Would you be reading it in German or in translation?

(I have no useful insights to contribute, though I was once in Forry Ackerman's house, which contained a LOT of Perry Rhodan books, among other things.)

I'd tend towards don't.

I read the first and hated it, didn't move on. Didn't realize how shocking it was to have actually found the first one.

I have never read any Perry Rhodan but have also picked up the idea that these books are not great. I have also heard that over the course of the zillion books in the series every possible SF sub-genre is featured.

I would ask selenak. I have a feeling she mentioned once that the books with large round numbers are deliberate jumping-on points.

Thanks. It's more that it is such a central pillar of the SF scene in a very important country, and I want to get a sense of what it's about. Not an immediate plan; still going strong with Les Mondes d'Aldébaran by Leo.

I found it too pulpy even as a nine-year-old just getting into SF, so I can't believe you'll get much out of it. Think of it as Karl May in space, and that's basically all you need to know.

If you do insist on reading them, though, one of the self-contained novels might be a good way in. You can buy them as ebooks from http://www.perry-rhodan.net/ebooks.html. You can also buy e-versions of the original magazines an arc at a time, if you want something slightly more like the original experience.