"Chronicles of the Lensmen, Volume 1 (Triplanetary, First Lensman, Galactic Patrol)" by E. E. "Doc" Smith

"Chronicles of the Lensmen, Volume 1 (Triplanetary, First Lensman, Galactic Patrol)" by E. E. "Doc" Smith
  https://www.amazon.com/Chronicles-Lensmen-Triplanetary-Lensman-Galactic/dp/1568658044/
Book number one of a two book space opera science fiction series.  I read the well printed and well bound hardback published by the Science Fiction Book Club in 1998 that I bought used from Amazon recently.  In fact, I was inspired by Heinlein's "The Pursuit of the Pankera" that I read recently to read this book.  I have ordered book two of the series and will read it soon.
  https://www.amazon.com/Pursuit-Pankera-Parallel-Novel-Universes/dp/1647100291/
This book actually consists of three books published by E. E. "Doc" Smith.  "Triplanetary" was published in 1948.  "First Lensmen" was published in 1950.  And "Galactic Patrol" was published in 1950.  The books are dated by time with what was normal in the 1930s and 1940s is no longer normal for our times other than a minimal segment of the United States society.
"Triplanetary" starts off with a detailed conflict between the Arisians in our galaxy and the Eddorians in a second galaxy over two thousand million years ago.  The two galaxies are colliding over and incrdible period of time and the two races are conflicting for control of the merged galaxy.  Also detailed is the various time periods on Earth and other planets that the Eddorians destroyed in order to maintain their supposed supremacy over the galaxies.  They even caused a nuclear conflict between Atlantis and her colonies.
"First Lensmen" is the story of the Arisians contacting the Virgil Samms to become the first Lensman and spread the Lens technology among individuals who are deserving of the technology.  Other technologies are rapidly advanced such as multiple light year speeds of space travel using inertialess generators.
"Galactic Patrol" is the story of the various conflicts between the Eddorian supported space pirates and the Arisian supported Lensmen. Most of the book is about Rod Kinnison's various exploits to expose and destroy the space pirates that are plaguing the commerce of the galactic free planets.
My rating:  5 out of 5 stars
Amazon rating:  4.4 out of 5 stars (82 ratings)
Lynn