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High Steel
Native American John Stranger leaves his reservation to work on a space construction project, still trying to preserve his people's traditions and, while becoming a hero to workers and a threat to the corporation, confronts thunder-beings who invade dreams
Hardcover
First published July 1, 1993
37 people want to read
About the author
Jack C. Haldeman II
69 books16 followersJack Carroll "Jay" Haldeman II was an American biologist and science-fiction writer. He was the older brother of SF writer Joe Haldeman. He was married to writer Barbara Delaplace.
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Displaying 1 - 5 of 5 reviews
July 23, 2014
This was a great quick read! It starts and stays interesting - paralleling Euro-Western and Native-American in a dark future where Mega-corporations rule the Earth (and space).
The Native Americans are still relegated to reservations and through treaties are indentured as serfs of a sort to the mega corporations who utilize them for manual labor and an innate ability in space.
As the characters and stories develop along with an alien signal that effects everybody to some extent.
Native American spirituality is tightly woven into the narrative and culminates in a climax that you can sorta see coming (or, at least in hindsight it makes sense) but is surprising enough and quite satisfying!
A good, entertaining sci-fi adventure!
The Native Americans are still relegated to reservations and through treaties are indentured as serfs of a sort to the mega corporations who utilize them for manual labor and an innate ability in space.
As the characters and stories develop along with an alien signal that effects everybody to some extent.
Native American spirituality is tightly woven into the narrative and culminates in a climax that you can sorta see coming (or, at least in hindsight it makes sense) but is surprising enough and quite satisfying!
A good, entertaining sci-fi adventure!
January 1, 2012
This is an unusual combination of science fiction with American-Indian-based mystical elements. What are referred to as "the thunder-beings of [John's] forefathers" actually play an important part in the story.
I particularly liked the characters, including the AI Einstein. The plot was a fairly basic one of little-man-against-the-giant-corporations, but the way it was worked out was unusual and interesting.
I particularly liked the characters, including the AI Einstein. The plot was a fairly basic one of little-man-against-the-giant-corporations, but the way it was worked out was unusual and interesting.
January 14, 2019
Well worth the short read. Good implementation of native america in space.
I would have liked it to be more fleshed out, the story, the characters. The characters themselves are well done though.
I would have liked it to be more fleshed out, the story, the characters. The characters themselves are well done though.
September 5, 2009
I read this something like 10 years ago and just remember that it blew my mind. Tough Native American construction workers who build stuff out in space. I remember they had amazing balance and great heads for heights, and they were very spiritual--they had managed to reconcile their earth-based culture with their lives in space.
This pathetic "review" does not do the book justice, but I haven't read it in a long time. I remember there was a lot of action in the story, and (I think) a murder?
I will have to dig it out and read it again.
This pathetic "review" does not do the book justice, but I haven't read it in a long time. I remember there was a lot of action in the story, and (I think) a murder?
I will have to dig it out and read it again.
Displaying 1 - 5 of 5 reviews