Finish Line

by Stephen Goldin, Kelly Freas

Stephen Goldin originally wrote a long novel called "Scavenger Hunt," but Laser Books didn't want to publish a book that long. Instead, Goldin was asked to break the book into 2 parts, and to make the parts look independent of one another. This volume is actually only the second half of the full story, and was given a false beginning to make it appear as though it starts here, The story actually starts in the book "Scavenger Hunt." A later edition of Scavenger Hunt integrates the complete story in one volume.

[Back cover]: The Scavenger Hunt is a race through space, and the winner will receive the Society's greatest accolade. DeVrie is one of the leaders, but he is sickened by what he has seen and done. He wants to quit, but is tricked into continuing by his sister.

191 pages, Paperback

First published October 1, 1976

About the author

Born in Philadelphia in 1947, Stephen Goldin has lived in California since 1960. He received a Bachelor’s degree in Astronomy from UCLA and worked as a civilian space scientist for the U.S. Navy for a few years after leaving college, but has made his living as a writer/editor most of his life.

His first wife was fellow author Kathleen Sky, with whom he co-wrote the first edition of the highly acclaimed nonfiction book The Business of Being a Writer . His current wife is fellow author Mary Mason. So far they have co-authored two books in the Rehumanization of Jade Darcy series.

He served the Science Fiction and Fantasy Writers of America as editor of the SFWA Bulletin and as the organization’s Western Regional Director.

He has lived with cats all his adult life. Artistically, he enjoys Broadway musicals and surrealist art. Philosophically, he is an atheist.

Learn more about him at his Web site. . Many of his books can be bought through his online bookstore, Parsina Press.

Reviews

[Tina · Rating 4 out of 5]

Finish Line is actually the second half of a longer novel called Scavenger Hunt (the first one of the duology is also called Scavenger Hunt). The publishers wanted to break it into two because it was too long, or so I read. I have not read Scavenger Hunt but I was excited to read this one so I just jumped in. As the internet said, there is a prologue at the start where the main character tells a reporter what happened to his crew in the first half of the race. That being said, I highly suggest getting the version with both parts combined or finding both parts.

Due to essentially missing the first half, the story takes a little bit to get into. The characters feel a little flat at first, presumably because I should have gotten to know them earlier in their story. Yet, by about halfway through, the story broadens and I got really involved in what was going to happen. There is a section dealing with a black hole that is fantastic. The dilemmas the characters faced were engrossing and surprising in their depth. Bred, despite being a rich playboy, does not fall into a cliched version of the cocky casanova. Yet, the love story between Tyla and Jonathan falls quite flat, unfortunately, for being a crux of the plot. Still, the ending is not what I expected at all and there is a fabulous friendship between two women that was surprising for a novel of this genre in this time period.

Unlike most campy novels from this time period, this science fiction is quite well-researched and realistic space science factors into the plot.

Overall, Finish Line is a compelling and fun adventure despite missing its racing start.


To check out a longer review of this novel and other old school sci-fis, check out my blog:
https://www.nostromopublications.com/...

[Bruce Mason · Rating 4 out of 5]

A good read. Is there more?