Postmarked the Stars

~ 4th Novel in the Solar Queen Series by Andre Norton

postmarked.the.stars

 

Synopsis ~

Write-up from the front flap of the 1969 HC ~

Trouble began for the crew of the free trader Solar Queen when an apparently routine call summoned cargo master Dane Thorson to collect a package for transport on the Queen's mail run between Xecho and Tresworld. What was in the package Dane did not learn till later, after he had been attached and barely managed to return to the ship, there to find a dead man in his bunk. All searches failed to discover the reason for the dead man's presence until they made the ghastly discovery that their precious cargo of lathsmer embryos had been subjected to radiation, causing them to regress genetically to monster forms.
Their only course was to land the damaged cargo outside the jurisdiction of the port until its safety and their innocence had been established. When they put down in the wilderness, however, they discovered that their monsters were not the first to have landed there. Only after Dane and his comrades had endured a series of nightmare adventures did they begin to fit the puzzling pieces together, to realize they had stumbled upon a criminal operation that involved the whole galaxy.
A new Andre Norton story is a welcome event for science-fiction fans, who will be enthralled by this tightly plotted and highly suspenseful adventure that demonstrates once more the reason for the distinguished Norton reputation.

 

Write-up from the back of ACE paperback edition ~

Trouble started early for the free-trader Solar Queen the moment cargo master Dane Thorson collected a package for transit from Xecho to Trewsworld. What was in the package Dane did not learn until after he had been kidnapped, knocked out, and a dead man bearing his credentials had been substituted for him aboard ship.
Efforts to find out the reasons for the mysterious switch seemed hopeless until they made the ghastly discovery that their precious cargo of alien embryos had been subjected to secret radiation, causing them to regress genetically into monster forms.
Only after Dane and his fellow spacemen had endured a series of nightmare adventures on their port of call did they begin to fit the puzzle together- to realize that they had stumbled upon a criminal operation that involved a whole cluster of stars.

 

Write-up from the back of the UK paperback edition ~

“…There was no-one to be seen in the cabin. He had not expected to find a driver, since the indications were that the vehicle had been there for some time, but he skidded down the broken bank to look it over, in hopes it might give him some clue to a near camp or settlement, Dane worked his way cautiously out on the rough ice that had frozen about its treads to hammer at the cabin door… when he forced that open at last, he wished he had not, for the cabin was occupied after all….”
Dane Thorson and the crew of the free trader Solar Queen, set off on a routine trip delivering a package on the Queen’s mail run between Xecho and Twesworld. But they do not know what the package contains, and it is not until they make ia series of terrible discoveries that they begin to realize they have stumbled on a criminal operation that involves the whole galaxy….
The third thrilling space adventure about Dane Thorson and the Solar Queen.

 

Write-up from the back of the Fawcett paperback edition ~

They carried their deadly cargo to the very limits of the universe.
The first shock is the body – the dead man aboard the Solar Queen bears a terrifying resemblance to the cargo master, Dane Thorson.
Then Thorson and his crew discover the secret behind their strange cargo an incredible mutation that threatens the universe with an uncontrollable new life form.
Swept up in a nightmare of adventure and challenged by a conspiracy of evil that respects no cosmic boundary, Thorson and the crew of the Solar Queen learn again the most basic law of the stars – that survival in outer space depends on the courage of the inner man.

 

Write-up from the back of the Ballantine Del Rey paperback edition ~

Special Delivery
When the body was found aboard the free trader Solar Queen, only Dane Thorson knew that the dead man had smuggled in a deadly package. But Thorson couldn’t remember…
When he finally found his missing memories, it was too late – the ship’s animal cargo had already mutated irrevocably.
Then, on the icy surface of the planet Trewsworld, Thorson and the changed animals stumbled upon a terrifying conspiracy. Suddenly they were battling greedy outlaws and mutant monsters to save the planet – and themselves.
“Fast-paced action characterizes this new Science Fiction adventure by a prolific writer in the genre.” – ALA Booklist

 

Write-ups from fans ~

The Solar Queen is working a "mail run" between the planets of Xecho and Trewsworld, the contract they obtained in exchange for the Sargol contract as a result of/punishment for the results of being declared a plague ship, and the crew's efforts to clear themselves.  During their first stop on Xecho, Dane goes off-ship for a last-minute pickup of a package.  Unfortunately, it was a ruse to get a ringer on board and Dane is poisoned to prevent him from exposing the plot.  He does manage to throw off the effects of the poison and make it back to the ship just before lift-off, collapsing then into unconsciousness.  When he awakes afterwards, the rest of the crew finds the "duplicate Dane" dead in Dane's cabin.  An extensive search of the ship reveals a box giving off radioactivity fastened just under the main cargo space.  Their live cargo is subjected to this radiation causing genetic degeneration.  The lathsmers--down-producing birds, the main "cash crop" of Trewsworld--are regressed to their ferocious reptilian ancestors, while the brachs get "fast-forwarded" into intelligence.  Landing their altered cargo secretly on Trewsworld, Dane and his friends discover other altered animals have been created to cause chaos and a forced evacuation of the colonists in order for a mining company to take over.  Together the Solar Queen's crew and the settlers manage to break up the plot and destroy the monsters. ~ SL

 

It has been so long, all I remembered was that it was about the Solar Queen doing inner-system mail runs. Boring, right---No way. Non-stop action from cover-to-cover starts with Dane Thorson poisoned and half-dead barely making it back to the Queen before lift-off only to discover a corpse that looks like him in his bunk. Then the cargo of animals starts acting strange and after an extensive search, the crew discover a box giving off weird radiation. They get to Trewsworld with genetically regressed birds and fall onto a plot (by a mysterious organization) to take over the planet for a rare mineral. Hunted by monsters and the criminals, they need all the help they can get to survive and report these illicit activities and clear the Queen from false allegations. Awesome book, this is going on my reread often list. If you like space opera, it doesn't get any better than this one! ~ PG

 

Reviews ~

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

1970 by C. Moslander in Luna Monthly #17 (fnz), October
1971 by Fred Patten in Science Fiction Review #42 (fnz), January
1971 by James R. Newton in The WSFA Journal #76 (fnz), April-May
1971 by T. Pauls in Son of WSFA Journal #36 (fnz), November
2015 by James Nicoll
2018 by Judith Tarr

 

Bibliography of English Editions ~

  • (1969) Published by Harcourt Brace, HC, LCCN 69018626, $4.50, 223pg ~ cover by Richard Powers {Gray Cloth Boards, Maroon End Papers}
  • (1971) Published by ACE, PB, 0-441-67555-3, $0.75, 189pg - #67556 1975 $1.25 189pg 3rd print - covers by Jeff Jones

#67553 this volume was reprinted twice with the same ACE Number series and price, with the only difference being the advertisements in the back.  First published in March 1971 and then reprinted in November/December 1972 (based upon a dated advertisement)

  • (1971) Published by Gollancz, HC, 0-575-00681-1, £1.20, 224pg ~ UK printing ~ cover by David Smee
  • (1980) Published by Magnet, PB, 0-416-88300-1, £0.80, 223pg ~ 2nd printing £0.95 ~ UK printing ~ cover by Tony Roberts
  • (1980) Published by Fawcett, PB, 0-449-24357-, $2.25, 192pg ~ #24354-0 1980 $2.50 ~ cover by Ken Barr
  • (1985) Published by Ballantine Del Rey, PB, 0-345-32069-7, $2.50, 192pg ~ cover by Darrell Sweet

 

Non-English Editions ~

  • (1975) Published in Stuttgart, Germany; by Boje-Verlag, 34-141-5110-3, DM890, 202pg ~ translation by Hans-Georg Noack ~ cover by Klaus Bürgle ~ German title Verschwörung im all [Conspiracy in space]
  • (1993) Published in Poznań, Poland; by Rebis, 83-852-0270-6, 292pg ~ translation by Danuta i Piotr Tęczyńscy ~ Polish title Ostemplowane Gwiazdy [Stamped celebrities]
  • (1991)-1 Published in Moscow, by JV "RURIK, Ltd", 5-85894-003-X, PB, 200pg ~ translation by S. Berezhkov & S. Vitin ~ Russian title Проштемпелёвано звездами [Stamped by stars] ~ Part of 3 book set in same package titled "Masters of World Fiction", - "Sargasso in Space", "Plague Ship & Voodoo Planet", and "Postmarked the Stars"

 

Russian Omnibus Editions ~

  • (1991)-2 Published in Moscow, by Centerpolygraph, no ISBN, HC, 478pg ~ cover by A. Waldman ~ Russian title Королева Солнца [Queen of the sun]

Contains:

    • "Sargasso of Space" as "Sargassos in space" ~ pp. 3-150
    • "Plague Ship" as "Plagued ship" ~ pp. 153-280
    • "Voodoo Planet" as "Planet of witchcraft" ~ pp. 283-340
    • "Postmarked the Stars" as "Stamped by Stars" ~ pp. 343-477

 

  • (1991)-3 Published in Tashkent, Uzbekistan by Impulse-Union, no ISBN, HC, 336pg ~ Russian title Королева Солнца [Queen of the Sun] ~ as Adrew Norton

 Contains:

    • "Plague Ship" as "The Plagued Ship" ~ pp. 3-120
    • "Voodoo Planet" as "Planet of witchcraft" ~ pp. 121-174
    • "Postmarked the Stars" as "Stamped by the Stars" ~ pp. 175-296
    • "Plague Planet" by Unknown author ~ pp. 297-334

 

  • (1991)-4 Published in Moscow, by Novator, 5-865-862019-1 and 5-865-86200-9, HC, 400pg ~ cover by D. Yu Shcherbinin ~ Russian title Приключения "Королевы Солнца" [Adventures of the Queen of the Sun] - as Andrew Norton

Contains:

    • "Sargasso of Space" as "Sargassos of space" ~ translation by S. Berezhkov & S. Vitin, pp. 5-125
    • "Plague Ship" ~ "Plagued Ship" ~ translation by A. Malin, pp. 127-231
    • "Voodoo Planet" as "Zombie Planet" ~ translation by A. Malin, pp. 233-275
    • "Postmarked the Stars" as "Stamp - stars" ~ translation by A. Malin, pp. 277-386
    • Andrew Norton - Biography, pp. 387-391
    • Works Written by Andrew Norton - Biliography, pp. 391-396

 

  • (1991)-5 Published in Moscow, by Fairy, 5-867-40006-9, HC, 350pg ~ cover by N. Ivanova & I. Davletshin ~ Russian title Суперкарго с "Королевы Солнца." [Super Cargo from the Queen of the Sun]

Contains:

    • "Sargasso of Space" as "Sargassa in space" ~ translation by S. Berezhkov & S. Pobedin, p. 5-164
    • "Postmarked the Stars" as "Galactic Postal" ~ translation by Yu. Sokolov, p. 165-349

 

  • (1992)-2 Published in Zelenograd, by Zelenogradskaya Books, 5-863-14005-4, HC 608pg ~ Russian title Королева Солнца [Queen of the Sun]

Contains:

    • "Sargasso of Space" as "Sargassos in space" ~ pp. 5-190
    • "Plague Ship" as "Plagued Ship" ~ pp. 191-350
    • "Voodoo Planet" as "Planet of witchcraft" ~ pp. 351-424
    • "Postmarked the Stars" as "Stamped by Stars: ~ pp. 425-606

 

  • (1992)-3 Published in Angarsk, by Amber, 5-883-58016-5, PB, 480pg ~ Russian title Королева Солнца [Queen of the Sun]

Contains:

    • "Sargasso of Space" as "Sargassos in space" ~ pp. 6-150
    • "Plague Ship" as "Plagued Ship" ~ pp. 151-278
    • "Voodoo Planet" as "Planet of witchcraft" ~ pp. 279-336
    • "Postmarked the Stars" as "Stamped by Stars: ~ pp. 337-470
    • Afterword by Vl. Gakov as "The Witch of the World of Witches" ~ pp. 471-479

 

  • (1992)-4 Published in Novosibirsk, by EY, 5-87216-008-9, HC, 462pg ~ cover by O. Polishchuk ~ Russian title Королева Солнца [Queen of the Sun]

Contains:

    • "Sargasso of Space" as "Sargassos in Space" ~ pp. 3-136
    • "Plague Ship" as "The Plagued Ship" ~ pp. 137-253
    • "Voodoo Planet" as "Planet of witchcraft" ~ pp. 254-306
    • "Postmarked the Stars" as "Stamped by the Stars" ~ pp. 307-429
    • "Plague Planet" by Unknown author ~ pp. 430-464

 

  • (1992)-5 Published in Novosibirsk, by ROS Company ~ no ISBN, HC, 304pg ~ cover by A. Medvedev Russian title Приключения "Королевы Солнца" [Adventures of the Queen of the Sun]

Contains:

    • "Plague Ship" as "Plagued Ship" ~ pp. 3-128
    • "Voodoo Planet" as "Planet of witchcraft" ~ pp. 129-182
    • "Postmarked the Stars" as "Stamped by the Stars" ~ pp. 183-304

 

  • (1992)-6 Published in Tallinn, Estonia by Melora, 5-797-90412-8 and 5-797-90438-1, HC, 400pg ~ cover by Boris Vallejo ~ Russian title Скитальцы космоса [Space Wanderers] ~ Between 336 and 337 pages there are four stickers with illustrations by B. Vallejo

Contains:

    • "Sargasso of Space" as "Sargassos of space" ~ translation by A. Snezhko, pp. 3-116
    • "Plague Ship" as "Plagued Ship" ~ translation by A. Snezhko, pp. 117-216
    • "Voodoo Planet" as "The Planet of Witchcraft" ~ translation by A. Snezhko, pp. 217-261
    • "Postmarked the Stars" as "Stamped by Stars" ~ translation by A. Snezhko, pp. 262-367
    • "Plague Planet" by Unknown author ~ pp. 368-398

 

  • (1992)-7 Published in Irkutsk, by Lisna, no ISBN, HC, 271pg ~ cover and illustrations by V. Plyaskin ~ Russian title Эндрю Нортон. Избранное. Том 2 [Andrew Norton. Favorites. Volume 2]

Contains:

    • "Voodoo Planet" as "Planet of witchcraft" ~ pp. 3-83
    • "Postmarked the Stars" as "Stamped by Stars" ~ pp. 84-270

 

  • (1993) Published in Yaroslavl, by Nuance, 5-741-51030-2, HC, 768pg ~ cover by N.D. Shadura ~ Russian title Саргассы в космосе [Sargassos in Space]

Contains:

    • "Sargasso of Space" as "Sargassos in space" ~ pp. 3-158
    • "Plague Ship" as "Plagued Ship" ~ pp. 159-294
    • "Voodoo Planet" as "Planet of witchcraft" ~ pp. 295-358
    • "Postmarked the Stars" as "Stamped by Stars" ~ pp. 359-500
    • "Plague Planet" by Unknown author ~ pp. 501-542
    • "Catseye" as "The Horseman of Vorden" ~ pp. 543-678
    • "Star Hunter" ~ pp. 679-767

 

  • (1995) Published in Angarsk, by Amber Ltd. and Moscow, by Sigma Press, 5-883-58056-4, HC, 528pg ~ cover by Bruce Pennington ~ Russian title Королева Солнца [Queen of the Sun]

Contains:

    • "Sargasso of Space" as "Sargassos of the cosmos" ~ pp. 3-162
    • "Plague Ship" as "The Plagued Ship" ~ pp. 163-302
    • "Voodoo Planet" as "Zombie Planet" ~ pp. 303-366
    • "Postmarked the Stars" as "Stamp - Stars" ~ pp. 367-514
    • Afterword by Vl. Gakov as "The Sorceress of the World of Stars" ~ pp. 515-524

 

  • (1997) Published in Moscow, by Armada, 5-763-20301-1, HC, 528pg ~ cover by V. Petelin & illustrations by M. Kovaleva ~ Russian title Королева Солнца [Queen of the Sun]

Contains:

    • Forward by Vl. Gakov as "Queen of the Sun" ~ pp. 5-14
    • "Sargasso of Space" as "Sargassos of space" ~ translation by S. Berezhkov & S. Pobedin, pp. 15-172
    • "Plague Ship" as "Plagued Ship" ~ translation by A. Malin, pp. 173-312
    • "Voodoo Planet" as "Zombie Planet" ~ translation by A. Malin, pp. 313-370
    • "Postmarked the Stars" as "Stamp - stars" ~ translation by A. Malin, pp. 371-517
 
 
  • (1999) Published in Moscow, by AST, 5-237-01754-1, HC, 480pg ~ cover of C. Bernard (front) & L. Royo (rear) ~ Russian title Королева Солнца [Queen of the Sun]

Contains:

    • "Sargasso in Space" as "Sargassos of space" ~ translation by S. Pobedin & S. Berezhkov, pp. 5-154
    • "Plague Ship" as "Plagued Ship" ~ translation by A. Malin, pp. 155-286
    • "Voodoo Planet" as "Zombie Planet" ~ translation by A. Malin, pp. 287-338
    • "Postmarked the Stars" as "Stamp - stars" ~ translation by A. Malin, pp. 339-475

 

  • (2002) Published in Moscow, by AST, 5-170-15683-9, HC, 653pg ~ cover by D. Vallejo (left panel), C. Bernard (lower right), L. Royo (upper right) ~ Russian title Саргассы в космосе. Зачумленный корабль. Планета колдовства. Проштемпелевано звездами. [Sargassos of space. Plagued ship. Zombie Planet. Cancellation - stars]

Contains:

    • "Sargasso of Space" as "Sargassos of space" ~ translation by S. Berezhkov & S. Pobedin, pp. 5-195
    • "Plague Ship" as "The Plagued Ship" ~ translation by A. Malin, pp. 197-362
    • "Voodoo Planet" as "Zombie Planet" ~ translation A. Malina, pp. 363-429
    • "Postmarked the Stars" as "Stamp - stars" ~ translation by A. Malin, pp. 431-604
    • "Plague Planet" by Unknown author ~ pp. 605-653

 

  • (2004)-1 Published in Moscow, by AST, 5-170-24016-3, HC, 1136pg ~ Russian title Королева Солнца [Queen of the Sun] ~ Limited to 3000 copies

Contains:

    • "Sargasso of Space" as "Sargassos of space" ~ translation by S. Berezhkov & S. Pobedin, pp. 5-156
    • "Plague Ship" as "The Plagued Ship" ~ translation by A. Malin, pp. 157-288
    • "Voodoo Planet" as "Zombie Planet" ~ translation by A. Malin, pp. 289-342
    • "Postmarked the Stars" as "Stamp - stars" ~ translation by A. Malin, pp. 343-480
    • "Reline the Stars" as "The emergency planet" ~ translation by E. Dobrokhotova-Maykova, pp. 481-634
    • "Derelict for Trade" as "Abandoned ship" ~ translation by S. Anisimov, pp. 635-866
    • "A Mind for Trade" as "Reason for bidding" ~ translation by M. Levin, pp. 867-1070
    • "Plague Planet" by Unknown author ~ pp. 1071-1113
    • Article by Vl. Gakov as "Queen of the Sun" ~ pp. 1115-1128
    • Bibliography of Andre Norton ~ pp. 1129-1133

 

  • (2004)-2 Published in Moscow, by AST, 5-170-24014-7, HC, 1132pg ~ cover by C. Bernard ~ Russian title Королева Солнца [Queen of the Sun] ~ Limited to 2000 copies

Contains:

    • "Sargasso of Space" as "Sargassos of space" ~ translation by S. Berezhkov & S. Pobedin, pp. 5-156
    • "Plague Ship" as "The Plagued Ship" ~ translation by A. Malin, pp. 157-288
    • "Voodoo Planet" as "Zombie Planet" ~ translation by A. Malin, pp. 289-342
    • "Postmarked the Stars" as "Stamp - stars" ~ translation by A. Malin, pp. 343-480
    • "Reline the Stars" as "The emergency planet" ~ translation by E. Dobrokhotova-Maykova, pp. 481-634
    • "Derelict for Trade" as "Abandoned ship" ~ translation by S. Anisimov, pp. 635-866
    • "A Mind for Trade" as "Reason for bidding" ~ translation by M. Levin, pp. 867-1070
    • "Plague Planet" by Unknown author ~ pp. 1071-1113
    • Article by Vl. Gakov as "Queen of the Sun" ~ pp. 1115-1128
    • Bibliography of Andre Norton ~ pp. 1129-1133

 

  • (2014) Published in Moscow, by Eksmo, 978-5-699-69016-9, HC, 672pgs ~ cover art by A. Dubovik ~ Russian title Королева Солнца [Queen of the Sun] ~ Linited to 4000 copies

Contains:

    • "Sargasso of Space" as "Sargassa in space" ~ translation by S. Berezhkov & S. Pobedin, pp. 5-206
    • "Plague Ship" as "The Plague Ship" ~ translation by A. Malin, pp. 207-388
    • "Voodoo Planet" ~ "Zombie Planet" ~ translation by A. Malin, pp. 389-468
    • "Postmarked the Stars" as "Stamp - stars" ~ translation by A. Malin, pp. 469-669

 

Ukrainian Omnibus Editions ~

  • (1992)-1 Published in Kyiv, Ukraine, by Alterpres, 5-874-98065-2, HC, 752pg ~ cover by A. Stolin ~ Ukrainian title Галактический почтовый [Galactic postal]

Contains:

    • Forward by A. Belevtseva ~ pp. 5-6
    • "Sargasso of Space" as "Sargassos in space" ~ translation by S. Berezhkov & S. Vitin, pp. 7-196
    • "Postmarked the Stars" as "Galactic Postal" ~ translation by Yu. Sokolov, pp. 197-394
    • "Witch World" as "Witches from Estkarp" ~ translation by Yu. Sokolov, pp. 395-604
    • "Dragon Scale Silver" as "Dragon bowl" ~ translation by Yu. Sokolov, pp. 605-680
    • "Dream Smith" as "The Smith of Visions" ~ translation by Yu. Sokolov, pp. 681-698
    • "Amber Out of Quayth" as "Amber from Quays" ~ translation by Yu. Sokolov, pp. 699-752

View the Original contract

View the 1978 ACE contract

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/the-solar-queen-series/308-postmarked-the-stars#sigProIda7f8258549

 

 

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