As I step into the world of sharing my thoughts, it feels fitting to begin where my journey into science fiction first took flight, when I was ten years old. My guide on that inaugural voyage through the stars was none other than the legendary Mentor of Arisia.
Long before Jedi and warp drives dominated sci-fi, E.E. “Doc” Smith’s Lensman series laid the foundation for the space opera genre. (It’s my opinion that these tropes are rooted in this groundwork.) First published between the 1930s and 1950s, the series is a high-octane saga of intergalactic war, psychic powers, and moral clarity writ large across the stars.
The story centers on the Galactic Patrol and its elite agents—the Lensmen—who are chosen and empowered by the mysterious Arisians to combat the evil Eddorians. With their all-seeing “Lens” devices, the Lensmen embody truth, justice, and relentless action in the face of cosmic corruption.
Yes, the prose is dated, and the gender roles reflect its era, but Lensman remains an influential blueprint for the genre. It pioneered the concept of space-faring super-cops, galaxy-spanning wars, and telepathic tech long before these became science fiction staples.
It’s pulpy, it’s earnest, and it’s undeniably grand in scale.
For fans of classic sci-fi or anyone curious about the roots of modern space opera, Lensman is a must-read. It’s not just a series, it’s a time capsule of sci-fi ambition.