Lucky Starr and the Pirates of the Asteroids, the second book in the Lucky Starr series, pits Lucky and Bigman against pirates in the asteroid belt.

Though somewhat thin in both plot and theme, the book ties up the loose ends left by the long-ago disappearance of Lawrence and Barbara Starr, David's parents. The astronomic theories set forth in this volume are less dated than those in the other five books.

In Lucky Starr and the Oceans of Venus, a spectacular undersea setting elevates the standard quest for a hidden villain. Irresistibly appealing "V-frogs," a whimsical Asimov invention, feed on peas dipped in axle grease and affect the course of events with telepathy. The underwater battle with a giant, primitive creature, the "orange patch," rivals the action scenes in the novels of Jules Verne.

Lucky Starr and the Big Sun of Mercury poses a threat from...