The Space Western Canon

The (nearly) complete list of works in the Space Western Canon highlights the body of written fiction, comics, cinema, video, games, and other texts considered to be the most important and influential works in the genre. It runs the gamut from proto-Space Westerns (Planetary Romance and Sword & Planet), early Space Opera, Science Fiction Westerns, covert Space Westerns (Bat Durstons), and the overt Space Westerns that we know and love today.

A Princess of Mars cover by Frank Schoonover

A Princess of Mars

John Carter, an American Civil War veteran, goes prospecting in Arizona and, when set upon by Indians, is mysteriously transported to Mars. Carter soon falls in among the Tharks, a nomadic tribe of the planet’s warlike, four-armed, green inhabitants. Thanks to his strength and combat abilities, he soon rises to a position of respect in the tribe, and meets the incomporable Deja Thoris: a princess of Mars.

Buck Rogers Comic

Buck Rogers, a U.S. Air Force pilot, who awakes from a 500-year sleep and defeats foes such as the Airlords of Han, pirates from outer space, the Tiger Men of Mars, and the recurring villains Killer Kane and Ardala Valmar. He’s aided by his space companion Wilma Deering and his mentor, the brilliant scientist Dr. Huer, and Black Barney, a Martian and former space pirate.

Flash Gordon

The adventures of Flash Gordon, a world-renown polo player, and his companions Dale Arden and Dr. Hans Zarkov on the planet Mongo.

The Phantom Empire

The Phantom Empire

Gene Autry and his young friends find themselves up against evil scientist and super-scientific underground world, Murania, complete with robots, death rays, and The Thunder Riders.

Flash Gordon

Disaster seems imminent when scientists discover that the planet Mongo is about to crash into Earth. Luckily, heroic young Flash Gordon is on hand to lead an investigative mission into outer space and onto the speedily approaching planet. There he and his best girl, Dale Arden, who is along for the ride, learn that Ming, the devious ruler of Mongo, has purposely put the planet on a collision course with Earth, and only Flash can stop him.

Buck Rogers

Buck Rogers and his young friend Buddy Wade are involved in a dirigible accident and trapped in suspended animation. They are revived 500 years later and learn that the world is ruled by a Killer Kane and his henchmen. Buck and Buddy set out to save the world, with Lieutenant Wilma Deering and Prince Tallen of Saturn.

The Martian Chronicles

A chronicle of the colonization of Mars by humans fleeing from a troubled Earth, and the conflict between aboriginal Martians and the new colonists.

Tom Corbett, Space Cadet

The adventures of Tom Corbett, Astro, and Roger Manning, cadets at the Space Academy as they train to become members of the elite Solar Guard. The action takes place at the Academy in classrooms and bunkroom, aboard their training ship the rocket cruiser Polaris, and on alien worlds, both within our solar system and in orbit around nearby stars.

Farmer in the Sky

The Earth is crowded and food is rationed, but a colony on one of the moons of Jupiter offers an escape for teenager Bill Lermer and his family. Bill soon realizes that life on the frontier is dangerous and nature is cruelly unforgiving of even small mistakes. He will face hardships, survive dangers, and grow up fast, meeting the challenge of opening up a new world for humanity and finding strengths within himself that he had never suspected existed.