To Control the Stars

Stars #2

by Robert Hoskins, Dean Ellis (Illustrator)

Paperback original novel, Robert Hoskins (1933 - 1993) was an American science fiction writer. This is the second of three science fiction adventure novels he wrote which comprise his "Stars" trilogy (the others are "Master of the Stars" (1976) and "To Escape the Stars" (1978). All take place in a future where ancient "stargates" are used to transport between worlds; an idea perhaps serving as inspiration for the 1994 movie and later TV series.

Genres: Science Fiction, Fiction

188 pages, Mass Market Paperback

First published January 1, 1977

Reviews

[Dev Taylor · Rating 2 out of 5]

Prettttty bad TBH - but at least it was pulpy and short, so I didn't hate it. Haha.

[Jadon · Rating 4 out of 5]

Good, though not particularly long or remarkable. Oddly enough, it is based on of a system of galactic stargates to allow instantaneous travel between worlds, which is the premise of the movie and later TV series 'Stargate' and 'Stargate SG1'. I'd be interested to know if the movie credits the author.

[Derek · Rating 2 out of 5]

It does a bait and switch on you. The cover, the cover text and all description lean into the medieval-type world and this lost-space-empire-forerunner business--which I maintain would have been _awesome_--but the majority is the Space Federation and a Society whose purpose is to uplift the still-primitive worlds but shenanigans and not-quite-so-simple and a bit of wandering around worlds and for some reason quite a lot at the beginning about Academy Planet.

While in its final moments it almost lives up to the elevator pitch that sold me, the rest does not seem to achieve very much.

[Zenodotus · Rating 4 out of 5]

Within this unprepossessing 188-page novel, you will find: Several galactic empires; seven distinct planets each with its own social system; a punchy critique of colonialism; tepid action; implausible romance; blandly competent prose; no characterisation whatsoever.

[ᛗichelle · Rating 4 out of 5]

I was drawn to this book because of the name. It was very action packed, and non stop from the start.
I thoroughly enjoyed the attention to detail regarding the emotions and thoughts of the lead character.

[Aaron · Rating 4 out of 5]

A pretty good read, once you get into it.

[SciFiOne · Rating 4 out of 5]

1977 grade B