Triplanetary, First in the Lensman Series

Triplanetary, published in 1948 as the first novel in E. E. Smith's Lensman series, serves as a prequel to the serialized story first published in 1934. The novel explores an ancient eugenics project by the alien Arisia, which aims to create the ultimate weapon against their enemy, Eddore. It intertwines historical events, including the fall of Atlantis and major World Wars, with a narrative that culminates in the discovery of faster-than-light travel and the onset of interstellar conflict. The book introduces key characters like Virgil Samms and Roderick Kinnison, who are pivotal in the subsequent Lensman stories.