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3.74 AVERAGE
3.74 AVERAGE
I really, really enjoyed this book. In much the same style as Heinlein did in the mid 20th century, Varley has generated a tale of young people doing amazing things. It's a celebration of American-style innovation and risk-taking, of youth, and of underdogs, with a slight anti-government thread woven through. I loved the characters, I loved the plot, and I loved the feeling I was left with when the book was done.
You could complain that these kids had everything go right. They tried things that would probably kill or injure 99 of 100 people who attempted them, yet time and again, things went well. But there's good in that. This isn't the study of mistakes, this is a study of the power of optimism and a bit of foresight. The characters can easily become role-models for kids who read the novel, rather than tragic figures whose behavior should not be replicated.
I'd heartily recommend this to young teens as well. The celebration of youth is enough to keep them interested, but there's lots more.
A hearty 5 of 5 stars.
You could complain that these kids had everything go right. They tried things that would probably kill or injure 99 of 100 people who attempted them, yet time and again, things went well. But there's good in that. This isn't the study of mistakes, this is a study of the power of optimism and a bit of foresight. The characters can easily become role-models for kids who read the novel, rather than tragic figures whose behavior should not be replicated.
I'd heartily recommend this to young teens as well. The celebration of youth is enough to keep them interested, but there's lots more.
A hearty 5 of 5 stars.
John Varley's written some of the most entertaining SF of the last couple of decades. This novel and its first sequel Red Lightning are aimed pretty squarely at younger readers (the heroes in both are in their late teens/early 20s). They fit into the Heinlein mode: pick one new technology and put it in the hands of a super smart young adult, add a dash of not-quite-innocent sexuality, and mix well.
Lots of fun, well-considered, interesting characters, and he includes a nice dash of Florida and Louisiana cajun culture for interest. I'd recommend them to teens and those of us who still remember being teens.
Lots of fun, well-considered, interesting characters, and he includes a nice dash of Florida and Louisiana cajun culture for interest. I'd recommend them to teens and those of us who still remember being teens.
Wonderful plot, great action, and characters....well ...The characters come on a little too strong. Varley pays homage to fellow writer Carl Hiaasen by trying to write like Hiaasen and with Hiassen like characters. The result is a very,very mixed bag. The crisis point of the novel and the ending are stretched to far. The ending is too much of a have-your-cake-and-eat-it-too approach with a successful landing, departure, and a space rescue as well. There are better SF novels about getting to Mars.
I loved this so much! Rollicking adventure with ideas and themes to keep everyone involved, characters we really care about. It feels like a great Heinlein juvenile that could never have been published in Heinlein's day. One of my favorite books for a long time. I knew while reading it that some people might not feel it is as award-worthy as other, perhaps more-literary, novels, but I can't help but believe books such as this are vital to the health of SF.
The plot is pretty straightforward: Four 18-21 year-olds, a down-on-his-luck ex-astronaut, and his brain-damaged but genius cousin need to build a spaceship and fly to Mars in 60 days so the USA can be there first and they can rescue a doomed NASA mission. The physics is fun but never really described: something about creating bubbles in multiple dimensions to create a near-limitless power source. But after those quibbles, everything else is sheer pleasure. The characters are all slightly criminal but completely moral and likeable, and each is broken in a unique way (a couple are truly heartbreaking), so Varley makes the reader really root for them. The plot is fast-paced and fun, and even though you're pretty sure nothing will really go wrong for our heroes, those pages keep turning. This feels like a Heinlein juvenile for a new generation, just the sort of thing that would have sent me into the garage to build my next rocket as a kid. Yet there are adult situations aplenty, so I suspect Ace was afraid to market it as young-adult. The marketing of this book boggles me. Why the Cold-War thriller cover art and font? It's not really a YA novel - though the family issues should speak to young people - but neither is it a Cold-War thriller.
I think this book's value lies in its human-ness, humor, and honesty. I was moved by the family love shared by a few of the characters, I laughed during just about every page, and got teary on a number of occasions. I also admire Varley for writing something so brazenly dream-fulfilling to everyone who grew up believing our future is among the stars, yet have seen us step farther and farther from that future. Books like this are why readers like me got started reading SF. Though conservative parents might be aghast at their teens reading this book, every young person should read it. In a genre becoming less and less accessible to new readers, Varley delivers a wonderful novel any new reader, age 14 to 144 can love, and long-time SF readers can read with great pleasure and even nostalgia, though it is a thorougly modern book in theme, setting, and character.
I hope you give this book a read and a chance. Remember how you felt when you first read SF, when anything seemed possible and regular folk could build a rocketship in their garage. I believe RED THUNDER can deliver that same joy to a new generation.
A criticism of educational trends, and keep in mind that the kids find a mentor - press him into service, really - and succeed beyond their wildest dreams.
The plot is pretty straightforward: Four 18-21 year-olds, a down-on-his-luck ex-astronaut, and his brain-damaged but genius cousin need to build a spaceship and fly to Mars in 60 days so the USA can be there first and they can rescue a doomed NASA mission. The physics is fun but never really described: something about creating bubbles in multiple dimensions to create a near-limitless power source. But after those quibbles, everything else is sheer pleasure. The characters are all slightly criminal but completely moral and likeable, and each is broken in a unique way (a couple are truly heartbreaking), so Varley makes the reader really root for them. The plot is fast-paced and fun, and even though you're pretty sure nothing will really go wrong for our heroes, those pages keep turning. This feels like a Heinlein juvenile for a new generation, just the sort of thing that would have sent me into the garage to build my next rocket as a kid. Yet there are adult situations aplenty, so I suspect Ace was afraid to market it as young-adult. The marketing of this book boggles me. Why the Cold-War thriller cover art and font? It's not really a YA novel - though the family issues should speak to young people - but neither is it a Cold-War thriller.
I think this book's value lies in its human-ness, humor, and honesty. I was moved by the family love shared by a few of the characters, I laughed during just about every page, and got teary on a number of occasions. I also admire Varley for writing something so brazenly dream-fulfilling to everyone who grew up believing our future is among the stars, yet have seen us step farther and farther from that future. Books like this are why readers like me got started reading SF. Though conservative parents might be aghast at their teens reading this book, every young person should read it. In a genre becoming less and less accessible to new readers, Varley delivers a wonderful novel any new reader, age 14 to 144 can love, and long-time SF readers can read with great pleasure and even nostalgia, though it is a thorougly modern book in theme, setting, and character.
I hope you give this book a read and a chance. Remember how you felt when you first read SF, when anything seemed possible and regular folk could build a rocketship in their garage. I believe RED THUNDER can deliver that same joy to a new generation.
A criticism of educational trends, and keep in mind that the kids find a mentor - press him into service, really - and succeed beyond their wildest dreams.