Skylark Three is set a year after the events of The Skylark of Space, during which year antagonist Marc "Blackie" DuQuesne has used wealth obtained in the previous book to buy a controlling interest in the story's 'World Steel Corporation'.
Edward Elmer Smith (1890 - 1965) was an American food engineer (specializing in doughnut and pastry mixes) and an early science-fiction author, best known for the Lensman and Skylark series. He is sometimes called the father of space opera.