Alice Lightner Hopf (1904–1988)

Dr. Garrison Bart, newly arrived on the pioneer world of Acoma, is not yet licensed to practice there. He has plenty of incentive to do well on his first job -- it's the home planet of the lovely Sandra van Brundt, daughter of Dr. Carl van Brundt (who happens to be important among the Acoma medical fraternity). Will their shipboard romance continue?

Alas, for Garrison's dreams -- no one needs a doctor third class. What the Farmers' Co-op requested is a replacement for their vanished veterinarian. It's a big come-down for Garry, but he takes the job. Sure, it means having to study animal husbandry books when he's not working, but he'll still be on Acoma. Is Sandy worth the sacrifice?

As it turns out, the biggest landowner in the Co-Op, Magnus Dorn, wants Garry to take an unofficial look at his youngest daughter. Nothing seems to be wrong with her except that she's undersized.

Acoma doesn't know it yet, but they are incredibly lucky to have a medical doctor from Earth learning to be their veterinarian. There is something strange going on that none of them have noticed because they're a few generations removed from Earth.

Garry has his suspicions and sets up some experiments. The results could hit some pocketbooks pretty hard. Then he thinks some more. Will his new thought save his career? Will they ever find that missing veterinarian?

The book came out in 1965, so be prepared to snicker or roll your eyes at the form the books Garry reads take. It's forward enough to have a professional geologist of African descent, but Sandy, although reasonably assertive for her time, is hardly the scientist type. It's not too surprising, given that Alice Martha Lightner went by her initials (a wise tactic for a female SF writer back then).

This book is aimed at adolescent readers, but this late-middle-aged former medical librarian enjoyed it. No, I didn't see the second thought coming.… (mais)

First published in 1966, The Space Plague is a true sci-fi classic. A.M. Lightner (later known as A Lightner Hopf) puts forward a very entertaining tale. make sure to check the full size image of the cover as the 60’s art is pretty awesome.

A group of science students are hand picked to go to the planet Acoma and study the native insect population. field trips like this are rare and being chosen is a true honor. Acoma has been settled in a pioneer fashion for only a short time, so not much is known about it.

Barnaby Finch and Jenny Jethro are two of those students. Finch specializes in Beetles; Jenny in butterfly’s.

Shortly after their arrival, a plague breaks out in the sparsely populated southern continent. In classic Teen sci-fi manner, the students are integral in determining the cause of the plague and saving all the Acona pioneers. they dont have much choice after all, the planet is in quarantine until a solution is found.

This book was really enjoyable. it clocked in at a measly 156 pages, but due to the subject matter and approach, it felt longer. Lightner showed great skill in developing the story and allowing a reader with good logic skills (like the characters) the ability to figure out the ending in advance. unlike other books, this is not a negative, instead, if feels like an accomplishment. the reader then is praised along with the characters.
… (mais)