Perry Rhodan Books In Order

Publication Order of Perry Rhodan - English Books

The name Perry Rhodan refers to a science fiction magazine series from Germany that started publication in the 1960s. There have been over two thousand issues of Perry Rhodan released to date. The series was initially the work of Walter Ernsting and Karl Herbert Scheer.

The German science fiction writers eventually gave way to other authors to try their hand at producing the series.

+The Story

There were only supposed to be fifty volumes of the Perry Rhodan series. However, since its initial publication, the stories have continued to come out on a weekly basis, this allowing for the accumulation of over two thousand issues over the decades.

The Perry Rhodan series has, for the last several decades, worked to tell stories that revolve around a collection of connected and highly complex plotlines. In fact, one would be hard-pressed to make sense of the story trying to jump aboard using random issues because references to earlier events are constantly being made.

The Perry Rhodan series has since been released in hardcover and paperback volumes, though the comics are also still available.

The story of the Perry Rhodan series begins with Perry Rhodan attempting a moon landing alongside his fellow members of the U.S. Space force. The mission takes an unexpected turn when the team discovers an alien spacecraft.

The crew uses the technology of the ship to elevate mankind’s place in the cosmos, allowing their species to go out into the galaxy and to begin truly exploring the vastness of space. To make such achievements, Perry’s discoveries help mankind make alterations to their physical forms, not to mention making use of advanced transportation technologies.

As the series progresses and the characters go on numerous adventures, they attain a state of immortality where by they cannot age or suffer from disease. This particular shift allows the story to cover several decades, centuries and even millennia.

In fact, after a while, some of the characters begin talking in terms of millions of years as their live spans extend astronomically. New galaxies are introduced and concepts such as time travel and paranormal abilities come into play.

The writers of the Perry Rhodan series are able to play with so many unique concepts because their story takes place in an alternate universe known as the Einstein Universe. As such, they have the freedom to play with the way nature and physics work.

Though, the Einstein Universe is supposed to resemble the reader’s own universe in most aspects. The Perry Rhodan series is able to exceed the boundaries of real science by staying true to previous theories about the universe and its workings, many of which allow for greater flexibility in terms of interpretation. Even though the Perry Rhodan series is still running, its writers keep choosing to ignore new scientific theories about concepts like dark matter and dark energy. As a result, they have a little more freedom to operate.

The stories told play fast and loose with what can and cannot be achieved through scientific means. The multiverse concept is often used as a tool through which the Perry Rhodan series can explore its most outlandish ideas.

By having their characters travel to alternative universes, the writers are able to create stories that are not beholden to even the few restrictions of science and nature to which they have chosen to stay true in the Einstein Universe.

The Perry Rhodan series deals with a variety of alien beings many of whom are quite primitive and some of which are so powerful that they have attained god-like powers.

A recurring theme in the Rhodan books is the conflict between the high powers, beings that have evolved to a point where they exist in a higher dimension and, therefore, cannot interact with lower level creatures.

The conflict initially revolves around two sides known as the cosmocrats and the chaotarchs. One side seeks to bring about absolute order while the other, their foes, won’t be happy until they have brought about complete chaos in the universe.

After a while, though, the higher powers as a whole begin to view life as a rival that must be overcome because it keeps spreading throughout the universe. The complexity of the stories told in these books tends to wax and wane depending on the writers. When it gets complicated, though, the books can sometimes push things a bit too far, with the scientific concepts they keep playing with and the classifications of living organisms involved making for a jumbled mess.

The Perry Rhodan series was initially derided by fans. But that was during its earliest days when it was aimed at teenagers. As time went by, the authors began to develop more mature stories written with adult readers in mind.

The books began to focus less on pulpy action and adventure and more on the philosophical nature of man’s attempts to expand his horizons. Despite its many critics, the Perry Rhodan series has maintained a consistent presence on the science fiction landscape because it has a hardcore following.

Then again, this hardcore following seemed to dissipate when the live action film adaptation of the Perry Rhodan books was released in 1967. Called ‘Mission Stardust’ and featuring Lang Jeffries and Essy Persson, the movie first opened in Rome before making its way to West Germany. No one had anything good to say about it.

The movie was panned for being uneven and boasting very crude special effects, though some people thought its makers were bold for even attempting such an undertaking.

+Enterprise Stardust

Perry Rhodan boarded the spaceship Stardust believing that he would be the first man on the moon. He did not expect to also become the first man to engage with Alien life. Perry’s interactions with the Arkonides—aliens from a distant world—has the potential to catapult mankind into an age of wonders.

But before Perry can bring the Arkonides’ amazing technology to the people of Earth, he must prove his worth by passing a daring test.

+The Radiant Dome

Following his encounter with Aliens, Perry and his crew have gone ahead and set up shop in the Gobi desert. With their base online, Perry attempts to unite the governments of the world, a tactic that fails. When the nations of the earth move to strike their base, Perry must rely on his Arkonide connections to keep his friends safe even while working to unite mankind.