Rouge Shipis a 1967 novel by A E Van Vogt created and adapted from 3 short stories to form a novel. The 3 short stores used where:
 1975 cover by Peter Jones | |
| Author | A. E. van Vogt |
|---|---|
| Language | English |
| Series | First edition by Doubleday. |
| Genre | Science fiction novel |
| Publisher | Doubleday |
Publication date | 1965 |
| Publication place | United States |
| Media type | Print (Hardback) |
| ISBN | B000O5WU4K {{isbn}}: Check isbn value: invalid character (help) |
- Centarus II Orginally published in Astounding Science-Fictionin 1947
- Rouge Ship Orginally publised in Super Science Stories in 1950
- The Expendables Orginally published in if Worlds of Science Fiction in 1963
Using Van Vogt own terminology when creating a novel from 3 previous short stories, he so named it as a Fixup.
Plot Summary
Rouge Ship is a standalone novel in a form of a Fixup, because of its form of 3 short stories re-harshed into one you can notciable tell when the story changes from one orignal short story to the next, because of this Rouge Ship can sometimes loose some continuity as there are 'large gaps' missing from the plot/story line.
Centaurus was the destination of the space ship The Hope of Man. It had been traveling through space for almost twenty years, and still nine years of flight remained before Centaurus would be reached. For many on board the craft, earth had become a vague memory, while for others it was a mere dot in the vast starry reaches of space. Restlessness was evident everywhere; the people wanted to return to a place they knew was inhabited-not continue to an unknown where life was questionable. Mutiny seemed inevitable. Captain Lesbee knew that mutiny bred mutiny, but what was more vital was his knowledge of earth's possible obliteration. The one hope was Centaurus. Now more than ever, there could be no turning back. Order had to be maintained even at the price of human life. After reaching Centaurus and finding it unsutiable to live on, The Hope of Man heads towards the next destination, the Alta system, becasue the ship at this time was unable to obtain light speed it took decades to tavel there. Upon arriving in the system, through mutiny and backstabbing The Hope of Man is no captianed by Browne who used to be first officer. The Hope of Man starts to orbit Alta III in search for a new planet to settle on, but again they find it already inhabited and come under attack from the occupiers. During this time we see a surge of power from various soruces. Power chages quickly through different charcters until the arrival of the ships owner, Avil Hewitt. The novel concludes with Hewitt in charge and the ship finding many plants to inhabit.