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pklawton's review against another edition
3.0
Just finished this last night (SPOILERS AHEAD!)
Excelent sci-fi romp that follows a single-minded brute through a quest for revenge. Gully Foyle is stranded in space, waiting for death when a ship appears - The Vorga. Foyle desperately tries to flag the ship down, but the Vorga leaves him to die. This single event spurns Foyle into action in order to take revenge on those who left him to die.
The one thing that I found very "of its time" (Bester wrote this in the mid 50's) was how every female character falls in love with Foyle "in spite of his brutishness." Even Robin Wednesbury, who Foyle "destroyed" at one part (aka raped) falls for Foyle.
In a redemption story like this, you have to see how far Foyle progresses - from monosyllabic rapist to cultured, complexity of Geoffrey Fourmyle to transcending humanity toward a holy man. Yet, I didn't really buy this arch at all.
Foyle mistreats everyone on his quest for revenge, almost right until the last couple chapters (I'm thinking of him conning Robin into giving up information in exchange for her "freedom" and then immediately going back on his word because he still needed to use her in his quest for revenge).
Maybe its my own aversion to championing rapists? Am I missing something here? Pretty much the entire post-rape scene was coloured by my intense dislike for the main character.
THAT SAID: I really got sucked into the quick plotting Stars my Destination. There is much to like, the faboulous small details of the culture and people and lots of world-building. I wish there were other books following the characters and other plot points, such as the whole Skoptsy colony or the 70-year old telekinetic baby.
Even with my reservations about Foyle's character arch, I am happy that I read this book and will likely read it again in the future.
Excelent sci-fi romp that follows a single-minded brute through a quest for revenge. Gully Foyle is stranded in space, waiting for death when a ship appears - The Vorga. Foyle desperately tries to flag the ship down, but the Vorga leaves him to die. This single event spurns Foyle into action in order to take revenge on those who left him to die.
The one thing that I found very "of its time" (Bester wrote this in the mid 50's) was how every female character falls in love with Foyle "in spite of his brutishness." Even Robin Wednesbury, who Foyle "destroyed" at one part (aka raped) falls for Foyle.
In a redemption story like this, you have to see how far Foyle progresses - from monosyllabic rapist to cultured, complexity of Geoffrey Fourmyle to transcending humanity toward a holy man. Yet, I didn't really buy this arch at all.
Foyle mistreats everyone on his quest for revenge, almost right until the last couple chapters (I'm thinking of him conning Robin into giving up information in exchange for her "freedom" and then immediately going back on his word because he still needed to use her in his quest for revenge).
Maybe its my own aversion to championing rapists? Am I missing something here? Pretty much the entire post-rape scene was coloured by my intense dislike for the main character.
THAT SAID: I really got sucked into the quick plotting Stars my Destination. There is much to like, the faboulous small details of the culture and people and lots of world-building. I wish there were other books following the characters and other plot points, such as the whole Skoptsy colony or the 70-year old telekinetic baby.
Even with my reservations about Foyle's character arch, I am happy that I read this book and will likely read it again in the future.
alienstory's review against another edition
adventurous
mysterious
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
1.0
Hated it. Nearly didn't finish. Didn't care about anything.
ibvg's review against another edition
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? No
3.0
mayastone's review against another edition
adventurous
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
2.5
mrzachyt's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
reflective
sad
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
pc953's review against another edition
5.0
I was recommended this by an old man at the gym. It took me months to track down a copy but I really am glad i did. It falls into many tropes of the scfi of the time, which I comment on quite often. However for being such an old book it holds up remarkably well in modern concepts.
I read so that I can feel things. The arcs of characters are so dramatic that they effect an emotion upon the reader. Our tiger of a main character is a descipicble monster. Terrible to read about and follow. And yet through the book we learn to appreciate it him to know him and his inner tortures. His turn reminded me of Crime and Punishment and the inevitable turn the protangitionst of that story takes.
But the ending. I was carried by it. Faith on faith. That's what I need in my life right now and I'm glad this book reminded me of that.
Is it the best scfi novel of all time? I think not. But it's an explimintory of its time and is a foundation that so many other books have built upon. I'm glad to have read this.
I read so that I can feel things. The arcs of characters are so dramatic that they effect an emotion upon the reader. Our tiger of a main character is a descipicble monster. Terrible to read about and follow. And yet through the book we learn to appreciate it him to know him and his inner tortures. His turn reminded me of Crime and Punishment and the inevitable turn the protangitionst of that story takes.
But the ending. I was carried by it. Faith on faith. That's what I need in my life right now and I'm glad this book reminded me of that.
Is it the best scfi novel of all time? I think not. But it's an explimintory of its time and is a foundation that so many other books have built upon. I'm glad to have read this.
angus_mckeogh's review against another edition
4.0
Really very good and the most amazing part is the novel is not dated in the least and was written so long ago. Revenge and mystery infused with science fiction. Highly recommended.