A review by graff_fuller
Survival by Ben Bova

4.0

3.5 Stars

I now understand what the editor to Ben Bova meant when he said that each book is self-contained.

I've read three books from him, and each book is within the universe, but all are tangentially aware and connected to each other.

The same universe and its rules...but you could probably read them out of order and not cause much of a problem.

This book is interesting, since it discusses the idea of one of our greatest fears...the machines will rule the world some day and destroy humanity.

In this story, Alex (the protagonist) is trying to convince the machines that they would be better off in union with humans, than destroying them when they "feel" threatened by their very existence in proximity to them.

This crew of scientist and their petty infighting is hilarious. It is the Office in the future on an alien world. The more things change, the more they stay the same.

Also, the idea that the protagonist is suffering with ALS. You'd think they'd found the cure for most, if not all the diseases in the universe. Just a thought.

This idea of trying to find commonality with all intellegent species and working together. I like that idea.

I really loved the discussions about collaboration verses fighting. Human stubborness...can work for the greater good.