E. E. Smith 
Spacehounds of IPC [PDF ebook] 

Regarded as one of foremost figures in the classic age of science fiction, E. E. Smith is often recognized as the originator of the genre known as space opera, which involves fantastic plots, plenty of action and adventure, and very little realism. In Spacehounds of IPC, Smith takes a completely different path, crafting a gripping narrative that is chock-full of accurate scientific detail.