Edward Elmer Smith was an American food engineer and an early science fiction author, best known for the Lensman and Skylark series. He is sometimes called the Father of Space Opera. Wikipedia Smith worked a different jobs and had a lot of first-hand experience which led him to imagine some useful solutions to real problems. "Triplanetary" is the fisrt vol in the 6 vol Lensman series.

My Secret Vice: total bollocks but I love it! The epitome of 50s Space Opera: who can fail to cringe in admiration in face of phrases such as "the ravening beams coruscating against the impenetrable wall shields", especially when you meet it for the fortieth time! ( )