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Solar Queen Books in Order

Part ofAndre Norton Books in Order

See the Solar Queen books tied to Sherwood Smith in order, with short summaries, series background, and notes on where her free trader adventures fit.

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Solar Queen books in publication order

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8 books

1

Sargasso of Space

by Andre Norton

1955

Apprentice cargo master Dane Thorson joins the Solar Queen's crew on a venture to the supposedly worthless planet Limbo. Their bargain trading rights lead them into a discovery that threatens both the expedition and their chances of leaving.

2

Plague Ship

by Andre Norton

1956

Dane Thorson and the Solar Queen's crew establish trade with Sargol's catlike inhabitants, despite interference from a rival company. A mysterious illness during their return journey threatens the crew and turns their commercial success into a crisis.

3

Voodoo Planet

by Andre Norton

1959

A flyer crash strands Dane Thorson, Captain Jellico, and medic Tau in Khatka's jungle. Dangerous alien wildlife and a powerful local priest stand between the visitors and safety, turning their planetary excursion into a fight to survive.

4

Postmarked the Stars

by Andre Norton

1969

Dane Thorson returns to the Solar Queen after being drugged and finds a dead impostor in his bunk. As unusual changes affect the ship's animal cargo, the crew must unravel a conspiracy behind their mail run.

5

Redline the Stars

by Andre Norton

1993

The trading ship Solar Queen takes aboard Rael Cofort, an empathic medic whose arrival unsettles the crew. On Canuche, trading opportunities bring them into contact with criminal schemes and dangerous cargoes that test their new companion's abilities.

6

Derelict for Trade

by Sherwood Smith

1997

Captain Jellico and the Solar Queen crew stumble across a deserted ship that could change their fortunes. To keep their salvage claim, they must outmaneuver corrupt officials and survive a crooked spaceport system.

7

A Mind for Trade

by Sherwood Smith

1998

A promising trade opportunity turns risky fast for Captain Jellico and the Solar Queen. Profit, survival, and crew loyalty all depend on staying smarter than the rivals and rules closing in around them.

8

The Solar Queen

by Andre Norton

2003

This collection follows apprentice cargo-master Dane Thorson's first voyages aboard an independent trading spaceship. Seeking profit on unfamiliar worlds brings the crew into planetary mysteries, hidden threats, and conflicts that test their ability to survive as free traders.

Series background & context

The Solar Queen books belong to the long tradition of science fiction about working ships instead of glamorous flagships. The vessel at the center is a free trader, small enough that every crew member matters and precarious enough that one bad decision can sink the whole venture.

That is the hook. Captain Jellico and his people are not wandering space for abstract glory. They are trying to keep a ship running, protect a claim, find a market, and avoid getting cheated by officials, syndicates, or rivals with better connections. The result is a series where trade law, salvage rights, and local politics can be as tense as combat.

Sherwood Smith's connection to this world comes through novels that pick up that practical, lived-in feel. A derelict ship, a disputed claim, a shady port authority, a risky deal that looks better on paper than it does in person, these are exactly the kinds of problems the Solar Queen stories like to throw at their crew.

The tone is classic space adventure, but grounded. You get aliens, ports, and strange opportunities, yet the real pressure often comes from bureaucracy, greed, and the crew's need to stick together. If you like science fiction where the heroes win by competence and nerve, this is a very good place to land.

Edited by

Richard Reis

Software engineer whose passion for tracking book recommendations from podcasts inspired the creation of MRB.

Anurag Ramdasan

Lead investor at 3one4 Capital whose startup expertise and love for books helped shape MRB and its growth.

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