Beyond the Farthest Star

By Edgar Rice Burroughs

Book Overview

A world torn between the familiar and the utterly alien-where the sky itself is at war and every heartbeat echoes with peril. Here, interplanetary warfare is not only a matter of survival but a question of destiny, as parallel universes collide in a breathtaking struggle for existence. First published in the 1940s, this science fiction novel radiates the bold imagination that defined the golden age of American science fiction authors. Drawing readers into a realm reminiscent of the Barsoom and Pellucidar series, it sweeps across an alien planet where courage and ingenuity are tested at every turn. The narrative pulses with the energy of military science fiction, blending adventure fiction with the existential wonder that has captivated young adult fiction enthusiasts for generations. This book was out of print for decades and is now republished by Alpha Editions. It has been restored for today's and future generations, ensuring that its visionary exploration of otherworldly landscapes and cosmic conflict endures. The author's mastery in weaving suspense, romance, and high-stakes action remains undiminished, inviting both the casual reader and the classic-collection buyer to lose themselves in a universe where the boundaries of reality are constantly redrawn. The themes of courage, sacrifice, and the search for meaning are as resonant now as when the story first appeared, making its return a significant event in the world of science fiction. This edition is not just a reprint - it's a collector's item and a cultural treasure, meticulously presented for those who cherish the pioneering spirit of classic adventure. Whether you are discovering the work for the first time or returning to a beloved tale, this restored volume stands as a testament to the enduring power of imagination and the timeless appeal of epic storytelling.

• Format: Paperback
• Language: English
• ISBN: 9374124718
• ISBN13: 9789374124710
• Release Date: February 2026
• Publisher: Alpha Edition
• Length: 108 Pages
• Weight: 0.34 lbs.
• Dimensions: 0.3" x 6.0" x 9.0"

Customer Reviews

Burroughs fans will not be disappointed

Burroughs fan's will not be disappointed. This story was a fun read from beginning to end... if anything too short.

Super Reader

Another fun Burroughs romp, elsewhere than Earth. This time the main character is a pilot, and he ends up on an alien world (not a big suprise, eh?) and proceeds to go about having some Buck Rogers style adventures, getting involved in politics and war. This is made up of two different stories/novellas, or whatever you want to call them. If you like other Burroughs style books, no reason you won't like this.

Patriotic swashbuckling

It's all you expect of Burroughs. The hero was dogfighting over Europe in some un-named war (hint: this was written 1941), when he was shot down. His plane spiraled down while his heart spasmed aroung the bullet lodged in it, then -- Sort of the John Carter thing again. He shows up starkers in a public park 450,000 light-years from home - amazing how he worked that out so precisely. After a few misunderstandings, he gets some pants and learns enough language to discover that he's landed on a distant world of perpetual war. Hot dog! What fun! How Manly! Of course, he lands among the good guys, and it turns out that he's just as good in their aircraft as he was back home, and promptly distinguishes himself for the greater glory of whoever and for the hand of the fair maiden. There's not a lot to get wrought up about here, except for a city that pops up and down like a jack-in-the-box and some overheated scenes of air war. The second half of this book was written in the 1960s, during the height of the Cold War. This time, Our Hero infiltrates the enemy, who turns out to be a WW 2.5 stereotype of the Red Menace, stupid, brutal, and run by a priveleged secret police. And with names like Gompth and Grunge. Of course Our Hero distinguishes himself brilliantly and manages a clever escape, somewhat along these lines: Him: Can I borrow one of your fastest fighter planes? You know, just for a spin around the block. Them: Sure, can't think why not. Here are the keys, it's over in that hangar with no guards or anything. Him: And all these secret documents and stuff, can I bring them too? Them: I guess so. We'll flog a flunky until he's got it all loaded for you. Okay, you don't read Burroughs for anything but heroic stereotypes and action that follows inane but chivalrous rules. You get that here. That's about all you get, but there's plenty of it. This is one of Burroughs's less well-known works, possibly for good reason. But it's good anyway. //wiredweird

Edgar Rice Burroughs' indictment of Stalin's Soviet Union

As is often with the case with many of these Edgar Rice Burroughs novels, "Beyond the Farthest Star" consists of two serialized novels, "Adventure on Poloda" and "Tangor Returns" (the combined title is certainly better than either of those). Although these stories take place on a world at war a half-million light years from Earth, you will find that there is an obvious subtext to this ERB yarn in terms of Josef Stalin's Soviet Union. The story was first published in "The Blue Book Magazine" in 1942 although the sequel was not published until 1964. Eventually both parts were collected in a paperback volume, complete with a Frank Frazetta cover as I recall. Burroughs wrote the first part in 12 days and the second in only five days, which makes them potboilers to be sure, but the political angle makes them interesting nonetheless.The hero of this two part novel is Tangor, an American airman who managed to end up on the planet Poloda far, far away, after apparently being killed during World War II behind German lines (very reminiscent of how John Carter ended up on Barsoom). He wakes up in a garden on Poloda, which he soon learns is a world that has been at war for over a century. Given the name Tangor, he joins the fight of the Unis against the Harkases. ERB finds Tangor's story mysterious typed on his typewriter (ERB often presents himself as being merely the conduit for his pulp fiction yarns). For all of his science fiction stories, Burroughs was at heart a telling of romantic adventures. However, in "Beyond the Farthest Star" he shows much more of an interest in forecasting what was to come. In this story you will find underground railroads, plastic airplanes, compact cards, uni-sex clothing, bullets that explode, and even solar energy. Burroughs is almost as interested in the strange animals of Poloda as he is in its advanced technology, going into lots of details on the strange fauna Tangor encounters. However, the most interesting prediction given the fact ERB was writing on the eve of World War II was his depiction of not only a world at war but the coming Cold War. People live in underground cities to be safe from the bombing, women work in the factories so that the men can fight the war, and that this state of constant war is just accepted as the way things are. Whereas Burroughs authored an indirect attack on Nazi Germany and the Gestapo in his Carson of Venus series, "Beyond the Farthest Star" is clearly inspired by ERB's knowledge of what was happening in the Soviet Union under Stalin, a time of a one party system, show trials and purges. Anyone who was reading the newspapers as well as pulp fiction magazines at that time would have to be struck by the obvious similarities. Usually ERB wrote of wonderous world like Barsoon, but with Poloda he presents a relatively ruthless depiction of a totally repressive government that makes human existence a living nightmare. With these stories pay more attention to the setting than

Hero should have been named Rapas the Ulsio

Like all of Edgar Rice Burroughs' books, this story is full of adventure, fighting, and saving the damsel in distress. But the hero in this book is probably the biggest wimp of all of ERB's heros. John Carter could bench press him, Carson Napier could out shoot him, and Tarzan would just ignore him and leave him to the jungle. The hero never gives his name and the reason why is because he is embarrassed to be compared to ERB's other heros. If it wasn't for the superior storyline and abstract scientific facts that cause you to think, I would have rated this book a 2. This isn't his best, but it is one Burroughs fans shouldn't miss.