The Black Star Passes · Chapters
Chapters explained
Chapter companions for The Black Star Passes by John W. Campbell.
Chapter 1
The Black Star Passes
The chapter details the aftermath of the great space battle and the Nigran retreat, followed by an epilogue that reflects on the consequences and the future.
Chapter 2
Book I: Piracy Preferred
The chapter introduces the mysterious attack on an airliner, which leads to the investigation by Robert Arcot and President Arthur Morey. They uncover the pirate's method through film evidence and begin designing the Solarite, a molecular motion ship, to combat the threat.
Chapter 3
Prologue
Tordos Gar recounts the vast history of his race, from its origins under a dying red sun through ages of war, scientific progress, and eventual stagnation. He describes how the race learned to manipulate matter and energy, roofed their worlds, and entered a peaceful but complacent era. Taj Lamor, a younger leader, has rediscovered ancient knowledge and identified a young yellow star approaching their system. He has spearheaded a movement to prepare for migration, building spaceships and seeking weapons, despite resistance from those content with their static existence. The prologue ends with Lamor dismissing the Elder's warnings as he prepares to lead an expedition to the new star.
Chapter 4
I
Arcot, Morey, and Wade are summoned to investigate a crashed alien spaceship in Canada. They explore the wreck, discovering its immense scale, advanced technology, and the bodies of the alien crew. They collect a sample of an indestructible glass-like material and return to base.
Chapter 5
II
Arcot, Morey, and Wade, accompanied by Lieutenants Wright and Greer, investigate a nearly intact Kaxorian dreadnought that has crash-landed. They explore its engine room, encountering and neutralizing surviving alien crew members. The team discovers the ship's massive power systems, including a mysterious central platform with silver cubes and a highly reflective material, suggesting an advanced energy source.
Chapter 6
III
Arcot, Morey, and Wade return to New York after their encounter with the alien ship. Arcot theorizes that the invaders come from a dead star he names 'Nigra,' and that their race is millions of years old. He explains their hydrogen-based biology and proposes a plan to develop advanced energy storage for space warfare.
Chapter 7
IV
Arcot, Morey, and Wade work on developing a new power source from light-matter for space ships. They discuss the design of a war fleet, including speedsters, mother ships, and scouts. After struggling to cut a sample of the dense light-matter, Arcot uses a magnet to enable a diamond saw to cut it. They measure its density at 103.5, far heavier than any known metal. They then build an apparatus to release the energy from the light-matter, successfully demonstrating a controlled release that melts a screen. Fuller joins them later, and they plan further development of the power source and ship designs.
Chapter 8
Book II: Solarite
Following the demonstration of the molecular motion ship, Arcot and Morey design and build the Solarite, a more advanced spacecraft powered by solar energy. They embark on their first space flight, which encounters an accident, leading to an arrival on Venus. There, they engage in a battle with a Kaxorian airship, form an alliance with Venus, discover Nigran wrecks, and face Taj Lamor's decision to attack, culminating in a great space battle and the Nigran retreat.
Chapter 9
I
Arcot, Morey, and Wade are summoned to investigate a crashed alien spaceship in Canada. They explore the wreck, discovering its immense scale, advanced technology, and the bodies of the alien crew. They collect a sample of an indestructible glass-like material and return to base.
Chapter 10
II
Arcot, Morey, and Wade, accompanied by Lieutenants Wright and Greer, investigate a nearly intact Kaxorian dreadnought that has crash-landed. They explore its engine room, encountering and neutralizing surviving alien crew members. The team discovers the ship's massive power systems, including a mysterious central platform with silver cubes and a highly reflective material, suggesting an advanced energy source.
Chapter 11
III
Arcot, Morey, and Wade return to New York after their encounter with the alien ship. Arcot theorizes that the invaders come from a dead star he names 'Nigra,' and that their race is millions of years old. He explains their hydrogen-based biology and proposes a plan to develop advanced energy storage for space warfare.
Chapter 12
IV
Arcot, Morey, and Wade work on developing a new power source from light-matter for space ships. They discuss the design of a war fleet, including speedsters, mother ships, and scouts. After struggling to cut a sample of the dense light-matter, Arcot uses a magnet to enable a diamond saw to cut it. They measure its density at 103.5, far heavier than any known metal. They then build an apparatus to release the energy from the light-matter, successfully demonstrating a controlled release that melts a screen. Fuller joins them later, and they plan further development of the power source and ship designs.
Chapter 13
V
Six weeks of intense industrial and military preparation across Earth and Venus produce a fleet of speedsters and mother ships to counter the Nigran threat. The 'Rocket Squad' is formed from Terrestrian pilots who can withstand high G-forces. Ships are equipped with invisibility locators, luminous paint projectors, and black absorptive coatings. Arcot recounts a scientific conference where his Black Star theory is rejected in favor of an outer planet hypothesis, leading to a detailed discussion of planetary formation and the improbability of two star encounters. Despite the debate, his other ideas on energy release are accepted. The chapter concludes with the rapid construction of ships and the training of crews, including twelve giant interstellar liners being built on Venus.
Chapter 14
VI
The Solarian fleet executes a successful ruse against the Nigran armada, ambushing their dreadnoughts and forcing a retreat. The Nigrans flee to their black star, pursued by the Solarians, who maintain a vigil for eight months. The passing of the stars results in Pluto being captured by Nigra, while Sol gains two new planets. The chapter then shifts to Taj Lamor's perspective, reflecting on the war, the decadence of his race, and his determination to conquer the Solar System with new tactics and small, agile ships.
Chapter 15
VII
The Terrestrians are honored by the Venerians with morlus plaques, but Arcot warns that the Kaxorian fleet is nearly repaired and will attack with new weapons. The team works frantically to develop a new molecular motion beam that can disintegrate enemy ships from a distance, overcoming technical challenges with Venerian help.
Chapter 16
VIII
The Solarite crew attacks the Kaxorian airfield, destroying many giant planes with a new energy beam. After the battle, they realize they have won a problematic victory: they now control a hostile nation. They discuss the need for Earth to mediate between Sonor and Kaxor, proposing a tripartite alliance to prevent future conflict.
Chapter 17
Book III: The Black Star Passes
The third book of the novel, focusing on the ongoing conflict and the appearance of a mysterious black star that threatens the solar system.
Chapter 18
Prologue
Tordos Gar recounts the vast history of his race, from its origins under a dying red sun through ages of war, scientific progress, and eventual stagnation. He describes how the race learned to manipulate matter and energy, roofed their worlds, and entered a peaceful but complacent era. Taj Lamor, a younger leader, has rediscovered ancient knowledge and identified a young yellow star approaching their system. He has spearheaded a movement to prepare for migration, building spaceships and seeking weapons, despite resistance from those content with their static existence. The prologue ends with Lamor dismissing the Elder's warnings as he prepares to lead an expedition to the new star.
Chapter 19
I
Arcot, Morey, and Wade are summoned to investigate a crashed alien spaceship in Canada. They explore the wreck, discovering its immense scale, advanced technology, and the bodies of the alien crew. They collect a sample of an indestructible glass-like material and return to base.
Chapter 20
II
Arcot, Morey, and Wade, accompanied by Lieutenants Wright and Greer, investigate a nearly intact Kaxorian dreadnought that has crash-landed. They explore its engine room, encountering and neutralizing surviving alien crew members. The team discovers the ship's massive power systems, including a mysterious central platform with silver cubes and a highly reflective material, suggesting an advanced energy source.
Chapter 21
III
Arcot, Morey, and Wade return to New York after their encounter with the alien ship. Arcot theorizes that the invaders come from a dead star he names 'Nigra,' and that their race is millions of years old. He explains their hydrogen-based biology and proposes a plan to develop advanced energy storage for space warfare.
Chapter 22
IV
Arcot, Morey, and Wade work on developing a new power source from light-matter for space ships. They discuss the design of a war fleet, including speedsters, mother ships, and scouts. After struggling to cut a sample of the dense light-matter, Arcot uses a magnet to enable a diamond saw to cut it. They measure its density at 103.5, far heavier than any known metal. They then build an apparatus to release the energy from the light-matter, successfully demonstrating a controlled release that melts a screen. Fuller joins them later, and they plan further development of the power source and ship designs.
Chapter 23
V
Six weeks of intense industrial and military preparation across Earth and Venus produce a fleet of speedsters and mother ships to counter the Nigran threat. The 'Rocket Squad' is formed from Terrestrian pilots who can withstand high G-forces. Ships are equipped with invisibility locators, luminous paint projectors, and black absorptive coatings. Arcot recounts a scientific conference where his Black Star theory is rejected in favor of an outer planet hypothesis, leading to a detailed discussion of planetary formation and the improbability of two star encounters. Despite the debate, his other ideas on energy release are accepted. The chapter concludes with the rapid construction of ships and the training of crews, including twelve giant interstellar liners being built on Venus.
Chapter 24
VI
The Solarian fleet executes a successful ruse against the Nigran armada, ambushing their dreadnoughts and forcing a retreat. The Nigrans flee to their black star, pursued by the Solarians, who maintain a vigil for eight months. The passing of the stars results in Pluto being captured by Nigra, while Sol gains two new planets. The chapter then shifts to Taj Lamor's perspective, reflecting on the war, the decadence of his race, and his determination to conquer the Solar System with new tactics and small, agile ships.
Chapter 25
Epilogue
Taj Lamor reflects on his race's defeat in their struggle for a new sun, but finds hope in a renewed spirit of adventure and scientific progress. They have rediscovered knowledge and are now planning to use a new force to move their planets to a distant blue-white star, despite the immense challenges.
