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.[1]
Captain John Grimes is placed in command of the Census spaceship 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 is dashed when they mutiny against Grimes's command and cast him adrift in space.
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 reminiscent of some of the worst Star Trek episodes."[2]
^Collins, Paul; McMullen, Sean; Paulsen, Steven (1998). "Awards". In Collins, Paul; Paulsen, Steven; McMullen, Sean (eds.). The MUP Encyclopaedia of Australian Science Fiction & Fantasy. Carlton South, Victoria: Melbourne University Press. pp. 3–5. ISBN0-522-84771-4.