Grossett & Dunlap -- hcNew York - ©1953 -- 209pp
Book 2 in the 1950's adventure series
Willy Ley, technical advisor
Louis Glanzman, illustrations
The new space cadets, Tom Corbett, Astro, and Roger Manning, are asked to go on a new adventure, but Roger abandons the team after being found guilty of allowing an accident to happen.
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It surprises me that my boys manage to enjoy these older adventure books, but they do!
What I find when I read these kinds of books is that they are big on exposition, which tends to slow the pace down. However, apparently my boys, ages 10 and 12, seem to have learned how to listen to this kind of exposition.
I read this book aloud to them, at bed time, a chapter a night. They remembered what happened the night before and would often ask for a second chapter each night.
There's just enough plot here to keep the interest. One member of the three-person cadet crew is unjustly accused of allowing an accident, and through the careful conniving of the two men who are actually responsible, the cadet joins forces with them, becoming an outlaw himself. This sets up a nice conflict and obstacle. Cadets and outlaws are racing to the same goal, arrive about the same time, and in typical fashion, square off.
There is some excitement in this adventure, enough to keep us reading, but I still find them generally boring. A little goes a long way, so while we likely WILL read the next book in the series, it will be awhile before we get to it.
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