Heinlein's first novel, unpublished until after his death. A 1939 man somehow ends up in 2086, where he is shown how much their civilization hasHeinlein's first novel, unpublished until after his death. A 1939 man somehow ends up in 2086, where he is shown how much their civilization has advanced over 1939's, and then receives "counseling" to bring him up to speed. Not much story, mostly just Heinlein spouting his ideas on how to improve our society - most of which are wacko. ...more
An interesting concept - sending habitats to colonize the Goldilocks Zone around stars reachable in a few hundred years - and then filling thoseAn interesting concept - sending habitats to colonize the Goldilocks Zone around stars reachable in a few hundred years - and then filling those habitats with people groups who don't care much for the way things are on earth, or whom Earth wants to get rid of. Then they're discovered by humanoid aliens, who find that some of the "train cars' " residents have lost awareness of the other habitats. An interesting look at how isolated societies evolve, and what happens when they, and the aliens, interact. And then they go and spoil the whole thing by having it end up being largely about sex. ...more
The last novel of the Emberverse series. He still leaves plot lines open, but I suspect that he was getting tired of it. I know I was. The storiesThe last novel of the Emberverse series. He still leaves plot lines open, but I suspect that he was getting tired of it. I know I was. The stories have gotten repetitive, and mystical in a way that began to seem silly. With his "doors opening wide that had been closing for centuries" approach to magic and things related, he's completely left out (for several novels now) the alien space bats who caused the Change and what reason there may have been for it all. And it would have been a much more interesting ending to it all if the Change had reversed as suddenly as it happened. As he left it, it just sort of fizzled out. ...more
A fairly decent YA post-apocalyptic story. This time, it's because the moon has gotten knocked into a closer orbit, which would mess things upA fairly decent YA post-apocalyptic story. This time, it's because the moon has gotten knocked into a closer orbit, which would mess things up substantially. Some things don't make sense, but she does affirm the strength and love of family. ...more
#14 in the Emberverse series. The story continues to decline. Where Stirling had incorporated much of A. Conan Doyle's The White Company into some of#14 in the Emberverse series. The story continues to decline. Where Stirling had incorporated much of A. Conan Doyle's The White Company into some of his earlier novels, to very good effect, here he has moved into the world of a horror novel I'd never heard of before, and wish I still hadn't. ...more
Not the original radio play, which is the best of all the versions, but a sound recording of the novel. The reader, Stephen Fry, does an excellent jobNot the original radio play, which is the best of all the versions, but a sound recording of the novel. The reader, Stephen Fry, does an excellent job of getting the feeling of the piece across. It was almost as good as when I read the novel and heard the radio play voices in my head doing their respective parts.
A good science fictionalized psychological examination of a small group of men in confined quarters, under combat conditions, with paranoia settingA good science fictionalized psychological examination of a small group of men in confined quarters, under combat conditions, with paranoia setting in. Definitely a Cold War piece. ...more
A nonsensical post-apocalyptical (disease in this one) story where people actually choose to live in a paleolithic society (but with the internet)A nonsensical post-apocalyptical (disease in this one) story where people actually choose to live in a paleolithic society (but with the internet) when they have much more nearly civilized options. Oh, and there are restored paleolithic animals (cloning a la Jurassic Park) which are telepathic. ...more
Read in honor of her passing. She tries to channel her inner Andre Norton with a story of an outcast from a "more advanced" society trying to learn toRead in honor of her passing. She tries to channel her inner Andre Norton with a story of an outcast from a "more advanced" society trying to learn to fit in with a more peaceful, harmonious one. But with the preachy politics typical of her later works. A decidedly unsatisfying ending. ...more
A bizarre, but perhaps realistic look at what our future might look like in a hundred years from now. Inappropriate sex early on, lots of action, andA bizarre, but perhaps realistic look at what our future might look like in a hundred years from now. Inappropriate sex early on, lots of action, and some very strange ideas. ...more
A fairly good story about kids with special powers, the people who want to use them selfishly, and those who want to direct them toward the good whileA fairly good story about kids with special powers, the people who want to use them selfishly, and those who want to direct them toward the good while also protecting them. Set in a very crowded, not-all-that-far future. ...more
What if a humongous space rock is headed straight for us? Can we get good at tracking such things, making accurate predictions, and doing somethingWhat if a humongous space rock is headed straight for us? Can we get good at tracking such things, making accurate predictions, and doing something about it? Clarke says, "Yes," in well-told story fashion. ...more
A strange future where humanity has lived in a miniaturized state for thousands of years while aliens run the rest of the planet along withA strange future where humanity has lived in a miniaturized state for thousands of years while aliens run the rest of the planet along with genetically modified Earth animals. One man becomes normal sized again, and difficulties ensue. Better than others of Van Vogt's late group of works I've read. ...more
Strange science fiction about interacting with aliens who have very different world-views than we do. Nearly half the book happens in a narrow,Strange science fiction about interacting with aliens who have very different world-views than we do. Nearly half the book happens in a narrow, harrowing place inside a space ship. It was nice to see an alien be the protagonist. ...more
Science fiction about what might happen when things go wrong on a long-term interstellar space colonization trip. Much more wrong than in the movieScience fiction about what might happen when things go wrong on a long-term interstellar space colonization trip. Much more wrong than in the movie "Passengers." ...more
A rip-roarin' good old fashioned science fiction story with evil aliens and a beleaguered hero who gets the girl and barely pulls off victory. I don'tA rip-roarin' good old fashioned science fiction story with evil aliens and a beleaguered hero who gets the girl and barely pulls off victory. I don't know which came first, this or Invasion of the Body Snatchers, but one copies the other too much. ...more
A strange combination of chick-lit and quantum physics, with a couple of the characters taking on the characteristics of quantum particles. And theA strange combination of chick-lit and quantum physics, with a couple of the characters taking on the characteristics of quantum particles. And the romance is not very romantic. ...more
A rather strange sci-fi story that looks like it's about time travel, but isn't. Seems rather full of itself, and is definitely distracted from whereA rather strange sci-fi story that looks like it's about time travel, but isn't. Seems rather full of itself, and is definitely distracted from where it's going. ...more
Science fiction for youth about a girl from another planet, with some of the characteristics of a unicorn, who deals with the unpleasant problem ofScience fiction for youth about a girl from another planet, with some of the characteristics of a unicorn, who deals with the unpleasant problem of childhood slavery. ...more
Science Fiction Novel about the dispute over an unattached planet (not in orbit around a star). The author knows his science pretty well, and theScience Fiction Novel about the dispute over an unattached planet (not in orbit around a star). The author knows his science pretty well, and the title planet has some similarities to Dante's version of Hell, but the protagonists get out of scrapes by the use of questionable logic. ...more
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