The Great Explosion Author:Eric Frank Russell Earthmen had colonized hundreds of planets, 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 emprie. A giant battle cruiser went out into the starlanes with instructions to persuade the colonial planets to join the E... more »mpire. 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!