I finished reading Galactic Warlord (1979) by Douglas Hill. I’ve read it once before; this time I read it aloud to my daughter. She very much enjoyed it and wants to start the second one in the series right away. 

It’s a young adult science fiction novel that unfolds at a rapid pace with a small cast of characters. I have heard it described as influenced by the Lensman series by E.E. Doc Smith. I’ve only read the first of that series, Triplanetary, and, while I don’t remember any specific plot or character parallels, they do share a similar pacing and emphasis on action. Both are space opera at its most exciting.

The story focuses on Keill Randor, one of the legendary Legionaries of Moros, a sort of Chuck Norris Jedi society, as he attempts to discover the identity of the villains who attacked his home world. A character introduced partway through the novel ends up making for a very likeable companion and was one of my favorite parts of the book.

I found the first book several years ago at a thrift store in a small town. I read it and passed it on to my brother who was recovering from a shattered leg (that story involves a tornado and a tent crushed by two trees). We both enjoyed the story but never came across the next book. This year, my daughter and I gave my brother a copy of the second book, Deathwing Over Veynaa, for Christmas. And now after finishing Galactic Warlord, I’m looking forward to reading the next installment with my daughter.