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Saturn
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Saturn (The Grand Tour #12)
by
Ben Bova
Second in size only to Jupiter, bigger than a thousand Earths but light enough to float in water, home of crushing gravity and delicate, seemingly impossible rings, it dazzles and attracts us:
"SATURN
Earth groans under the thumb of fundamentalist political regimes. Crisis after crisis has given authoritarians the upper hand. Freedom and opportunity exist in space, for tho...more
"SATURN
Earth groans under the thumb of fundamentalist political regimes. Crisis after crisis has given authoritarians the upper hand. Freedom and opportunity exist in space, for tho...more
Published
(first published 2003)
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While Ben Bova is a prolific science fiction author, he tends to use the genre as a backdrop for whatever particular soap opera he's propagating. Such is the case with the novel Saturn.
Saturn is set on a huge Dyson Sphere like ship that has set out to explore Saturn in the not so distant future. This is pretty much where the science fiction ends.
The rest of the story details the personal dramas of those on board the ship (ala the Love Boat in space) ranging from the tedious to the truly silly. A...more
Saturn is set on a huge Dyson Sphere like ship that has set out to explore Saturn in the not so distant future. This is pretty much where the science fiction ends.
The rest of the story details the personal dramas of those on board the ship (ala the Love Boat in space) ranging from the tedious to the truly silly. A...more
This is another of the "Grand Tour" novels. This time, the tale is about a group of free-thinking scientists and folks who were sent off in a starship (which is going to be a space station once they arrive), and the various failures of sociology that accompany such a trip.
There's the religious nut contingent (who want to make sure the starship/space spacestation end up a firmly New Morality place to be), the power-hungry individuals, the sadists, the murderers, the freaks, the glory-hunters... w...more
There's the religious nut contingent (who want to make sure the starship/space spacestation end up a firmly New Morality place to be), the power-hungry individuals, the sadists, the murderers, the freaks, the glory-hunters... w...more
The space habitat Goddard, filled with political exiles, social misfits, scientists, and engineers, is on its way to orbit around Saturn. There, the habitat will become mankind's first offworld colony.
If it can survive the turmoil and drama inherent in the human condition.
Malcolm Eberly had a choice, either spend the rest of his life in a Viennese prison or become the New Morality's watchdog aboard Goddard. Hired on as the manager of human resources, Eberly entertains his own agenda, ignoring th...more
If it can survive the turmoil and drama inherent in the human condition.
Malcolm Eberly had a choice, either spend the rest of his life in a Viennese prison or become the New Morality's watchdog aboard Goddard. Hired on as the manager of human resources, Eberly entertains his own agenda, ignoring th...more
Ben Bova is an uneven writer. He can churn out masterpieces of hard sci-fi, such as his Mars trilogy and Asteroid Wars quartet, then waste his talents and readers' time on giant novels of cardboard characters, embarrassing dialogue, and repetitive scenes of uninspired plot, such as Saturn & Jupiter.
'Saturn' begins promisingly with the premise that the New Morality-dominated Earth has gathered 'revolutionaries' and other anti-New Morality politically-minded pariahs of the world and placed the...more
'Saturn' begins promisingly with the premise that the New Morality-dominated Earth has gathered 'revolutionaries' and other anti-New Morality politically-minded pariahs of the world and placed the...more
412 pages. Get this one from your Library . Yet worth reading if you are a Bova fan. The last 12 pages sum up the whole book. But the story is worth reading. Bova's bias agaaint religion is less prominent in this story than his others. In this story he examines how one comes to power in a closed habitat. Eberly the anatognist is fleshed out with a good solid motive for wanting to take power. His methods are a reminder of what could happen in the US if we are not careful.
I really enjoy Ben Bova's novels. Saturn follows his normal formula of quick action and political intrigue layered over a hard scifi background. This book is a bit longer than some of the other planet books, which allowed for more twists and turns in the political situation, and that's a good thing.
Often when I read Ben Bova I struggle to find a character I can really empathise with. I really enjoyed Saturn as there were several likeable characters, plus real page-turning excitement. It's encouraged me to read more Bova in the future. Would definitely recommend this as a good read.
This book was ok but not great. Lots of different shifts in terms of the power struggles that go on in the book. There are also lots of changes of perspective so you're never really sure what the whole purpose is -- until the end.
Holly joins the first manned expedition to Saturn because she wants a fresh start and is attacked to one of the leaders. The conflict between the the New Morality and science continues as the fundamentalist movement seeks control over mankind.
classic bova. however more emphasis on the political drama; less emphasis on the science for this one.
I will read it's sequel for sure. I hope that the daredevil (gaeta) will appear in more grand tour books.
I will read it's sequel for sure. I hope that the daredevil (gaeta) will appear in more grand tour books.
Finished "Saturn" by Ben Bova. This didn't even get interesting until most of the way through book 1. After that, the author liked to show his hand a lot, so it was really only alright.
Yet another great Grand Tour book - I love reading these, they just fly for me! Saturn and Titan should be read close together since they're basically one continuing story.
Ben Bova is a writer who is able to take you on a visionary journey, weave in a story and leave you looking at the stars. Having read one of his grand tour books you will want to read the rest...
A interesting story with interesting characters, a well done setting and an intriguing plot.
The version I got of the audio book had a pair of narrators one female and one male (Amanda Karr and Stephan Rudnickithat). They alternated in reading the chapters. I think that distracted from the story. They also gave the characters different regional accents. If they had split the characters with a narrator speaking just for the characters they chose it would have been better. Notice I did not say she...more
The version I got of the audio book had a pair of narrators one female and one male (Amanda Karr and Stephan Rudnickithat). They alternated in reading the chapters. I think that distracted from the story. They also gave the characters different regional accents. If they had split the characters with a narrator speaking just for the characters they chose it would have been better. Notice I did not say she...more
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In a word: Meh.
The story is not bad. The characters lack depth, and the dialog makes the characters even less real. There was never a moment when the story pulled me in and made me forget that I was turning pages and reading text.
The story is not bad. The characters lack depth, and the dialog makes the characters even less real. There was never a moment when the story pulled me in and made me forget that I was turning pages and reading text.
Good sci fi, interesting politicing. Nothing truly exceptional, but it's a very solid, above average read.
Ben Bova is great at crafting incredible worlds in his novels. Unfortunately, he largely departs from that strength with "Saturn," and tries instead to write a political thriller. It's not very engaging, and it's a shame that the most visually striking planet in the Solar System only figures into the last few chapters of the book (which are the most exciting).
There is a sequel/companion book called "Titan," about exploring a moon of Saturn. I'm not sure if I'll go for it or not. For now, though,...more
There is a sequel/companion book called "Titan," about exploring a moon of Saturn. I'm not sure if I'll go for it or not. For now, though,...more
Ben Bova is one of the best scifi writers and this book is excellent reading
I was drawn in with the promise of a great storyline. It ended up being just ok. I had no clue that this book would jump so far into politics! That was a huge turn off for me. The characters lacked...... Something. I can't quite place my finger on it. Its like they were still strangers to me at the end of the book. I really enjoyed the parts where Saturn was concerned however! Overall it was a decent book that needed a little more pizazz. Ill probably venture out and try to find another Ben Bova...more
A colony in place around Saturn, as a social experiment
Audible (Unabridged)
Crap. Plain and simply put.
crazy good
Entertaining book, but with characters that are one dimensional and at times cartoonish. Makes good airplane or easy beach reading.
This novel had a number of interesting elements that, in the end, just did not click. The social construct felt a bit old hat. The science, however, was interesting and, at points, provacative. The plot concluded far too quickly and predictably. During the read, I was only uncertain as to the disposition of one character - and not one I cared for. Overall, this one falls a bit short. Certainly not as well done as Bova's Mars and Return to Mars.
The characters are two-dimensional and unlikable, and the state of the world depicted is quite implausible---more a leftist's nightmare than a real and honest speculation on what the future might be.
Despite that, however, the startling discovery about the rings of Saturn at the end of the book is interesting.
Despite that, however, the startling discovery about the rings of Saturn at the end of the book is interesting.
Pretty good - took me a long time to read it because I kept setting it aside for other books. I don't read as much sci-fi as I used to. While this was a sci-fi book, it also turned suspenseful as it got towards the end. Interesting concept on the planet of Saturn and its rings.
Mike and I both completely forgot that we had read this until we found it on our shelf. That should tell you about how much we liked it. I remember that the idea of the habitat was cool, but not a ton happens plot-wise.
Read Jupiter. It's the best one.
Read Jupiter. It's the best one.
I haven't read a scifi in a long time. I enjoyed exercising my imagination again. Humanity doesn't change much, even though we try. I'll have to read another Ben Bova book soon.
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Ben Bova was born on November 8, 1932 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. In 1953, while attending Temple University, he married Rosa Cucinotta, they had a son and a daughter. He would later divorce Rosa in 1974. In that same year he married Barbara Berson Rose.
Bova is an avid fencer and organized Avco Everett's fencing club. He is an environmentalist, but rejects Luddism.
Bova was a technical writer fo...more
More about Ben Bova...
Bova is an avid fencer and organized Avco Everett's fencing club. He is an environmentalist, but rejects Luddism.
Bova was a technical writer fo...more
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