Vandals of the Void — Jack Vance

Fifteen-year-old Dick Murdock travels aboard the African Star to the Moon, to meet his father Dr. Paul Murdock -- Chief Astronomer at the Lunar Observatory.

En route, the African Star finds the hulk of a spaceship hanging in space, blasted open with all hands killed. It's the work of space pirates, led by the malevolent Basilisk!

Dick applies himself to uncovering who -- or what -- the Basilisk is? The stakes are enormously high; while prospecting for lunar tourmalines high on a lunar cliff with Crazy Sam Baxter, someone tries to kill him with a giant falling rock.

And that's just the beginning. Dick risks everything to protect his father, and save the life of everyone at the Observatory.

In a dark, lonely cavern far below the lunar surface -- Dick will confront the Basilisk. And no-one is there to help…

First published in 1951, Vandals of the Void was written for young adults.

Vandals of the Void is Volume 7 of the Spatterlight Press Signature Series.Released in the centenary of the author's birth, this handsome new collectionis based upon the prestigious Vance Integral Edition. Select volumes enjoyup-to-date maps, and many are graced with freshly-written forewords contributedby a distinguished group of authors. Each book bears a facsimile of theauthor's signature and a previously-unpublished photograph, chosen from family archives for the period the book was written. These uniquefeatures will be appreciated by all, from seasoned Vance collector to new reader sampling the spectrum of this author's influential work forthe first time. â€" John Vance II