The Last Days of Krypton.

Anderson, Kevin J. (author).

More than 60 years of comic books, radio broadcasts, movies, and TV have given Superman fans only a sketchy picture, at best, of the caped hero’s home world, Krypton. Aiming to fill in the key Kryptonian historical and cultural details missing from previous accounts, sf veteran Anderson describes the succession of technological missteps and political betrayals that led to Krypton’s ultimate destruction. Beginning with the courtship of Superman’s parents, Jor-El and Lara, the story follows Jor-El’s efforts to channel his scientific genius into helping Krypton discard its isolationist stance against space travel. Unfortunately, the commissioner charged with screening Jor-El’s many inventions is none other than General Zod, a later archnemesis of Superman’s, who bans the devices and then uses them for his own malevolent ends. An important side story recounts the vain mission of Jor-El’s geologist brother to warn his brethren about the maelstrom boiling under Krypton’s surface. In providing a rich overview of Kryptonian civilization, Anderson turns in another solid sf performance that should appeal to many more readers than just superhero devotees.