The Stars Are Ours!

~ 1st Novel in the Astra Series by Andre Norton

(Series aka) Pax

 

Synopsis ~

Write-up from the front flap of 1954 dustjacket ~

Andre Norton, one of America’s best loved and ever-popular writers of science-fiction tales, presents another suspenseful story of men and deeds in space – a story of pursuit and terror, of escape to another planet in another solar system. The year is 2500 and tyranny stalks Terra as Renzi and his henchmen build a monstrous police state out of the ashes of an atomized world, where now all scientists are slaves. It is Dard Nordis and his sister Dessie, pursued and harassed by the brutal Peacemen, who join the small group of Free Scientists and their families hidden deep within a range of mountains. There, under the leadership of Tas Kordov, they are slowly and painfully planning their escape Ad Astra, a project so vast in scope as to make one shudder. It is Dard and space-pilot Kimber who must penetrate Renzi’s inner sanctum to gain crucially needed secrets.
A last-minute getaway under fire and a voyage through space lasting many years brings them to another world, where there are trees that bear golden fruits, and ruined cities of an extinct civilization. How they battle almost to the death in a lair of snakelike dragons, and how they make friends with a strange amphibious people makes for top-flight entertainment for all science-fiction and adventure fans.

 

Write-up from the back of the early ACE paperback editions ~

Gateway to the Universe
Terra: 2500 A.D.
A world where science is hated and scientists enslaved.
Dar Nordis
A young man who sought escape through space flight.
“The Stars Are Ours!”
A terrific novel of freedom’s future battlecry.
Andre Norton
Tops among science-fiction writers, author of this highly praised novel.
“Extremely Exciting.” – Chicago Tribune

 

Write-up from the back of the 1980s ACE paperback editions ~

Earth in 2500 A.D. is no place for a young man with a dream of freedom. And Dard Nordis is worse off than most; his brother was executed for covert activities as a Scientist in a world where science is blamed for all evil that befell the world in the late 20th century. Now Dard is a hunted man, trying to find his brother’s friends before his brother’s enemies find him. The stakes are the highest; he can be shot down like a dog, or he can escape to the stars in the secret spaceship the Scientist have built.

 

Write-ups from fans ~

This is another post-apocalyptic novel with a twist. Science is outlawed, because some scientists were framed for the nuclear holocaust that destroyed much of the world. The world government, PAX is always hunting down "Stinkmen"(scientists) to stop them from destroying the world again. Some renegade scientists are building a colony ship to get away from the tyranny of PAX. This book has everything--tyrants, the oppressed, and people caught in the middle and unexpected allies. There is a harrowing flight to take vital information to the scientists' hidden base It has a daring raid on PAX headquarters to use the last known functioning computer, desperate escapees, and a climactic battle and the ship taking off. And this is just the first half!
The second half concerns landing upon a new planet and all the discoveries, both dangerous and beneficial to these colonists. They must share this world, but with whom and how successfully? This is an exciting, fast-paced novel which leads into the sequel, Star Born. ~ PG

 

Reviews ~

Kirkus Reviews ~ Issue: Aug. 1st, 1954
Past master at serious science fiction that includes human relationships on personal as well as political levels, is Andre Norton whose latest book is a graphic picture of a hard-won trial at new life in another planetary system. Part I of her story is set on an Earth ravaged by atomic weapons and under the tight rule of an Orwellian power that has stifled free thought. Under these conditions, the underground movement of Free Scientists has managed to construct a ship that takes a small party to another planet, and we see the trip through the eyes of young Dard Nordis whose older brother has helped with the preparations. The new land has some fascinating aspects to watch as the author reveals them- red rivers, a blue-green vegetation- but the main task of the "terrans", that still remains a challenge at the end, is alliance with the "mer- people" against opposition in a terrifying new dimension. Thoughtful. 

 

Various reviews ~ For more info and other listings see Articles Over the Yrars

1954 by Groff Conklin in Galaxy Science Fiction, December
1955 by The Editor in The Magazine of Fantasy and Science Fiction, February
1955 by P. Schuyler Miller in Astounding Science Fiction, March, reprinted in: (UK) P. Schuyler Miller in Astounding Science Fiction, June
1956 by P. Schuyler Miller in Astounding Science Fiction, March
2014 by James Nicoll
2019 by Judith Tarr

 

Dedications and Acknowledgements ~

For Harlan Ellison
Who is a veteran of galactic voyages and an ever-prepared guide to the realms of Outer Space.

 

Bibliography of English Editions ~

  • (1954) Published by World, HC, LCCN 54008169, $2.75, 237pg ~ cover by Virgil Finlay {Blue Cloth Boards}
  • (1955) ACE Double Book containing The Stars Are Ours! and Three Faces of Time by Sam Merwin Jr, Published by ACE, PB, # D-121, $0.35, 183+135pg ~ cover for both titles by Ed Valigursky
  • (1955) ACE Special Edition ~ PB, # D-121, $0.35 ~ This is a rare edition that appears to be the one half of the ACE Double – Although it carries the ACE Double number it is only The Stars Are Ours! – The back is a blue field with the words “AN ACE BOOK”
  • (1963) Published by ACE, PB, #F-207, $0.40, 183pg - #M-147 1966 $0.45 183pg 2nd print - covers by Ed Valigursky ~ #78431 1972 $0.75 191pg 3rd print - #78432 1974 $1.25 191pg 4th print - #78433 1976 $1.50 191pg 5th print - covers by Victor Kalin ~ #78434 1981 $1.95 191pg 6th print - #78435-6 1983 $2.50 191pg 7th print - covers by J. Harston

#78435-6 has been printed at least 3 times - 1983 (7th print) & 1984 (8th print) the number and price are the same - in 1992 the number is the same, but the price is $3.99 (9th print)

  • Star Flight (2007) Published by BAEN, HC, 1-416-55506-4, $24.00 ~ cover by Steve Hickman ~ Omnibus containing Star Born (1957) & The Stars Are Ours! (1954)

 

Non-English Editions ~

  • (1956) Published in Rastatt, Germany; by Pabel, OCLC: 73753119, Utopia Großband 31, DM1.00, 83pg ~ translation by Walter Ernsting and Walter Spiegl ~ cover by H.J. Bruck ~ German title Terra
  • (1956) Published in Rastatt, Germany; by Pabel, OCLC: 73753121, Utopia SF Großband 33, DM1.00, 85pg ~ translation by Walter Ernsting ~ cover by H.J. Bruck ~ German title Ad Astra [Ad Astra]
  • (1966) Published in Munich, Germany; by Moewig, OCLC: 73892329, Terra Extra 88, DM0.80, 65pg ~ cover by Johnny Bruck ~ German title Ad Astra Teil I [Ad Astra part 1]
  • (1966) Published in Munich, Germany; by Moewig, OCLC: 73892331, Terra Extra 89, DM0.80, 64pg ~ cover by Johnny Bruck ~ German title Ad Astra Teil 2 [Ad Astra part 2]
  • (1972) Published in Franfurt, Germany; by Ullstein, PB, 978-3-548-03082-1, DM3.80, 124pg ~ translation by Walter Ernsting ~ cover by Paul Lehr ~ German title Die Sterne Gehoren Uns [The stars belong to us]
  • (1958) Published in Milan, Italy; by Arnoldo Mondadori Editore, Urania 175, 150 lir, 128pg ~ translation by Mario Galli ~ Illustrated by Carlo Jacono ~ Italian title Addio alla Terra [Farewell to Earth] ~ with a story by Isaac Asimov
  • (1993) Published in Warsaw, Poland; by Wydawnictwo Alkazar, 83-857-8418-7, 361pg ~ translated by Adam Budzyński ~ Polish title Gwiazdy należą do nas [The stars belong to us]
  • (2017) Published in Moscow, by Eksmo, 978-5-699-95101-7, HC, 288pg ~ translation by D. Arseniev ~ Russian title Звезды принадлежат нам! [The star belongs to us!] ~ Limited to 3000 copies ~ accompanied by article "Generosity" by Arkady Rukh.

 

Russian Omnibus Editions ~

  • (1994) Published in Moscow, by Sigma Press and Zelenograd, by Zelenogradskaya Books, 5-863-14037-2, HC, 368pg ~ cover by D. Avvakumov ~ Russian title Астра [Aster] ~ Cover is a modified version of work by Jim Burns

Contains:

    • "The Stars Are Ours!" as "The stars belong to us!" ~ translation by D. Arseniev, pp. 3-192
    • "Star Born" as "Born among the Stars" ~ translation by D. Arseniev, pp. 193-366

 

  • (2001) Published in Moscow, by Eksmo-Press, 5-040-06859-X, HC, 512pg ~ cover by Igor Varavin ~ Russian title Звездная стража [Star Guard] ~ In this edition of The Last Planet, chapter 13 "The Kingdom of Kummy" is missing. Page numbering is not interrupted, chapter 12 ends and 14 begins on page 481

Contains:

    • "The Stars Are Ours!" as "The stars belong to us!" ~ translation by D. Arseniev, pp. 5-136
    • "Star Born" as "Born among the Stars" ~ translation by D. Arsenyev, pp. 137-256
    • "Star Guard" ~ translation by D. Arseniev, pp. 257-388
    • "The Last Planet" ~ translation by D. Arseniev, pp. 389-509

 

  • (2014) Published in Moscow by Eksmo, 9785699753215, HC, 704pgs ~ cover art by A. Dubovik ~ Russian title Звёздный охотник [Star Hunter] ~ Limited to 3500 copies

Contains:

    • "The Stars Are Ours!" as "The stars belong to us!" ~ translation by D. Arseniev, pp. 5-160
    • "Star Born" as "Born among the Stars" ~ translation by D. Arseniev, pp. 161-300
    • "Ice Crown" ~ translation by O. Kolesnikov & S. Sergeyev, pp. 301-530
    • "Star Hunter" ~ translation by D. Arsenyev & O. Kolesnikov, pp. 531-624
    • "Eye of the Monster" as "The Monster's Look" ~ translation by D. Saveliev & J. Saveliev, pp. 625-701

View the Original contract

View the 1974 German contract

View the 1982 copyright renewal app.

View the 2004 Russian contract ~ no publishing data at this time.

See Also: Timeline 1 - Andre's Universe entry for this title.

View the embedded image gallery online at:
https://andre-norton.com/works-of-a-master/series-of-a-master/astra-series/37-the-stars-are-ours#sigProId79ae40a2b5

 

 

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