"Zur Besondern Verwendung"
Is action packed Sci-Fi Thriller set in 1980s (view point of 1950s)
The Cold War got hotter as China become dangerous Superpower that Put USSR on side track.
The USA and Europe unter NATO form new
intelligence service: the Secret Scientific Defence - SSD
There agents are expert on several fields and equip high tech equipment that put Bond Q-devision to Toys makers...
Also have agents full power of attorney, like take over command and order nuclear strike
"Perry Rhodan"
1971 lands the USA first on Moon (View Point of 1961)
Commander Rhodan discover a crash landet Alien Spaceship with Humanoid Crew
The Discovery of Alien on Moon increase the tension between USA and USSR to War
Rhodan must use the Alien Hardware to prevent WWIII and Unite Mankind under one Government
Because the Solar system lies on edge of Giant Stellar Empire of those Alien called Arkoniden
To make matter worst the millenium old empire disintegrates
What makes Perry Rhodan so great as Space Opera
It tell the Story how interstellar hillbillies who use
primitiv nuclear fission, rise to Dominant Power of the Galaxy: Humans !
But there more
Next it own technological and scientific law in series Universe,
It got also own cosmology with Evolution of civilizations into Higher Beings and much higher god like entity. (
like old one in Babylon 5)
like high Being ES that helps mankind and give Rhodan immortality, but in exchange Mankind has to help ES in dangerous task.
Because more higher Kosmokraten and Chaotarchen fight over dominance of the Rhodan Universe.
They annihilate entire Galaxies, if needed to gain victory, killing billions of intelligent Life, even Higher Beings are not save for them.
ES is a trickster, who play both side against each other, in order to survive to evolve into much higher entity
Mankind under Rhodan must find there independent way in this Universe, and do what is right, what is not so easy...
with over 3000 issue and almost 60 years of run time
Perry Rhodan explored every topic of Sci-Fi and i mean every one!