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Lucky Starr and the Pirates of the Asteroids Book Summary and Study Guide

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By far the very best Lucky Starr book, the plot starts off with a boobytrapped ship which is sent into the asteroids with the hope that pirates will find it, bring it home, and blow themselves up (the ship is rigged to explode).

Lucky, however, changes the script a bit by stowing away on the boobytrapped ship and trying to convince the pirates that he wants to join them. The pirate leader is suspicious and tries to have Lucky killed, but Lucky survives, so the pirate leader dumps Lucky on an asteroid with a hermit. The hermit, who has worked with the pirates, agrees to defect, and take Lucky to Ceres, the largest asteroid in the belt where civilized people have established a base.

The pirates soon attack, however, and retake the hermit. Lucky goes after their flagship, which is on its way to Saturn to form an alliance with their deadly enemy, the Sirians. In a dramatic ending, Lucky threatens to ram their ship unless they surrender. Lucky for him, they do. But the real surprise comes when Lucky reveals that the hermit is himself a pirate, and, based on flimsy deduction, Lucky believes he's responsible for the death of his parents. When they ask "Doesn't it bother you, Lucky?" he gives an anti-death penalty speech and states that it's sufficient for the guy to go to jail.

That seems a bit disingenuous. But that's ok, because of the great chase scene at the end of the book.

Detailed plot synopsis reviews of Lucky Starr and the Pirates of the Asteroids


Lucky Starr tries to infiltrate the pirates of the asteroid belt to find out more about them. But they're wise to his attempts and try to kill him several times. This doesn't slow Lucky down much, as he discovers a big secret about the pirate leader that affects him personally.
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The review of this Book prepared by Steve



Chapter Analysis of Lucky Starr and the Pirates of the Asteroids

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Plot & Themes

Tone of book    -   very upbeat FANTASY or SCIENCE FICTION?    -   science fiction story Spying & Investigations    -   Yes What is main char. doing?    -   spying/espionage in enemy territorry Political power play    -   Yes Political plotlets    -   preventing/managing clash/war between govts/kingdoms Is this an adult or child's book?    -   Adult or Young Adult Book

Main Character

Identity:    -   Male Profession/status:    -   scientist Age:    -   20's-30's

Setting

Spaceship setting:    -   futuristic human warship    -   futuristic human freighter/transport Planet outside solar system?    -   Yes Takes place in spaceship?    -   Yes

Writing Style

Accounts of torture and death?    -   generic/vague references to death/punishment scientific jargon? (SF only)    -   none/very little science jargon needed How much dialogue?    -   mostly dialog

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Isaac Asimov Books Note: the views expressed here are only those of the reviewer(s).
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