Equator

by Brian W. Aldiss

Aldiss, Brian Wilson

Genres: Science Fiction, Short Stories, Fiction

149 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 1958

About the author

Pseudonyms: Jael Cracken, Peter Pica, John Runciman, C.C. Shackleton, Arch Mendicant, & "Doc" Peristyle.

Brian Wilson Aldiss was one of the most important voices in science fiction writing today. He wrote his first novel while working as a bookseller in Oxford. Shortly afterwards he wrote his first work of science fiction and soon gained international recognition. Adored for his innovative literary techniques, evocative plots and irresistible characters, he became a Grand Master of Science Fiction in 1999.
Brian Aldiss died on August 19, 2017, just after celebrating his 92nd birthday with his family and closest friends.

Brian W. Aldiss Group on Good Reads

Reviews

[Dave]

A fast enjoyable read from the days when books didn't have to be "great" to good. You'll probably read a few complaints that this is underwritten and pulp sci-fi but that adds to the charm imho. Maybe because I first read it when I was 10-12 and it was pretty close to the young adult material from book club in structure and tone. :) But it introduced me to ideas I've seen done elsewhere since, and in hindsight the post-war Brit vibe was the perfect tone for those ideas.

Maybe its my nostalgia for days when writers weren't churned out factory-polished and pitch-perfect on the various winning formulas, but I recommend these 2 quickie stories for young and old.

[Lauren Koster]

Really enjoyed Equator - a fun Sci Fi story that I could definitely see being adapted into a movie! Short and sweet, and the plot twists and characters were amusing and well written, despite the story being so short.

"If he disliked knowing the answers, he disliked knowing the questions even more."

Segregation was a short story in the book, I didn't enjoy that one so much, so the 3 stars is just for Equator.

[Felix Zilich]

Одна из первых книг Брайана Олдисса вышла в 1958 году, когда «холодная война» получила новый бешеный буст от начала «космической гонки». По этой причине история про ближний космос и про первый контакт за считанные страницы превращается в шпионский роман в стилистике Иэна Флеминга, где все аллюзии на политические реалии конца 50-х незамысловаты и очевидны.

2189 год. На Землю прилетает корабль космических беженцев с Альфа Центавра-2. Их - около тысячи, они абсолютно похожи на людей и крайне дружелюбны. Один лишь минус - у них авторитарная диктатура и свой личный диктатор Ап II Дол, но это вроде и не страшно. «Наша планета погибает, мы летели несколько поколений в поисках нового дома, мы готовы делиться своей продвинутой наукой, просто разрешите нам создать маленькую колонию». ООН выделяет им крохотный «израиль» где-то в Индонезии (пришельцы привыкли жить в жарком климате, их обычная температура тела - 40,6), а потом разрешают создать станцию на Луне. О последнем ООН очень быстро жалеет, так как на Земле шпионить за беженцам легко, а вот на Луне - не очень.

Важный момент - прищельцев зовут «роски», что тоже какбы уж слишком сильно намекает.

С Первого Контакта проходит четыре года. Главный герой (в прошлом - сотрудник британского дипкорпуса) Тони Лесли работает теперь в Космическом Патруле, который следит за лунной станцией пришельцев. Во время очередного дежурства трое патрульных нарушают протокол, ввязываются в перестрелку… а дальше герой не помнит. Он приходит в себя, когда корабль уже возвращается на Землю. Второй напарник сообщает ему, что третий - был убит. После чего сам загадочно исчезает, а Тони Лесли оказывается втянут в разборку между земными и инопланетными спецслужбами.

Патрульному сообщают, что роски - вовсе не беженцы, а релоканты. Или даже диверсанты, которые ждут прибытия большой центаврианской эскадры, планирующей уничтожить всё человечество. Вот только есть большая вероятность, что это самый обычный псиоп, результат борьбы за власть внутри роских элит. Борьбы за власть внутри сообщества из тысячи беженцев.

[Simon]

Equator is only the first two thirds of this book and is followed by another shorter story called Segregation. The first story is an action packed, fast paced investigation story and the second an intriguing exploration of an alien planet and their strange inhabitants.

[Claire]

Written in 1958 and the language, point of view and assumptions reek of it. Cross between Ian Fleming and Enid Blyton it is a period piece page turner.
Some great lines - heroes 'shoulder' their way through the door, take 'savage' delight of his new mood.
The thread running through about diplomacy and politics is interesting but often jarring amongst all the action. - 'Power politics is a hobby the poor can't afford. Absolute poverty, like absolute power, corrupts absolutely.'
And occasionally spills into a Instagram daily homily - 'truth was a primal force, almost like gravity; like gravity, it was always there, yet some people never even realised it's presence'

It's a quick, fast paced read and I'm not going to tell you the ending.

[Hayley]

NGL, I actually found this pretty funny.

Our MC just pings around like a ball in a pinball machine. Thinks he knows where and what he is doing, when honestly, he's just a very overconfident man. He's supposed to be intelligent but dude is giving himbo before it was even a thing.

The plot itself was fairly simple and obvious. Aliens have apppeared, all friendly like, oh no they want to invade!

It was pretty dumb and fun. Love this classic stuff.

[Tony Ellis]

This is a very early Aldiss and it shows. Basically it's the kind of SF story you'd expect to see in one of the old Ace Doubles from the 1960s. A fast-paced thriller, with spies and microfilm and double-crosses, but also future technology and aliens.

It's honestly nothing special, but, this being Brian Aldiss, the writing is a healthy cut above the Ace Double average in terms of wit and style. I had fun, but the real score should be two-and-a-half stars.

[Andy]

(PB)

[Mal]

More interesting than the novel, was the short story at the end, "Segregation". Just read that instead.