Reach

by Edward Gibson

When the first probe sent to meet the mysterious objects approaching the solar system is shut down, a second mission, manned by the best minds on Earth, is detailed to solve the mystery

Genres: Science Fiction, Fiction, Space

385 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 1989

Reviews

[John Giroux · Rating 2 out of 5]

Sort of interesting, but I wasn't crazy about some of the style, especially the overuse of apostrophes!!! The ending fell short also.

[John · Rating 2 out of 5]

This was an interesting read for the inadvertent insight it gives to the minds of the first generation of astronauts. Like many less-experienced novelists, Gibson sets up a conflict between independent yet interdependent forces, and then personifies those forces in extreme and one-dimensional characters. In the crunch, his MarySue character pulls out a previously-unmentioned bit of tech that saves his team.

A generation after it was written, this reads as a fictionalized wish-fulfillment fantasy, to defend how Gibson and his type of fast-thinking test pilot astronauts should be trusted as the ultimate decision-makers in difficult and unanticipated situations.

I am sure that in this ISS generation of the space program there is still tension between mission control analysts on the ground and flight crew, and between the disciplines of procedures, navigation, computing, flight medicine, and command, but my sense from the fan-boy sidelines is that they are more cooperative than competitive now than they were in the first generation of space flight. In that sense, this novel now reads as a salvo in a battle long resolved.

I want to give this a 2.5 star rating. Two stars for the one-dimensional characters and less-sophisticated writing, but three stars for these unintended insights into the test pilot minds of the first generation astronauts.

[Gordondad2nine · Rating 4 out of 5]

Bill shatner should read this

[Lisa the Tech · Rating 2 out of 5]

(Taken from a 2007 diary entry) “Reach” has quite a gripping story. A real page-turner. However, I really did not like the ending and his annoying contraction overload brought down my rating for this book.

[Andrew Skretvedt · Rating 4 out of 5]

Read in my youth. Just thought of it again while looking for some Clarke. My only memory of it now is a beautiful scene where the main character is watching an already-set sun creep back up onto the horizon from the flight deck of his supersonic jet, such is a thing that can happen when you fly west at such speeds. I remember I had fun with it. Read in my youth. Perhaps I'll spin it again and update this someday with a real review. Started/Finished dates are a foggy guess. I remember going back and forth in study hall in the school library between this book and copies of "Omni" magazine, which should better set the time for those who can remember that periodical and all its many luscious futurist covers!

I'm a different person now, with very high standards for good fiction (such that I mostly just don't bother for want of faster reading speeds and a large list of non-fiction titles that hold my interest). If I do have a second run at it, I probably won't be so kind then, excepting nostalgia.

[Jim Fitzgerald · Rating 3 out of 5]

This book was a real find! I was getting rather disappointed with the science fiction that I was seeing on the bookshelves at the library and bookstores.

Gibson provided a technical accuracy and a unique twist to his story. I really enjoyed it but there are better books so in comparison I have given it a 3 star.

Finish date is a guess-timation