The Black Sun

by Jack Williamson

The future looks bleak when Project Starseed sends their final one-way ship from Earth to a dark world in the shadow of a dying star, but exploration teams on the long-dead planet awaken a mysterious entity that could mean salvation for the desperate colonists, or their destruction. Reprint.

Genres: Science Fiction, Fiction

352 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 1997

About the author

John Stewart Williamson who wrote as Jack Williamson (and occasionally under the pseudonym Will Stewart) was a U.S. writer often referred to as the "Dean of Science Fiction".

Reviews

[Lisa (Harmonybites) · Rating 1 out of 5]

The style is embarrassingly puerile from the start, and by page five I was wondering why in the world this made it on a science fiction rec list. This is crap. The whole premise is screwy. Humans are going to go to the expense (and people are going to volunteer) for a one-way "seedship" to some random star where there may not even be an inhabitable planet?

In the first chapter we get cringe-worthy Hispanic stereotypes and utter implausibility as a just-arrived illegal immigrant from Mexico finds a way aboard by buying some overalls and a badge:

"Es possible? His ingles came slowly, because he still thought in Spanish. "Could one get aboard?"
"Stow away?"
"Is that possible?"
She laughed again, but a man in blue overalls turned to study him.
"Why not?" Eyes narrowed, the man looked at the girl. "A man might try. With guts enough and luck enough. And a little money."
He could pray for the el machismo y la suerte, the guts and the luck.

In the second chapter I found Williamson's perfectly capable of serving up cringe-worthy stereotypes of Texans, too:

"Down on your knees!" The preacher unbuckled his belt. "And beg the Lord's forgiveness--"
"I don't need to pray." He shook his head grinning. "I know a better way. When I get ready for heaven, I'll go to New Mexico and ride up to it on one of them quantum ships."

In general, I've tried to be generous and give the books recommended to me 100 pages to see if I could click with them and at times that's paid off. With this book, I barely forced myself to read 50 pages, and god, it was painful.

I love me good space opera. But for the love of all that's holy, go to Robert Heinlein, Poul Anderson, Lois Bujold, F.M. Busby, David Weber, H. Beam Piper or Elizabeth Moon if you're looking for the good stuff.

Oh, and if you think the problem is this is one of those pulp classics from the 30s--think again. The copyright on the first edition is 1997.

[Jason · Rating 3 out of 5]

This libro was enjoyable, but I think I would have liked it better if I had read it as un niño.

[Ken Bickley · Rating 4 out of 5]

Written toward the end of the author's career, this is one of Jack Williamson's best novels. Project Starseed, using quantum wave technology to propel ships at speeds beyond that of light, aims to send volunteers to other galaxies in order to preserve humanity's future existence. There will be no return, nor is any sort of contact with Earth possible. In this, the 99th and last launch, a diverse group of scientists is joined by the founder of Starseed and two of his cronies, escaping Earth one step ahead of authorities who want to charge them with fraud and embezzlement. Naturally, conflict develops, especially when they land on a frigid planet orbiting a dark sun. Williamson was a master story-teller, and this one will keep your attention to the very end.

[Jim Kahn · Rating 2 out of 5]

Interesting premise, the author doesn't know how people talk.

[Jack Hwang · Rating 3 out of 5]

Retaining easy reading tradition of the early SF but not too impressive in today's standard.

[Colby · Rating 4 out of 5]

The book overall was pretty interesting, but some parts lasted for a while which lead thebook to lose its creativity.

[Jeremy · Rating 3 out of 5]

Not great character building (relies mostly on stereotypes). The plot development in the middle portion of the book was great. The ending felt rushed and was lame

[Creature · Rating 4 out of 5]

Hello:
Jack Williamson had a hit with me on this one. How the lives of people stayed together facing a bleak future on a cold, nearly sunless world really made this story interesting. This one is a true Science Fiction novel by one of the Grand Masters of the genre. Do yourself a favor and read this one.
As always, Have a Great Day!!!
The "Creature"

[Rachel Krajci · Rating 3 out of 5]

The ending seemed abrupt, would have like the book to follow the story a bit longer. Otherwise, this was a good quick read; enjoyable but not heavy - a good "snack" book.

[Geoffrey Deacon · Rating 4 out of 5]

Realistic, entertaining, surprising...

[Sebastian Sajda · Rating 2 out of 5]

Bit of a bait and switch; not exactly the story I was hoping for. Is rushed and falls apart at the end.

[Falbs · Rating 1 out of 5]

Crap

[Isaac Benge · Rating 3 out of 5]

I liked it, but... it was a little weird, although very very well written.