In First Lensman, the second book in the Lensman series, we find the benevolent super beings of Arisia ready to bestow the first "lens" on a human being (which, among other things, will give humans telepathic powers). The honor goes to Virgil Samms, who will ever after be known as the "First Lensman." But it's a title that he'll have to earn by establishing the Galactic Patrol, a group that is at once powerful and incorruptible, and will protect the universe from the evil and almost-unstoppable Eddorians. If that weren't tough enough, Samms must also dodge assassination attempts at home and help his second in command Rod "The Rock" Kinnison win the presidency of North America. And that's just the beginning of his troubles.

SUMMARY:
"TRIPLANETARY is the first of the six classic 'Lensman' books, long recognized as the greatest space opera ever written." -- John Clute "The Lensman books . . . are the books I cut my teeth on as a fan, and together they comprise one of the true milestones in science fiction literature." -- J. Michael Straczynski No single phrase can describe TRIPLANETARY, the first of the "Lensman" stories, the volume providing the background for the remaining novels in the series. It might be terned a Galactic Romance, or a Cosmological Fantasy -- but above all else it is a story. From the atomic age in Atlantis or a bloody Roman arena, you are borne to the watery world of Nevia, remote in space and time. You meet two incredible ancient races, the Arisians and the Eddorians, and you view the ancient conflict between these worlds.