History Literature / SkylarkSeries

* OddlyNamedSequelTwoElectricBoogaloo: The second book is confusingly called ''Skylark Three''.

* SufficientlyAdvancedAliens: The Norlaminians, even ''before'' they get their hands on metal X. Rovol doesn't need to use any tools at all, because the laboratory suffuses the environment with rays that do most of the work. Compared to him, Seaton's (PhD-level) understanding of chemistry is like a schoolboy's.

* StatuesqueStunner: Stephanie "Hunkie" [=DeMarigny=], [=DuQuesne=]'s eventual LoveInterest.

* TwoOfYourEarthMinutes

* Catch22Dilemma: The Norlaminians are stuck technologically because their planet utterly lacks metal X, which is essential to put their advanced theory into practice. They do know of a source of X in another solar system, but all expeditions to reach it using rockets have failed, and to build a superior atomic-powered craft would require the use of X. Though they can project themselves to other planets of their solar system, they cannot travel between stars this way, since that also requires metal X.

* ModernStasis: Kondal and [[TheEmpire Mardonale]] have been continuously at war for approximately ''six thousand years''--[[SciFiWritersHaveNoSenseOfScale about as long as Earth civilization has existed]]--and there is no indication that their societies or cultures have changed at all during that time.

* SpaceAgeStasis: The Dasorians and the Norlaminians are both stuck here. They have advanced their technology as far as they can, but, despite their scientific knowledge being far above that of Earth (particularly among the Norlaminians) they can advance their technology no further, because they lack the metal X/Rovolon, which is needed to provide the necessary amount of power. Thus, they are quite grateful when the ''Skylark'', which is powered by the metal, shows up on their planets.

* AccidentalAstronaut: When Duquesne and Perkins seize Dorothy Vaneman and drag her onto their spacecraft to kidnap her, Perkins makes the mistake of stepping too close to her feet to tie them up. He gets a full-force kick that sends him flying into the controls, turning on the power, and they abruptly take off with enough acceleration to render them all unconscious.

** The metal X is also a kind of Unobtainium, having the power to convert copper completely into energy--without destroying any of the metal X in the process--if it's subjected to X-rays.

* TheSociopath: Both [=DuQuesne=] and Perkins, but in different ways; the former is WickedCultured and the latter is TheBrute.

* SpaceElves: The Norlaminians, and to a lesser extent, the Dasorians. Unlike the other species in their system, they are PerfectPacifistPeople who simply desire knowledge, and the only reason they have not spread throughout space is because they lack the resources to build a spacecraft. The Norlaminians in particular are said to have millions of years of scientific knowledge ahead of humanity, and follow a mystical philosophy. Both species are immediately friendly to Seaton and crew, and the Norlaminians tried to help the Dasorians out in the past.

* SufficientlyAdvancedAliens: The Norlaminians, even ''before'' they get their hands on metal X. Rovol doesn't need to use any tools at all, because the laboratory suffuses the environment with rays that do most of the work. Compared to him, Seaton's understanding a chemistry is like a schoolboy's.

* WhatTheHellHero: At the beginning of ''Skylark Three'', Dorothy and Margaret are horrified when they find out that Dunark has come to get supplies in order to commit genocide against an invading species. However, [[ValuesDissonance Seaton and Crane say that it's either the Osnomians or their enemies]]. [[spoiler:But when Seaton actually arrives at the planet, tells the natives that they and Osnome must put aside their differences in order to have a chance against the Fenachrone. In fairness, he had access to Fenachrone technology by then, so UsefulNotes/PeaceThroughSuperiorFirepower was on the table.]]

* PlanetSpaceship: Drs. Seaton and Crane build a 1000km diameter spaceship called the Skylark of Valeron. Its size was needed to house the sensors required to travel at its full velocity. Later, their rival Dr. [=DuQuesne=] builds an even bigger ship.

* LensmanArmsRace: '''So much'''.[[note]]The Lensman series was, after all, written by the same author.[[/note]] From steel hulls to impenetrable armor made of the alien material "inoson"; from simple explosive projectiles to insanely powerful beam weapons (and various types of 'projectors', which are very versatile). From a ship 40 feet across to one a thousand miles in diameter. Whole ''galaxies'' are embroiled in battle eventually. Lampshaded when Dorothy asks Seaton why he isn't using copper shells against [[spoiler:Ravindau's escaping Fenachrone craft]], and he informs her that explosive copper would be like candy kisses compared to the weapons both sides are now using.

* WhatTheHellHero: At the beginning of ''Skylark Three'', Dorothy and Margaret are horrified when they find out that Dunark has come to get supplies in order to commit genocide against an invading species. However, [[ValuesDissonance Seaton and Crane say that it's either the Osnomians or their enemies]]. [[spoiler:But when Seaton actually arrives at the planet, he tells the natives that they and Osnome must put aside their differences in order to have a chance against the Fenachrone]].

* TheAce: Richard "Dick" Seaton. This guy is a master marksman, tennis champion, hunter, trapper, intergalactic explorer, smiter of evil aliens, ''and'' a he's got a [=PhD=] in chemistry. He's not a bad engineer either. (And he's pretty good at sleight-of-hand...)
** [[EvilOverlord DuQuesne]]. Everything that Seaton is (except the tennis and legerdemain), but also WickedCultured and a decent military tactician. In the first book alone, he was steering a starship [[MadeOfIron at 20g acceleration]] and did it well, though he blacked out afterwards.

** Dorothy and Margaret develop into this.
** Shiro's wife Lotus Blossom is introduced as being [[WaifFu the deadliest hand-to-hand fighter on Earth]].

* CallASmeerpARabbit: Occasionally the narration will describe really alien fauna in terms of Earth life, and sometimes will {{Lampshade}} it.
* Catch22Dilemma: The Norlaminians are stuck technologically because their planet utterly lacks metal X, which is essential to put their advanced theory into practice. They do have primitive rockets, but all expeditions to the nearest X-rich solar system have failed. Though they can project themselves to other planets of their solar system, they cannot travel between stars this way, since that requires metal X.

* DistantFinale: Actually in ''Skylark Three'', even though it's only the second book of the series. The epilogue is set many thousands of years in the future, after TheAlliance has grown into a Galaxy-spanning civilization, [[GenerationXerox ruled by Seaton's distant descendant]]. Apparently they celebrate the anniversary of the Fenachrone's destruction with [[ShowWithinAShow a film recounting Seaton's exploits]] --[[UnreliableNarrator which actually justifies some of the story's]] MoralDissonance.

* GenerationShip: The Party of Postponement try to escape the Fenachrone's home world in one of these. They have enough supplies to last a century, and they intend to settle in as distant a galaxy as possible. [[MoralDissonance The heroes kill them all anyway.]]