the positive aspects of Martian (and Kantian) philosophy, to rid Earth of the Martian yoke. This is accomplished with the help of American engineers, who are able to build their own spaceships to challange the Martians. The "good" of both planets win and a new era begins in Earth and Martian relations. And, in all of this, Lasswitz has two love stories as subplots, one of which is between one of the explorers and a Martian. When Martian probes began to map the surface of Mars, one of the newly discovered Martian craters was named after Lasswitz. This is a classic volume in science fiction and serious students of science fiction literature should read it.