The Big Black Mark (1975) is a science fiction novel by Australian writer A. Bertram Chandler. It forms part of the author's Rim World series, featuring the recurring character John Grimes.
It was originally published by Daw Books in USA in 1975.
Synopsis
Captain John Grimes is placed in command of the Census space ship Discovery. This is crewed by a company of malcontents who have been placed together on this vessel in an attempt to keep them out of trouble. Unfortunately hope os dashed when their mutiny against Grimes's comman, and cast his adrift in space.
Dedication
"To William Bligh."
Critical reception
Spider Robinson, reviewing the novel on its original release in Galaxy magazine noted: "Black Mark borrows just a bit too heavily from both Nordhoff & Hall and Herman Wouk, if you get my galactic drift. True-blue Grimes fans should be satisfied, but I found it pat in spots, contrived in others, and a little too reminscent of some of the worst Star Trek episodes."
Publication history
After its original publication in 1975 in the US by publishers Daw Books the novel was later published as follows:
Daw Books reprint 1978, 1982
Baen Books, USA, 2007 (ebook) Orion Books, UK, 2015 (ebook)
The novel was also included in the following compilations of Chandler's work: John Grimes: Survey Captain, Science Fiction Book Club, 2002 First Command, Baen Books, 2011
It was translated into German in 1984.
Awards
The novel won the Australian Sf Achievement Award for Best Novel in 1976.
See also
1975 in Australian literature
Notes
Chandler wrote about why he felt the book had to be written in an article published in Philosophical Gas 27 (March 1974), edited by John Bangsund.