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''Cosmos'' is a serial novel consisting of seventeen chapters written by seventeen authors. The novel appeared in issues of the science fiction fan publication ''Science Fiction Digest'' (later ''Fantasy Magazine'') published from July, 1933 through January, 1935. ''Cosmos'' has been described variously as "the world's most fabulous serial," "one of the unique stunts of early science fiction," and "a failure, miserable and near-complete." == Plot Summary == The opening chapter of ''Cosmos'' introduces the two primary protagonists of the novel: Dos-Tev, deposed Emperor of the planet Lemnis of the Alpha Centauri system, and his science advisor, Mea-Quin. Dos-Tev becomes aware that his usurper, Ay-Artz, is planning to extend his conquest to the planets of the Solar System. Unbeknown to Ay-Artz, Dos-Tev and Mea-Quin have created a ship capable of traveling faster than the speed of light. In order to foil Ay-Artz's plans and regain his throne, Dos-Tev sets out for the Solar System and establishes a base in the crater Copernicus on Earth's moon. He then proceeds to contact the races of the Solar System to enlist their aid in defending their planets once Ay-Artz's slower armada arrives. Chapters 2 through 5 describe the inhabitants of Mercury (a small band of human emigrants from Earth), Jupiter's moon Callisto (a race led by women), Mars (a race resembling large flying squirrels), and Saturn (cone-shaped beings who communicate via color) respectively. Each planet receives a message of warning from Dos-Tev and a request to send an emissary to an interplanetary conference to be held at Copernicus, and following a variety of adventures, each dispatches a ship accordingly. Chapter 6 returns to the story of Dos-Tev and Mea-Quin on the Moon as they continue to contact the planets of the Solar System and prepare for the conference. They encounter resistance from a strange, intelligent force they refer to as "the Wrongness of Space." Chapters 7 through 9 tell the tales of Neptune (peopled by sentient gas-filled balloons), Venus (inhabited by migrated Earthlings), and Earth as they receive Dos-Tev's warning, select their emissaries and send ships to represent their planets at the conference. We learn that the people of Earth have been subtly subjugated by automatons of their own creation. In Chapter 10, Dos-Tev and Mea-Quin complete their preparations for the conference, despite interference from the Wrongness of Space. They successfully host the representatives of the planets and enlist them to return to their homes and build fleets of spaceships to defend the Solar System against Ay-Artz. In Chapter 11, the Earth is freed from the dominion of the automatons by a reclusive poet-musician-scientist. (This chapter, written by A. Merritt, was later adapted and republished as a short story named "Rhythm of the Spheres.") Chapter 12 describes a failed attempt by Dos-Tev and Mea-Quin to dispose of the Wrongness of Space. They discover that it is Krzza of Lxyia, a mad inter-dimensional dictator in league with Ay-Artz. Krzza captures them and then uses their communications equipment to direct false instructions to the planetary fleets intended to send them to their doom. Chapters 13, 14 and 15 tell the stories of the fleets of Earth, Neptune and Saturn as they cope with the disastrous misdirection sent to them by Krzza. In Chapter 16, Dos-Tev and Mea-Quin manage to escape the clutches of Krzza and make their way back to their ship. After defeating Krzza, they find their communication gear destroyed and must depart the Moon at maximum velocity to rendezvous with the Earth fleet. In the concluding Chapter 17, Dos-Tev and Mea-Quin reach the Earth fleet. They pass on intelligence regarding Ay-Artz's imminent arrival, but the intense gravitational stress of their journey kills them. The Solar System fleets converge under the command of Earth's Flight Director. After a titanic battle, the forces of Ay-Artz are defeatedwhile Pluto, Neptune and Uranus are completely destroyed in the process.〔 抄文引用元・出典: フリー百科事典『 ウィキペディア(Wikipedia)』 ■ウィキペディアで「Cosmos (serial novel)」の詳細全文を読む スポンサード リンク
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