''Nebula Alert'' is a 1967 science fiction novel by Australian author

A. Bertram Chandler Arthur Bertram Chandler (28 March 1912 in Aldershot, Hampshire, England – 6 June 1984 in Sydney, Australia) was an Anglo-Australian merchant marine officer, sailing the world in everything from tramp steamers to troop ships, but who later tur ...

. The novel forms a part of the author's "Empress Irene" series of stories and was originally released as an Ace Double (G-632), backed by ''The Rival Rigelians'' by Mack Reynolds.Austlit - ''Nebula Alert'' by A. Bertram Chandler
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Plot outline

The novel features the author's minor series character the ex-Empress Irene, who has by this time abdicated her throne, and Benjamin Trafford. The husband-and-wife team crew the ''Imperial Yacht Wanderer'' and are ferrying a number of ex-slave Iralians back to their home planet. But the ''Wanderer'' runs into pirates, and they are forced to escape through the Horsehead Nebula. Space inside the nebula is strange, and they emerge into an alternate timeline where they encounter the author's major series character, John Grimes.

Critical reception

Rich Horton, on ''SFF.net'' site, found the novel rather thin: "It's all pretty silly stuff -- Chandler really never seemed to care about little things like logic. That said, it's tolerable fun in its breezy way. Nothing I'd go out of my way to find, but not a story I regret reading, either."

Notes

The novel is the third in the author's "Empress Irene" series, preceded by ''Empress of Outer Space'' (1965) and ''Space Mercenaries'' (1965). Dedication: "To all those excellent storytellers who, as well as affording us hours of enjoyment, have provided the inspiration for the Dream Sequence."

References

{{DEFAULTSORT:Nebula Alert 1967 science fiction novels Australian science fiction novels Ace Books books

Plot outline

Critical reception

Notes

See also

References