The "Star Frontier Trilogy," of which Alien Death Fleet is the inaugural story, were written initially almost two decades ago. Due to glitches with the original publisher, only the first novel ever saw print and the entire trilogy was lost for years. Zumaya Publications snapped up the series and released Alien Death Fleet this year.

Vardeman himself clearly calls the "Star Frontier Trilogy" a space opera. And that, indeed, it is. In the vein of the pulps of the early years of science fiction, Vardeman has crafted an action-oriented tale of invasion by a mysterious alien armada bent on killing all life on planets and then efficiently mining all of their available resources. This advanced race has appeared on the outer colonies and has systematically razed planet after planet. Pier Norlin, a bored science observer, picks up a distress signal from a small craft whose occupants had witnessed one of the first attacks by the Death Fleet. Norlin then begins a quest to convince the rest of the known galaxy that they are in imminent danger. Finding himself as captain of a major vessel of the Empire’s Fleet (because he’s the only pilot left), he sets out with an improbable crew to deliver the message to military leadership who can mount an effective defense.

As the adventure unfolds, Vardeman describes colorful battles based less on military science than on creative cobbling together of wild schemes and brass. His characters include Norlin, who grows considerably during the story, and gutsy engineer Tia Barse, who would make Star Trek’s Engineer Scott pale and then smile at her inventiveness.

I had a great time reading this novel and can’t wait to find out what happens to Norlin and the known universe in the final two volumes, The Genetic Menace and Black Nebula. I commend Zumaya Publications for reviving this series and bringing it to old and new science fiction fans.