
Triplanetary
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This foundational space opera offers a thrilling blend of cosmic mythology, early science fiction innovation, and timeless themes of heroism and sacrifice.
Edition details
Book Summary
Triplanetary chronicles the ancient cosmic war between the benevolent Arisians and the parasitic Eddorians, who secretly manipulate human history from Atlantis to Rome. The narrative follows early heroes like Conway Costigan and the development of an inertialess super-ship, setting the stage for humanity's role in a galaxy-spanning conflict.
The book opens with the Arisians and Eddorians, two ancient races from colliding galaxies, locked in a struggle for universal dominance. The Arisians, masters of mental force, guide evolution across the cosmos to create a race capable of opposing the Eddorians. On Earth, they manipulate bloodlines and historical events—such as the fall of Atlantis and Nero's Rome—to breed superior humans. The Eddorian agent Gharlane works to corrupt and control humanity, but his efforts are increasingly thwarted. In the 20th century, Triplanetary, the unified government of Earth, Mars, and Venus, faces threats from the criminal mastermind Gray Roger (Gharlane in disguise) and alien Nevians. Key characters include Conway Costigan, a daring Triplanetary officer who falls in love with Clio Marsden; Captain Bradley; and scientists Rodebush and Cleveland, who test the revolutionary inertialess super-ship Boise. After a series of captures, escapes, and battles, Costigan, Clio, and Bradley are rescued by the Boise, while the cosmic conflict escalates, hinting at the future formation of the Galactic Patrol.
Reading guide
Go deeper in Triplanetary
Character guides, themes, chapter companions — plus Character Web, narrative arc, and theme heatmap teasers that unlock fully beside the text in BetterReads.
Narrative arc
Story tension across the book.
- Setup
- Escalation
- Breaking point
Conway Costigan
A burly Triplanetary first officer whose grim competence hides a soft streak for a golden-haired passenger, and who keeps his head when the air turns to poison.
Clio Marsden
Radiant belle of the liner Hyperion, a ground-gripper dazzled by the void, whose first glimpse of the stars ends in terror and a limp collapse in Costigan's arms.
Captain Ralph Kinnison
A Triplanetary captain who fights pirates with layered torpedo tactics, coolly gambling that his second shot will make the target a sitting duck for his gunner.
Roger
Gray Roger, cold-blooded pirate chief and rumored former Chief Devil of the Jovian wars, working alone on a stupendous plan no rival has ever glimpsed.
Captain Bradley
The Hyperion's bluff, confident captain, who scoffs at rumors of faster-than-light pirates even as two ships vanish without a trace inside a month.
Lyman Cleveland
A modest ultra-wave observer who turns out to be the greatest living expert in beam transmission, jury-rigging miracles out of gunny sacks and haywire.
Cosmic Conflict Between Good and Evil
The book depicts a vast, ancient struggle between the benevolent, mentally-powerful Arisians and the malevolent, parasitic Eddorians, with the fate of civilizations across galaxies hanging in the balance.
Guided Evolution and Eugenics
The Arisians secretly guide the development of intelligent races, manipulating bloodlines and encouraging specific matings to create a superior race capable of wielding the Lens and defeating the Eddorians.
Hidden Manipulation of History
Both Arisians and Eddorians operate through disguised agents and forms of flesh to influence historical events, such as the fall of Atlantis and Nero's Rome, without revealing their true nature.
Sacrifice for the Greater Good
The Arisians allow entire civilizations to fall (e.g., Atlantis, Rome) as necessary steps in a long-term plan to ensure the ultimate triumph of Civilization, accepting short-term suffering for long-term victory.