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davscomur's review against another edition
adventurous
slow-paced
3.0
Pretty typical Bova: an interesting concept marred by poor follow-through, trite dialogue that reads like a novelization, and ever worsening racial and gender stereotypes. Ben was a product of his time and never escaped it.
Still, this is better than other books he wrote.
Still, this is better than other books he wrote.
kangamoo's review against another edition
4.0
This book was so interesting to read, I picked it up randomly not knowing anything about it (including when it was written) and after a few chapters I had to find out WHEN it was written, and found it was from 1978. Suddenly so many of the attitudes in the book made more sense. It's set just a decade from now, but history since 1978 has been vastly different.
From the aspect of how the world has evolved, kinda of an alternative history, it was interesting, and I found myself thinking about themes in the book a lot. The way women characters are treated in the book was hard to not find annoying, it was pretty much just about their love lives. Even the character who was a lead revolutionary, only did things that related directly to who she loved. It's like women didn't progress in any way since the 70's.
Setting that aside, I thought it was interesting both how close and how far apart our technological advances were. When computers were referred to, it was a pre-PC world, where central computers have terminal access. Though regular people were in space! In some ways the people in the book were far advanced, and in others, we are.
The world population spoken about in the book is comparable to actual world population now, but in our world it's not causing global famine (thankfully!) though a few corporations holding a lot of power rings true.
I'm interested in reading something more recent from the author, and curious to see if the way he writes women has changed.
From the aspect of how the world has evolved, kinda of an alternative history, it was interesting, and I found myself thinking about themes in the book a lot. The way women characters are treated in the book was hard to not find annoying, it was pretty much just about their love lives. Even the character who was a lead revolutionary, only did things that related directly to who she loved. It's like women didn't progress in any way since the 70's.
Setting that aside, I thought it was interesting both how close and how far apart our technological advances were. When computers were referred to, it was a pre-PC world, where central computers have terminal access. Though regular people were in space! In some ways the people in the book were far advanced, and in others, we are.
The world population spoken about in the book is comparable to actual world population now, but in our world it's not causing global famine (thankfully!) though a few corporations holding a lot of power rings true.
I'm interested in reading something more recent from the author, and curious to see if the way he writes women has changed.
reasie's review
2.0
I was saddened by the news of Bova's passing and wanted to read something by him. I picked the wrong book. Oh it's terrible. Not so much the writing itself, which is competent, and the tech details are fun, and there's a certain charm to world politics through a 1970s lens, but oh gaaawd ... everything involving women or minorities is gross. Black and brown men are never alone with a woman and not trying to rape her, women are raped by white men but then try to heroically save the "poor old man" later because apparently we were supposed to read that gross scene as consensual or something?
gross, gross, gross.
I suffered through to the end because I kept hoping I was reading it wrong and the true heroes were going to rise ... but no. It's all about how only a privileged blond man can really understand what the world needs.
In order to do right by a guy whose career as an editor I admire I'm going to try a more recent book now. Hopefully, there'll be some lessons learned.
gross, gross, gross.
I suffered through to the end because I kept hoping I was reading it wrong and the true heroes were going to rise ... but no. It's all about how only a privileged blond man can really understand what the world needs.
In order to do right by a guy whose career as an editor I admire I'm going to try a more recent book now. Hopefully, there'll be some lessons learned.
wishanem's review
1.0
Some SciFi ages really well. This didn't. The treatment of women and black men is particularly awful. There are elements here that could work for a modern reader, but not nearly enough of them.
eion's review
didn't like the main character, the sexism and racial stereotypes uncomfortably blatant
tjoliverbooks's review against another edition
4.0
Not a bad read, engaging characters, definitely a work of its time period with dated views on women, politics, and technology, but that's to be expected. The real interesting part, to me, was Bova's insight on the selfishness of megalomaniacs, and how to believably engage them in a manner such that their behavior works for you. Bova really understands human motivation and creates very believable conflicts and resolutions. He's truly a master craftsman and his book consistently held my attention.
bibliomaniac2021's review against another edition
adventurous
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? It's complicated
1.25
tjoliverbooks's review
4.0
Not a bad read, engaging characters, definitely a work of its time period with dated views on women, politics, and technology, but that's to be expected. The real interesting part, to me, was Bova's insight on the selfishness of megalomaniacs, and how to believably engage them in a manner such that their behavior works for you. Bova really understands human motivation and creates very believable conflicts and resolutions. He's truly a master craftsman and his book consistently held my attention.
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