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rafial's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
inspiring
sad
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.5
smiorganbaldhead's review against another edition
4.0
Early in the book, I wasn’t that into it. The style didn’t click for me. However, it got much better later on, and the ending was great. I really enjoyed how this book approached the idea of prescience, even better than some more popular books with similar themes like Dune and Foundation. On the negative side, I didn’t like Sam very much as a character. He doesn’t have much internal conflict, but just goes after revenge by any means. In that way he reminds me of Gully Foyle from The Stars My Destination, or Corwin from Nine Princes In Amber. I’m okay with antiheroes, but find them more interesting when they have some internal conflict about their actions (e.g. Elric). Still, the ending makes it clear how Sam’s nature works for the plot. Overall, I enjoyed it, and recommend it.
goodreadsspy's review against another edition
adventurous
mysterious
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
2.75
warragh's review against another edition
3.0
In the distant future, after Earth has been rendered uninhabitable after a massive nuclear war humanity has relocated to Venus. Enter Sam Harker, an immortal who doesn't know that he's immortal.
For better or worse, Fury reads just like a classic SF novel. It's dense and rather slow paced, but fascinating at the same time. Kuttner's version of Venus is very different from the planet we know. It's a planet filled with dangerous wildlife, both plants and animals, and with great expanses of water under which humanity lives in cities built under protective domes.
These cities are ruled by a caste of "immortal" humans (not truly immortal, but they live for hundreds, even thousands of year) who have developed an entirely different psychology and rhythm of life as a result of their long life spans. One such individual, Sam Harker, has his appearance changed and is abandoned by his father and grows up with the mind and the feelings of an immortal while thinking that he will only have a normal life span. This generates immense subconscious frustration and anger and makes Sam a ruthless and unforgiving individual.
Sam's journey is interesting and subtly linked to the struggle of the human race to escape their self-made prisons and once again rise and colonize the stars. Sam is not a good man, is not someone who inspires others, is not a leader but the irony of his self-serving actions is that when all is said and done, he is the spark that the remnants of humanity needed to wake it up and push it forward.
Fury is a book that I picked up on a whim, because I liked the title and the cover and the premise and I'm glad that I did. It can be clunky at times, and it does show its age but for fans of the early days of SF this is a worthy read.
For better or worse, Fury reads just like a classic SF novel. It's dense and rather slow paced, but fascinating at the same time. Kuttner's version of Venus is very different from the planet we know. It's a planet filled with dangerous wildlife, both plants and animals, and with great expanses of water under which humanity lives in cities built under protective domes.
These cities are ruled by a caste of "immortal" humans (not truly immortal, but they live for hundreds, even thousands of year) who have developed an entirely different psychology and rhythm of life as a result of their long life spans. One such individual, Sam Harker, has his appearance changed and is abandoned by his father and grows up with the mind and the feelings of an immortal while thinking that he will only have a normal life span. This generates immense subconscious frustration and anger and makes Sam a ruthless and unforgiving individual.
Sam's journey is interesting and subtly linked to the struggle of the human race to escape their self-made prisons and once again rise and colonize the stars. Sam is not a good man, is not someone who inspires others, is not a leader but the irony of his self-serving actions is that when all is said and done, he is the spark that the remnants of humanity needed to wake it up and push it forward.
Fury is a book that I picked up on a whim, because I liked the title and the cover and the premise and I'm glad that I did. It can be clunky at times, and it does show its age but for fans of the early days of SF this is a worthy read.
hylian_narwhal's review against another edition
2.0
True rating; 2 stars
There are some interesting ideas explored about revenge, colonisation, heritage and the effects of extended longevity. But I don't feel any connection to any of the characters.
Sort of a side note, but also my biggest problem with the book is that I found out that Henry Kuttner's wife, another Science Fiction author - [a:C.L. Moore|5209023|C.L. Moore|https://images.gr-assets.com/authors/1355250149p2/5209023.jpg], often collaborated together. And this was one of their collaborations. Where is her name? Nowhere.
There are some interesting ideas explored about revenge, colonisation, heritage and the effects of extended longevity. But I don't feel any connection to any of the characters.
Sort of a side note, but also my biggest problem with the book is that I found out that Henry Kuttner's wife, another Science Fiction author - [a:C.L. Moore|5209023|C.L. Moore|https://images.gr-assets.com/authors/1355250149p2/5209023.jpg], often collaborated together. And this was one of their collaborations. Where is her name? Nowhere.
joejames's review against another edition
dark
emotional
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.25
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