Mark Brandis
Encyclopedia
Nikolai von Michalewsky (January 17 1931, Dahlewitz - December 27 2000, Grasberg) was a German writer and journalist best known for a series of science fiction
novels published between 1970 and 1987.
, and a diver in the Mediterranean, von Michalewsky worked as a journalist in the Algerian war, eventually to start writing fictional works in the late 1950s, mostly juvenile novels. He expanded his field to documentary filming and writing of radio drama
in the 1960s, an expertise he became very successful at. At the end of his life he would have more than 500 broadcast radio dramas to his name.
In 1969 he was approached by German book publisher Herder to write a science fiction book for juveniles. Despite having no previous experience in the field of science fiction
, von Michalewsky's first book, Bordbuch Delta VII, was an instant success.
Using the name of his protagonist as pen name
and writing in first person perspective, von Michalewsky would pen approximately two books a year over the following decades to eventually complete a series of 31 novels. The series became the second best-selling German-language science fiction series of all time, eclipsed only by team effort Perry Rhodan
. The books were translated into Danish, Dutch, French, Italian, Spanish and Chinese. A late attempt to revive the series in 1999 was limited to one novel, Ambivalent Zone. This expanded universe series was cut short when von Michalewsky died shortly after Christmas 2000, leaving the second novel unfinished.
with many allusions to seafaring novels. Mankind has been exploring the solar system, setting up colonies on the Moon and Venus
. Earth is controlled by two superpowers, the Union of Europe, the Americas and Africa ("EAAU") opposing the United Oriental Republics ("VOR", that is Asia). The respective capitals are Beijing
and an artificial Atlantic city named Metropolis
. Mark Brandis, a German-born astronaut, works as a test pilot for a nominally independent EAAU institution, the Venus-Earth Astronautical Society (VEGA). His work with the newest and therefore fastest and strongest spaceships often puts him and the international crews of his ships into danger, be it revolutions, ecological catastrophes, overpopulation issues, space exploration, equipment malfunctions and civil war.
After volume 20, Brandis quits his job to run an independent society dedicated to rescue ship crews suffering emergencies in space Operating a number of modern high-speed space rescue ships from an extraterritorial moon base, the society rescues numerous space crews and play an important role in various adventures not too dissimilar in style to the VEGA adventures. Like in the early novels, political diplomacy and difficult ethical choices play an important role, as well as the constant fight to keep the space rescue service operating on a tight budget and in between warring factions and interests.
The ships of the rescue service are named after people famous for their humanitarian efforts, such as Elsa Brändström
, Florence Nightingale
, Henri Dunant, Albert Schweitzer
, Mahatma Gandhi
and Rabindranath Tagore
.
Science fiction
Science fiction is a genre of fiction dealing with imaginary but more or less plausible content such as future settings, futuristic science and technology, space travel, aliens, and paranormal abilities...
novels published between 1970 and 1987.
Biography
After having earned his living as a dock worker, a coffee harvester in the CongoCongo Basin
The Congo Basin is the sedimentary basin that is the drainage of the Congo River of west equatorial Africa. The basin begins in the highlands of the East African Rift system with input from the Chambeshi River, the Uele and Ubangi Rivers in the upper reaches and the Lualaba River draining wetlands...
, and a diver in the Mediterranean, von Michalewsky worked as a journalist in the Algerian war, eventually to start writing fictional works in the late 1950s, mostly juvenile novels. He expanded his field to documentary filming and writing of radio drama
Radio drama
Radio drama is a dramatized, purely acoustic performance, broadcast on radio or published on audio media, such as tape or CD. With no visual component, radio drama depends on dialogue, music and sound effects to help the listener imagine the characters and story...
in the 1960s, an expertise he became very successful at. At the end of his life he would have more than 500 broadcast radio dramas to his name.
In 1969 he was approached by German book publisher Herder to write a science fiction book for juveniles. Despite having no previous experience in the field of science fiction
Science fiction
Science fiction is a genre of fiction dealing with imaginary but more or less plausible content such as future settings, futuristic science and technology, space travel, aliens, and paranormal abilities...
, von Michalewsky's first book, Bordbuch Delta VII, was an instant success.
Using the name of his protagonist as pen name
Pen name
A pen name, nom de plume, or literary double, is a pseudonym adopted by an author. A pen name may be used to make the author's name more distinctive, to disguise his or her gender, to distance an author from some or all of his or her works, to protect the author from retribution for his or her...
and writing in first person perspective, von Michalewsky would pen approximately two books a year over the following decades to eventually complete a series of 31 novels. The series became the second best-selling German-language science fiction series of all time, eclipsed only by team effort Perry Rhodan
Perry Rhodan
Perry Rhodan is the name of a science fiction series published since 1961 in Germany, as well as the name of the main character. It is a space opera, dealing with several themes of science fiction. Having sold over one billion copies worldwide, it is the most successful science fiction book series...
. The books were translated into Danish, Dutch, French, Italian, Spanish and Chinese. A late attempt to revive the series in 1999 was limited to one novel, Ambivalent Zone. This expanded universe series was cut short when von Michalewsky died shortly after Christmas 2000, leaving the second novel unfinished.
Mark Brandis series
The Mark Brandis series can be categorized as hard SF space operaSpace opera
Space opera is a subgenre of science fiction that emphasizes romantic, often melodramatic adventure, set mainly or entirely in outer space, generally involving conflict between opponents possessing advanced technologies and abilities. The term has no relation to music and it is analogous to "soap...
with many allusions to seafaring novels. Mankind has been exploring the solar system, setting up colonies on the Moon and Venus
Venus
Venus is the second planet from the Sun, orbiting it every 224.7 Earth days. The planet is named after Venus, the Roman goddess of love and beauty. After the Moon, it is the brightest natural object in the night sky, reaching an apparent magnitude of −4.6, bright enough to cast shadows...
. Earth is controlled by two superpowers, the Union of Europe, the Americas and Africa ("EAAU") opposing the United Oriental Republics ("VOR", that is Asia). The respective capitals are Beijing
Beijing
Beijing , also known as Peking , is the capital of the People's Republic of China and one of the most populous cities in the world, with a population of 19,612,368 as of 2010. The city is the country's political, cultural, and educational center, and home to the headquarters for most of China's...
and an artificial Atlantic city named Metropolis
Metropolis
A metropolis is a very large city or urban area which is a significant economic, political and cultural center for a country or region, and an important hub for regional or international connections and communications...
. Mark Brandis, a German-born astronaut, works as a test pilot for a nominally independent EAAU institution, the Venus-Earth Astronautical Society (VEGA). His work with the newest and therefore fastest and strongest spaceships often puts him and the international crews of his ships into danger, be it revolutions, ecological catastrophes, overpopulation issues, space exploration, equipment malfunctions and civil war.
After volume 20, Brandis quits his job to run an independent society dedicated to rescue ship crews suffering emergencies in space Operating a number of modern high-speed space rescue ships from an extraterritorial moon base, the society rescues numerous space crews and play an important role in various adventures not too dissimilar in style to the VEGA adventures. Like in the early novels, political diplomacy and difficult ethical choices play an important role, as well as the constant fight to keep the space rescue service operating on a tight budget and in between warring factions and interests.
The ships of the rescue service are named after people famous for their humanitarian efforts, such as Elsa Brändström
Elsa Brändström
Elsa Brändström was a Swedish philanthropist.- Life :Elsa Brändström was born in 1888 in St. Petersburg, the daughter of the Military Attache at the Swedish Embassy, Edvard Brändström, and his wife Anna Eschelsson. In 1891, when Elsa was three years old, Edvard Brändström and his family returned...
, Florence Nightingale
Florence Nightingale
Florence Nightingale OM, RRC was a celebrated English nurse, writer and statistician. She came to prominence for her pioneering work in nursing during the Crimean War, where she tended to wounded soldiers. She was dubbed "The Lady with the Lamp" after her habit of making rounds at night...
, Henri Dunant, Albert Schweitzer
Albert Schweitzer
Albert Schweitzer OM was a German theologian, organist, philosopher, physician, and medical missionary. He was born in Kaysersberg in the province of Alsace-Lorraine, at that time part of the German Empire...
, Mahatma Gandhi
Mahatma Gandhi
Mohandas Karamchand Gandhi , pronounced . 2 October 1869 – 30 January 1948) was the pre-eminent political and ideological leader of India during the Indian independence movement...
and Rabindranath Tagore
Rabindranath Tagore
Rabindranath Tagore , sobriquet Gurudev, was a Bengali polymath who reshaped his region's literature and music. Author of Gitanjali and its "profoundly sensitive, fresh and beautiful verse", he became the first non-European Nobel laureate by earning the 1913 Prize in Literature...
.
The novels
- Bordbuch Delta VII (1970)
- Verrat auf der Venus (1971)
- Unternehmen Delphin (1972)
- Aufstand der Roboter (1972)
- Vorstoß zum Uranus (1972)
- Die Vollstrecker (1973)
- Testakte Kolibri (1973)
- Raumsonde Epsilon (1974)
- Salomon 76 (1974)
- Aktenzeichen: Illegal (1975)
- Operation Sonnenfracht (1975)
- Alarm für die Erde (1976)
- Countdown für die Erde (1976)
- Kurier zum Mars (1977)
- Die lautlose Bombe (1977)
- Pilgrim 2000 (1978)
- Der Spiegelplanet (1978)
- Sirius-Patrouille (1979)
- Astropolis (1980)
- Triton-Passage (1981)
- Blindflug zur Schlange (1981)
- Raumposition Oberon (1982)
- Vargo-Faktor (1982)
- Astronautensonne (1983)
- Planetaktion Z (1983)
- Ikarus, Ikarus... (1984)
- Der Pandora-Zwischenfall (1984)
- Metropolis-Konvoi (1985)
- Zeitspule (1985)
- Die Eismensch-Verschwörung (1986)
- Geheimsache Wetterhahn (1987)
The audio dramas
The Mark Brandis adventure series is currently being adapted into audio drama format and published on CD.- Bordbuch Delta VII (2007) (ISBN 978-3-88698-918-8)
- Verrat auf der Venus (2008) (ISBN 978-3-88698-773-3)
- Unternehmen Delphin (2008) (ISBN 978-3-88698-939-3)
- Aufstand der Roboter (2009) (ISBN 978-3-88698-436-7)
- Testakte Kolibri 1&2 (2009) (ISBN 978-3-8291-2314-3 / ISBN 978-3-8291-2313-6)
- Vorstoss zum Uranus 1&2 (2010) (ISBN 978-3-8291-2315-0 / ISBN 978-3-8291-2316-7)
- Raumsonde Epsilon 1&2 (2010)
- Die Vollstrecker 1&2 (2010)
- Pilgrim 2000 1&2 (2011)
- Aktenzeichen: illegal (tbd 2011)
- Operation Sonnenfracht (tbd 2011)
External links
- Official site (German language)
- Mark Brandis series official site (German language)