The Big Black Mark

The Big Black Mark (1975) is a science fiction novel by Australian writer A. Bertram Chandler. It forms part of the author's Rim World series, featuring the recurring character John Grimes.

The Big Black Mark
AuthorA. Bertram Chandler
CountryAustralia
LanguageEnglish
SeriesThe Rim Worlds
GenreScience fiction
PublisherDaw Books
Publication date
1975
Media typePrint
Pages224 pp.

It was originally published by Daw Books in USA in 1975.[1]

Synopsis

Captain John Grimes is placed in command of the Census space ship Discovery. This is crewed by a company of malcontents who have been placed together on this vessel in an attempt to keep them out of trouble. Unfortunately hope os dashed when their mutiny against Grimes's comman, and cast his adrift in space.

Dedication
  • "To William Bligh."

Critical reception

Spider Robinson, reviewing the novel on its original release in Galaxy magazine noted: "Black Mark borrows just a bit too heavily from both Nordhoff & Hall and Herman Wouk, if you get my galactic drift. True-blue Grimes fans should be satisfied, but I found it pat in spots, contrived in others, and a little too reminscent of some of the worst Star Trek episodes."[2]

Publication history

After its original publication in 1975 in the US by publishers Daw Books[3] the novel was later published as follows:

  • Daw Books reprint 1978, 1982[1]
  • Baen Books, USA, 2007 (ebook)[4]
  • Orion Books, UK, 2015 (ebook)[5]

The novel was also included in the following compilations of Chandler's work:

  • John Grimes: Survey Captain, Science Fiction Book Club, 2002[6]
  • First Command, Baen Books, 2011[7]

It was translated into German in 1984.[8]

Awards

See also

Notes
  • Chandler wrote about why he felt the book had to be written in an article published in Philosophical Gas 27 (March 1974), edited by John Bangsund.[10]

References
  1. "Austlit — The Big Black Mark by A. Bertram Chandler (Daw Books) 1975". Austlit. Retrieved 27 September 2023.
  2. Galaxy, August 1975, p151
  3. "The Big Black Mark (Daw Books)". National Library of Australia. Retrieved 27 September 2023.
  4. ""The Big Black Mark" (Baen)". ISFDB. Retrieved 27 September 2023.
  5. ""The Big Black Mark" (Orion)". ISFDB. Retrieved 27 September 2023.
  6. ""John Grimes: Survey Captain" (SF Book Club)". ISFDB. Retrieved 27 September 2023.
  7. ""First Command" (Baen Books)". ISFDB. Retrieved 27 September 2023.
  8. ""Grimes und die Liebesdroge"". ISFDB. Retrieved 27 September 2023.
  9. Collins, Paul; McMullen, Sean; Paulsen, Steven (1998). "Awards". In Collins, Paul; Paulsen, Steven; McMullen, Sean (eds.). The MUP Encyclopaedia of Australian Science Fiction & Fantasy. Carlton South, Victoria: Melbourne University Press. pp. 3–5. ISBN 0-522-84771-4.
  10. ""Running Off the Rim"". Philosophical Gas 27, March 1974. Retrieved 27 September 2023.
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