[Family d'Alembert 01] • The Imperial Stars

Doc Smith wrote a novella, "Imperial Stars," published in If magazine, but nothing further and no outlines or plot ideas. Stephen Goldin expanded the novella into a novel and then wrote 9 more books in the series.

It's the 25th Century, and humanity has colonized a great deal of the galaxy, including several worlds apparently inhospitable to homo sapiens. The form of government selected to unite scattered humanity is an old-fashioned Empire, with hereditary monarchs, powerful aristocracy, but, happily, no serfs.

A massive military and Secret Service is needed to keep this far-flung empire together. And you will be surprised at the hidden headquarters of the organization of spies and agents known as SOTE (Service of the Empire).