''False Fatherland'' (aka ''Spartan Planet'') (1968) is a science fiction novel by Australian writer A. Bertram Chandler. It forms part of the author's Rim World series, featuring the recurring character, John Grimes. It was originally published under the title ''Spartan Planet'' as a 2-part serial in ''Fantastic'' magazine in March and May 1968.

Synopsis

Lt Commander Grimes arrives on the long-lost planet of Sparta where humans have modeled their society on the city-state of the same name in ancient Greece. On this planet all men are produced by birth machines and women are unknown. The inhabitants of the planet are confused by the female members of Grimes's crew and the arrival of his spaceship has profound and lasting effects on the Spartan society.

Critical reception

Writing in ''Luna Monthly'' reviewer Jan Slavin described the book as "a fairly good adventure novel" that might "make light reading some dull evening."

Publication history

After its original publication in 1968 in the ''Fantastic'' magazine the novel was later published as follows: * Horwitz, Australia, 1968 * Dell, USA, 1969 *

Ace Books Ace Books is a publisher of science fiction (SF) and fantasy books founded in New York City in 1952 by A. A. Wyn, Aaron A. Wyn. It began as a genre publisher of mystery fiction, mysteries and western (genre), westerns, and soon branched out int ...

, USA, 1979 (with ''The Commodore at Sea'') *

Baen Books Baen Books () is an American publishing house for science fiction and fantasy. In science fiction, it emphasizes space opera, hard science fiction, and military science fiction. The company was established in 1983 by science fiction publisher an ...

, USA, 2007 * Gateway/Orion, UK, 2015 It was translated into Japanese in 1976, Portuguese in the 1970s,German in 1984, and Russian in 2004. The novel was also included in the following compilations of Chandler's work: * ''John Grimes: Lieutenant of the Survey Service'', Science Fiction Book Club, 2000 * ''John Grimes - Federation Survery Service'', Baen Books, 2007 * ''First Command'', Baen Books, 2011

Awards

* The novel won the Australian Sf Achievement Award for Best Novel in 1969.

Notes

* Chandler wrote in ''The Mentor'' about his reactions upon receiving copies of the Japanese translation of the novel.

References