MISSION OF EMPIREEarthmen had colonized hundreds of planets in the four centuries of deep space exploration-independent new civilizations founded by the discontented and adventurous of Terra.Trouble was, they were too independent-and the Terran government had ambitions for a space empire. A giant battle cruiser went out into the starlanes, with instructions to persuade the colonial planets to join the Empire-and with a couple of thousand troops to back up the persuasion !It looked like an interesting, if easy, mission-after all, what kind of opposition could a bunch of backwoods planets offer to the most advanced military power in the Galaxy?Quite a lot, as it turned out ... and all of it wildly unexpected!One of the "e;old pros"e; of science-fiction, Eric Frank Russell has, in THE GREAT EXPLOSION, written a fast-paced and compelling adventure-a fascinating look at a possible tomorrow.A satirical Classic.

MISSION OF EMPIREEarthmen had colonized hundreds of planets in the four centuries of deep space exploration-independent new civilizations founded by the discontented and adventurous of Terra.Trouble was, they were too independent-and the Terran government had ambitions for a space empire. A giant battle cruiser went out into the starlanes, with instructions to persuade the colonial planets to join the Empire-and with a couple of thousand troops to back up the persuasion !It looked like an interesting, if easy, mission-after all, what kind of opposition could a bunch of backwoods planets offer to the most advanced military power in the Galaxy?Quite a lot, as it turned out ... and all of it wildly unexpected!One of the "e;old pros"e; of science-fiction, Eric Frank Russell has, in THE GREAT EXPLOSION, written a fast-paced and compelling adventure-a fascinating look at a possible tomorrow.A satirical Classic.