Last updated : 15.08.2006 Reviews :35

 

1. MISSION OF GRAVITY - HAL CLEMENT * * 1/2

 

2. MAZE OF DEATH - PHILIP K DICK  * * *1/2

 

3. A TIME OF CHANGES - ROBERT SILVERBERG * * * *

 

4. THE BIG TIME - FRITZ LIEBER * * *

 

5. WHERE LATE THE SWEET BIRDS SANG - KATE WILHELM * * * 1/2

 

6. A CANTICLE FOR LEIBOWITZ - WALTER M.MILLER JR ** 1/2

 

7. THE MOTE IN GOD'S EYE - LARRY NIVEN AND JERRY POURNELLE * * *

 

8. THE FOREVER WAR - JOE HALDEMAN * * * 1/2

 

9. CITY – CLIFFORD. D .SIMAK * * *

 

10. THE FOREVER MACHINE - MARK CLIFTON AND FRANK RILEY * 1/2

 

11. THE EMBEDDING - IAN WATSON * * *

 

12. RITE OF PASSAGE - ALEXEI PANSHIN * * 1/2

 

13. TO YOUR SCATTERED BODIES GO * * 1/2

 

14. MAN PLUS - FREDERIK POHL * * *

 

15. HYPERION - DAN SIMMONS * * *

 

16.THE LONGEST WAY HOME - ROBERT SILVERBERG * * 1/2

 

17. WINTER'S END - ROBERT SILVRBERG * * 1/2

 

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1. MISSION OF GRAVITY

    AUTHOR :  HAL CLEMENT

    YEAR : 1955

    RATING : * * 1/2

 

Gravity is something we don't give much thought to , but trust me that when I say this book will change your perception of this unseen force . Earthman have arrived on the planet Mesklin . Setting up with the Mesklinite’s , they set off on a mission  to recover an experiment that has been stranded at the Mesklinite Pole .

 

This is how the story begins and thrown into this is the idea that the Mesklinite pole has a crushing Gravity 710 stronger than that of earths .So does the book work ? Yes and no. In sections where the characters are set up against the gravity, the book is excellent, but unfortunately certain  situations in the book weigh it down. An example of this is the situation such as the islanders don't seem to add anything to the collective story.

 

The scientific explanation nearly borders on jargon, but luckily with some effort you will readily enjoy explanations of what happens to science and geology when faced  with gravity of 700g's . The characters for most of the book don't feature than more as one dimensional, with the exception of the Mesklinite Barlernar, which fortunately brings a sum depth to the book ,which gives you a platform of thought if you had to look at this world through the eye's of an alien .The book does improve especially in the last quarter when you almost start to  feel the weight of 700 g's and it's at this point that the book is at it's strongest .

 

The book raises interesting idea's such as can we share knowledge, and will we as a race have the capability and trust to do so. Another interesting aspect of the book is how we see the novel unfold more and more from the alien's point of view which in the final words will give you a fresh perspective of the possible worlds out there.

 

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2. MAZE OF DEATH

    AUTHOR :  PHILIP K DICK

    YEAR : 1976

    RATING : * * *1/2

 

Yes , Mr Philip K Dick . Beyond many in thought , feeling and imagination . Whether his scope is large or small ( such as this book ) , he will give you an interesting storyline that will challenge what you think writers are capable with there imagination .

 

Seth Morley is among the fourteen strangers that arrive on planet Delmark O to start a better life . As per most strange environments in which you place new strangers things normally go wrong and people must start dying . So this sounds like the usual whodunit . Not quiet . Throw in an electronicprayer service , gods that are called Firm Destroyer , with a wicked twist and you have one of the best science fiction novels .

 

I haven't read a book as quick as this in a few months . Normally it takes a lot of stop start sessions to get going . On the negative side I wish it was a little bit longer . I don't think you will really ponder on the universe with thisone but you surely will be entertained by it .

 

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3. A TIME OF CHANGES

    AUTHOR :  ROBERT SILVERBERG

    YEAR : 1971

    RATING : * * * *

 

Brilliant . Go buy it and read it . I could end this review right here . If only more stories were this well crafted . Having read  Dying Inside by Mr Silverberg also ( another of my favoUrites ) I tried to predict what would happen with Time of changes . Dying Inside is very similar , but whereas it focuses on the individual , Time of Changes focuses more on the group dynamics .

 

Prince Darvil lives on an alien world . The main restriction of this world is that the referral to a person as " I " is seen as taboo . In comes earthman Schweiz with a drug that connects people . This begins a series of events  which has the main characters expanding there insight which will leave you with some warm feelings .

 

I think there is very few authors which could make this book work .You can feel the ecstasy and worry in his characters so that that you will feel the relief also . The main concept of the self being restricted is so simple and brilliant that its almost any inspiration to any new writer that the simplest ideas are often the best.

 

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4. THE BIG TIME

    AUTHOR :  FRITZ LIEBER

    YEAR : 1958

    RATING : * * * *

 

When reading some of the Hugo books , I sometimes start out somewhat disappointed with some of the books , but most times as I progress into the novel I always begin to understand why a book has won a Hugo award .

 

This is the case with The Big Time. The book begins with Time  Warriors and other characters being stuck in " The Place ", which  provides some R and R for tired soldiers. As the book progresses we find the soldiers stuck in this zone due to some background manipulation and this is when the book really comes alive.

 

When commencing with this book, I initially found it confusing and the relationships between the characters hard to follow. Its when the characters are faced with a disastrous situation that they truly come alive . It's at this point that the true sense of the situation becomes clear and the book really becomes interesting.The book has one of the best endings that I have read in along time. 

 

It really makes you think of the strange events which are possible, if we are caught up in events that are bigger than humanity.

 

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5. WHERE LATE THE SWEET BIRDS SANG

    AUTHOR :  - KATE WILHELM

    YEAR : 1976

    RATING : * * * 1/2

 

Cloning is a hot topic in today's age. The effects are yet to be seen,and sweet birds provides some interesting scenarios. Society is deteriorating and the last human hope clings to cloned beings. WheN the clones begin their society this book emerges as a near masterpiece .

 

The usefulness of the individual in contest with  the group is a topic that has been discussed over thousands of movies and books . But never has it been done so skillfully.When the " individuals " emerge from the group it becomes evident that this story has a depth that is hard to find in other stories . It is almost impossible  not to connect with some of the characters .

 

The book has a faltering start and may seem disconnected, but these initial scenarios are necessary as the background for the second half of the book . At a certain point of the book a group of  the clones sets out into the wilderness and its events  that are connected to this trip which finally begin to ripple through the community .

 

The book raises questions as to our own daily  uniformity in today's streamlined world and makes you wonder about what will happen when technology starts cutting through our humanity .

 

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6. A CANTICLE FOR LEIBOWITZ

    AUTHOR :  WALTER M.MILLER JR

    YEAR : 1959

    RATING : * * 1/2

 

 

Never before have religion and science fiction joined so adequately. Whereas

most science fiction details the clash between morals and technology,

this book draws out the clash between religious discipline and technological progress.

 

The book is set in the future in a post-nuclear world. Remnants of the old civilization are left over. The remnants, which this story focuses on, are historical documents and the Order of St Leibowitz which is charged with looking after remnants of the old world.

 

The book is split over three time periods and over these periods it raises some interesting issues , such as what is knowledge without discipline . This is presented in such a way that it does give much food for thought. The first third of the book is the most rewarding of all with Brother Francis

giving the reader some good laughs and uplifting moments.

 

I found that the book did loose some of its human touch over the next two thirds.It's scope seems to grow, which causes one to possibly disconnect with the story. The book did not have a fulfilling ending, but possibly the writer may have had something less traditional in mind over the last few pages. If you like a bit of a religious angle to your stories, then read this, but if you are looking for

a space opera then rather stay away.

 

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7. THE MOTE IN GOD'S EYE

    AUTHOR :  LARRY NIVEN AND JERRY POURNELLE

    YEAR : 1974

    RATING : * * *

 

Politics and science fiction always go hand in hand. As the two topics have a  broad scope, they normally complement each other. The Mote in God's  Eye is a good combination of the two.

 

The story is seemingly straightforward in the beginning. An alien spaceship arrives in a section of space inhabited by humans. After some discussions and events, we send a spaceship back to investigate the origin of the alien spaceship.

 

The real beauty of this book comes out when humans arrive to the alien world.We are confronted with not just a strange alien, but also a strange and almost believable alien society, that is presented with many textures.

 

The book reads like a mystery novel, with clues intelligently left over different chapters. When the story does open up it's done so subtly and  skillfully in almost a Machiavellian manner. I don’t have many negative points on this book, it can be a bit slow on some points and the general structure of the story is quite traditional, but it still all adds up to a satisfying read.

 

But never minding that, even though this is a long book and it has a few negative aspects, its still an easy, but mature read.

 

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8. THE FOREVER WAR

    AUTHOR :  JOE HALDEMAN

    YEAR : 1974

    RATING : * * *1/2

 

War sucks. Anyone can tell you that. Most modern wars last for short periods and  the effects are hard felt. What if a war spread spreads over many lifetimes, what effect  would this have on society and on the individual?

 

Private William Mandella enlists in the war. Little does he know that it will last for  over a thousand years Over this period he returns from the battlefields, to see how the world is changing. Due to the transportation system which takes them to different sections  of the universe, he does not age , while the rest of the planet moves forward considerably in time.

 

Written during the war in Vietnam, this novel reflects this age by giving the reader some idea of the emotional impact a war can have on an individual and using science fiction as metaphorical battlefield for Vietnam. The novel presents some interesting  ideas. No matter how long a war rages on for, life will still gone on. It’s this insightfulness

that gives the book it’s texture through the pages from the beginning to the end. Its also

marked with some humour similar to the first half of the movie Full Metal Jacket, and like the movie it uses the harsh reality to make us smile when we should be cringing.

 

The mid section of the book does loose some focus, and its only be reading the last few pages of the book that the story is put into perspective and that its full meaning comes through. Its not a big revelation, but subtle and satisfying.

 

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9. CITY

    AUTHOR :  CLIFFORD.D.SIMAK

    YEAR : 1952

    RATING : * * *

 

What if our overpopulation problem stops and starts retreating to depopulation. What if a city stops having any use and the value of living in the countryside becomes more attractive. What if humans desert planet earth and we leave it for robots and smart dogs?

 

The book asks all these questions and answers them also. In what seem short stories, the book develops into one unified story, with a narrative  between each story so that the reader can ponder on a story. This narrative adds substantially to the book, as a reader gets to separate himself/herself from the story and is able to soak up parallel meanings. In most sci-fi books man is always seen as the primary analyser and so in this story we are given the opportunity to see ourselves from an insightful viewpoint.

 

On the negative side of the book, this book is spread over a large timescale and the book is sometimes a bit jagged in how it moves across time and into different scenarios. But this is a minor complain. This is essentially a book about legends and how these legends are created over time and how we sometimes come to rely on these legends. It might not be for everyone’s taste,

but by the mere fact that you are reading this review on this website Iwould have to say you are someone that most likely will enjoy it. 

 

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10. THE FOREVER MACHINE

      AUTHOR :  MARK CLIFTON AND FRANK RILEY

      YEAR : 1954

      RATING : * 1/2

 

There is a certain pleasure in reading science fiction novels. Even more than any other genre, one can be transported into a dream world, which can make anyone  forget there daily dues. Some books run smoothly and this process is enhanced, but occasionally some books are so cautionary and heavy that you start wondering about dinner instead of the story and Forever Machine is one of these books.

 

The story is centered on a hyper computer named Bussy and around this computer revolves a number of characters trying to find themselves. The man who works with Bussy seems to have the ability to think clearly and solve their problems and as the story continues we have friction building up with the rest of the characters.

 

Unfortunately this book did not work for me. To be honest I don't know if it was my state of mind while reading the book , or because the characters were so loosely described , or just that 50 years has passed on this book and that its very difficult to connect to the story as it seems dated.

 

I don’t think you should refrain from reading this book if you are reading all the Hugo books,

and hopefully it won't take you a month as it did for me. Please forward me your comments

on this book so that I can paste them on the website.

 

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11. THE EMBEDDING

      AUTHOR :  IAN WATSON

      YEAR : 1977

      RATING : * * *

 

 

Language is a beautiful thing, it communicates our needs, desires and  about everything other thing under the sun. However it also limits us. A language is a contained structure and its normally quite difficult to break out of it. How often are we short of words as to what we are feeling.

 

This book deals with this issue in a number of contexts and it does it very well. We are introduced to a tribe in the Amazon jungle being displaced by a huge dam. The book also centres around a separate group of children which are being used for an experiment in breaking new bounds with language.Thrown into the mix we have a group of aliens, which arrive to trade with earth.

 

I enjoyed this book, I think the central idea of trying to expand the limits of communication is an interesting one and a realistic goal which humanity could delve into. The aliens are interesting, their reaction and requirements from earthman are almost believable. Thrown into the mix are a few sub-stories, which show the clash of underdeveloped civilisations with those more technologically proficient. The book raises questions as to what we should value in today’s world and if we exploit environments, which seemingly have no value, then we may regret it later on.

 

Read this book especially if have an interest in communication and what the possibilities are in this field.

 

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12. RITE OF PASSAGE

      AUTHOR :  ALEXEI PANSHIN

      YEAR : 1968

      RATING : * * 1/2

 

With every award winning science fiction book (in this case a Nebula) you can almost expect a profound theme to run through the book. In Rite of passage, it takes a bit more digging to find this theme. The book plays out as some pulp fiction. It’s easy to read and does provide some food for thought on the last few pages, but for the very first time I was wondering what Nebula was thinking with this choice.

 

The book concerns Mia Havero. She lives on one of many ships that have left earth as it has become unliveable. The ships move along the galaxyfrom planet to planet. These planets are populated with colonies from earth.Any relationship between people the ship people and the earth people has slipped to the point of prejudice. The colonists refer to the planet people

as “ mudeaters“  

 

The story completely revolves around a young girl and as she passes her early passages of life. One specific rite of passage involves that all young teenagers are dropped on a hostile world for a month and if they survive,they become adults and return to the ship to live happily ever after.

 

The characters are three dimensional, but the story does not amount to much. There are no surprises in the book and the adventure on the planet is pretty straightforward.

 

The book does touch on issues such as racism and our need to share resources. While these are important issues, the presentations of these issues to the reader won't inspire anyone. As I mentioned this is an easy light book to read and if you just want to enjoy a quick basic sci-fi book

then this is for you. I would also recommend this book to younger teenagers if they were just starting to read science fiction.

 

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13. TO YOUR SCATTERED BODIES GO

      AUTHOR :  PHILIP JOSE FARMER

      YEAR : 1972

      RATING : * * 1/2

 

The big question that everyone has asked at least once in the life is what happens after we die. What will happen , whom will we meet and will we have to explain ourselves to higher powers or to other normal people also for the lives we led .

 

To your scattered bodies go starts with Sir Richard Francis Burton walking up to find himself floating in a gigantic container among other lifeless and naked bodies. Shortly after he finds himself in a valley and begins to meet different characters from different eras of the world. It seems that they are inhabiting an afterlife which contains all the humans that have ever existed and have passed away in to this world. Richard joins up with a group, including a Neanderthal and an alien from outer space. The story is about this group and how they

begin to unravel the mysteries of this strange world.

 

The book’s characters really work. The reason is that they all come from different eras and the differences that are ingrained in them due to this is what makes the dialogue and situation so interesting .They way that the characters intermingle and grow , plus come over perceived prejudices is another strong point in this book . The way that some characters are also forced to defend their lives really adds some spark to the book .

 

The weakness in the book is the story itself .Like the endless river that that is a central feature of the book , the story sometimes looses its path and eventually it’s focus. I guess one could read the rest of the books , but as a stand alone Hugo award winning book one may expect slightly more than you will receive from this book .

 

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14. MAN PLUS

    AUTHOR :  FREDERIK POHL

    YEAR : 1976

    RATING : * * *

 

Mars is a planet that all our spaceward looking nerds pin our hopes for any advancement . The reality is that man and woman will have to stretch there minds, bodies and hearts if we are to do this .

 

Roger Torraway is the subject of the Man Plus programme. His body is being changed beyond recognition so that he may one day live on Mars. If you want hard science then I don’t think this is the book for you. Frederick has rather set out a story about trust, manipulation and alienantion. He has used a characters rather than mechanics to move his story forwards.

 

This works beautifully as we feel Roger’s loss as he begins to loose his relationships and ultimately his humanity . The ending is also interesting , if not slightly outdated in todays world . However if you consider that this was written in 1976  then you will still appreciate the ending .

 

I felt that the duration of the novel for the characters while they are on Mars was slightly to short. For the time and effort that the reader spends reading through the earth events , he or she might be left hanging with the duration of the story on Mars . ‘

 

This however is a small complaint . After finishing the book , it did make me consider what sacrifices we will have to make if we are really to visit the elusive red planet .

 

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15. HYPERION

      AUTHOR :  DAN SIMMONS

      YEAR : 1990

      RATING : * * *

 

If you have ever watched a Robert Altman movie, such as “ Short cuts “ you will know the effect that different strands of a story can have when they all come together. Hyperion falls in this same universe. This effect can be quite satisfying as seemingly unrelated events give

quite a surprise once they come together. 

 

Seven pilgrims are on a ship headed towards Hyperion. Each pilgrim has a story of their own and a dark secret, which ultimately are related to Hyperion. We have a priest, a poet , a father , a consul , a private investigator and a ex-military combatant .Because each person is so different we are introduced to the planet in a different light. So what could be a straight forward tale, actually changes when the perception and experience of a person changes.This is where the strength of this book lies.

 

Each story is also really well thought out and entertaining. The standard across all the stories is good and because you get more and more into the book as you go along, the enjoyment is compounded. It really makes you wonder on the different paths that all of us are given in this life.

 

So that leaves us with the ending. I wont give much away (but stop reading if you want a virgin experience), but the debate still carries on with this book if a clear ending is better than a open ended ending. I must be honest and say that I was disappointed with the ending. An abstract open ending can be good in some stories, but there were just to many unresolved issues in this book to make this work. I do realize that there is a sequel, but a book needs to stand on its own legs (unless it’s sold as the first part of trilogy or similar).

 

Looking at the strengths of the book again. One of them is the shrike (the Hyperion monster). It casts a giant shadow and menace over the group. The time tombs which hold a revealing secret also add to an almost “ Da Vinci code “ like mystery. Both of these objects in the book are used effectively and are a good example of plot drivers without being overused or over explained.

 

If you like to read a book with subtle emotional and political strands running through it , then read this book , but you  may have to put out some extra money for the sequel also if you want to complete the experience .  

 

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16. THE LONGEST WAY HOME

      AUTHOR :  ROBERT SILVERBERG

      YEAR : 2002

      RATING : * * 1/2  

 

The Longest way home is one of the more recent books from Robert Silverberg.

It’s quite difficult to keep track of all the Robert Silverberg books as he has

accumulated quite a number under his name over the last few decades. While he

is a brilliant writer he occasionally writes some easy reads which while they

are entertaining , they are also forgettable. The longest way home is one of these books.

 

This is basically a coming of age story . Joseph Master Keilloran is on holiday

at a place far off from home when is awoken one night with the sound of thunder.

Suddenly he finds himself running for his life when he realizes that the folk have

started a revolution against his kind which are the masters. And so begins the basis

of the story which is about Jospeh trying to get back home to his family .

 

Along the way home he meets different aliens and humans which he has close

encounters and ultimately learns from them.Some issues are touched on such as

 elitism and man’s place in nature , but these are by pure convenience and they

just don’t touch the reader. I must admit that I enjoyed reading the book , but I

always felt I was reading a comic book more than a novel. It was a great way

to pass a Sunday afternoon, lying on the couch and reading this book , but as soon

as I finished I put the book away and did not give it much thought after that .

 

 

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17. WINTER’S END

     AUTHOR :  ROBERT SILVERBERG

     YEAR : 1988

     RATING : * * ½

 

 

Everyone has a period in their lives when they must make a change and so they set out on a journey to achieve such a change. This book is about such a journey, but not for an individual but for a group of cave dwellers. After being confined in a cave for thousands of years, certain omens point the way for the future of the group and so they decide to leave the cave.

 

This story is about the long trek, their eventual destination and the changes that they must adapt to as they proceed further. The group is led by Koshmar, a female character which see’s her leadership bought into question when the safety of the cave (female womb) is swapped for

a more dangerous and raw terrain which ultimately questions the role of a female leader in this different environment. The main character however is Hresh, the young “soothsayer “of the group and the main character in which we see the story unfold. Hresh brings certain energy

to the novel and the perceptive nature in his character leads the way for the group and for the reader. The group do eventually arrive to there promised land or city in this case, but soon enough they begin to discover that the promised city is unfortunately a meager shadow of what it once was.

 

The novel was typical Silverberg. It has solid characters which you want to uncover and interesting themes regarding the nature of change, validity of decisions and the effect of the external world on a group and the individual. However I did find that the book did start to loose its way in the last quarter. It almost felt like Silverberg did not have the last third completely mapped out and it was just a matter of throwing in some subplots and seeing what happens. The first half of the book is great, Silverberg is a master in creating a maze with his stories and a reader can only be hooked. However, the promise of mystery gives way to a more philosophical edge in the last third. In a sense this philosophical edge is satisfying but as the last third of the story is slightly drawn out, it therefore feels diluted and ineffective. There are many inferior novels out there, but read this one if you need a break from the classics.