Product Description
Dan Randolph never plays by the rules. A hell-raising maverick with no patience for fools, he is admired by his friends, feared by his enemies, and desired by the world's loveliest women. Acting as a twenty-first privateer, Randolph broke the political strangle-hold on space exploration, and became one of the world's richest men in the bargain.

Now an ecological crisis threatens Earth--and the same politicians that Randolph outwitted the first time want to impose a world dictatorship to deal with it.

Dan Randolph knows that the answer lies in more human freedom, not less--and in the boundless resources of space. But can he stay free long enough to give the world that chance?
... Read more

Customer Reviews (7)

Less science, more political
For those who like space opera, this will be a bit of a disappointment. The first two installments of the Grand Tour opus have remarkably little science, and instead focus much more on political machinations in a world dominated by the USSR (Privateers) and then by a a global economic organization which seems to be the target of organized crime. Throw in a bit of sex, some greenhouse issues (explained in a very elementary way), and you have quick, light reading. Suitable for a beach or subway ride, perhaps an airplane trip? But not Bova at his best.

Good start, let down in the end
This book, my first by Ben Bova, started out very well. Dan Randolph was an amusing character and the overall setting was interesting. Bova generally did a good job of detailing the Grand Tour universe and began to develop a sense of doom from the impending environmental crisis. However, ultimately, the book was let down by three problems: 1) Jane Scanwell was a terribly weak character, especially for who seemed to have been a master politician, and it was hard to understand why she appeared to hate Dan so much at the beginning; Kate Williams wasn't that much better; 2) the irrelevant submarine earthquake; 3) the ending simply degenerated into a feel-good Hollywoodian James Bond rip-off.

A good start, but ultimately disappointing and unsatisfying.

Expectations Not Met - Novel Too Juvenile
Everything in this novel is too simplistically told - the greenhouse cliff that could be avoided by a conversion within 10 years to all fusion engines, to Dan Randolph who double dammed and said rain don't make applesauce too many times for me.The characters of Fletcher and George were better drawn.
Give me Bova's Mars book.

Really a 3.5 star rating...
Rating System:
1 star = abysmal; some books deserve to be forgotten
2 star = poor; a total waste of time
3 star = good; worth the effort
4 star = very good; what writing should be
5 star = fantastic; must own it and share it with others

STORY: From back cover - "Dan Randolph, has become Dan Randolph, empire builder. His staff has found evidence that the greenhouse effect has been gathering speed and that soon, Earth will be on the edge of the greenhouse "cliff". Millions will die unless humankind changes its ways immediately."
On the run from the world government and other forces, Randolph battles to regain all that he has lost and save the world at the same time.

MY FEEDBACK:
1) At first I was groaning at the thought of some extremist "tree-hugging" storyline. Yet Bova handles the subject matter VERY well without getting overly preachy.
2) Some nice plot twists and believable opposition established
3) A complaint (not the only one) is that the end seemed to get wrapped up a little too swift and nicely. It ignored some issues that normally would carry on a lot longer considering the "history" Bova built between characters and the world they live in.
4) The character of Dan Randolph was enjoyable to read and the people who help him at various turns are a nice mix to watch
5) The audio book reader does a good job and even had different voices for different characters, which I always prefer.

OVERALL: It was interesting and entertaining. The "hard science" of the book was ok...nothing spectacular. It is worth the effort if you don't have anything else pressing to read.

Excellant Novel
This is really a unique novel. I don't recall reading anything by Ben Bova before this book. After reading this novel I decided that Mr. Bova wrote a good novel and I bought several more of his titles to see if he isconsistent. Well, that is not the point of this review. This is a review of`Empire Builders' not Ben Bova.

What a really good novel this was. Theprotagonist Dan Randolf is a wonderful creation on Bova's part, as aprevious reviewer noted. I don't know how much of the science involved inthe book is realistic but it was written in such a way that I found itbelievable. The motives of the key players were logical and the plot madesense. What more can you ask for.

Amazon did an adequate job of givingthe plot overview so I won't waste your time here with the same. I willonly add that this novel succeeds in nearly every particular. As you arereading the novel you are constantly confronted with actions and reactionsthat are surprising to you, as the reader, but seem like the only logicalevent after reading them. A definite recommend on my part. ... Read more

Product Description

Customer Reviews (6)

Good read
I enjoyed this book.With a new movie out that is kind of similar, I keep thinking about this book.I finally pulled it out of storage to read it again.

320 pages, give it a go, what have you got to lose.

Chance

Not Bova's Best
Light years from Earth a conglomeration of modules bunched together forms what its inhabitants have dubbed the "Village".The Church of Nirvan runs the Village...it is the Church's mission...a mission to terraform the savage planet of Altair VI.But the pre-sentient inhabitants of Altair VI -- large "wolfcats" and giant "apes" thoroughly...dislike...the human incursion.But the humans have an advantage...electronic probes surgically implanted in the brains of the animals of Altair VI enable humans to control them from the comforts of the Village...if they can get things to work correctly.Several scientists have already gone mad trying to operate the devices.This is where Jeff Holman comes in.He's a student aboard the Village...one of hundreds of devout followers of the Church...and the only person able to operate the electronic probes and literally link minds with a wolfcat on the planet below.But as the weeks and then months pass, Jeff finds himself facing a dilemma.For it is the task of every person living aboard the Village to help eliminate the harsh methane atmosphere of Altair VI and create a human friendly oxygen/nitrogen environment.But doing this will mean they must destroy the current ecosystem...including every animal now existing on the planet.It falls to Jeff Holman to manipulate the animals of Altair VI to help destroy their very home.A task that Jeff finds he can no longer perform.When this happens, he will not only clash with his fellow students living aboard the Village, but also the leader of the Village, the man who not only heads the terraforming effort, but also heads the Church Jeff Holman is sworn to.

As a big fan of Bova, I was eagerly looking forward to picking up this book.In all honesty, I was pretty disappointed.There are some interesting ideas in this book -- manipulating other beings through electronic devices for instance -- but the concepts just weren't enough to get past some pretty shallow writing.Jeff Holman is a somewhat interesting character, one that Bova seems to try and give some depth to, but he never succeeds very well.(This is a departure from both some of his earlier [e.g. Colony, City of Darkness] and his later works [e.g. Mars, Moonrise, Moonwar], where his characters are bright, vibrant, and provide an extremely enjoyable read.)The rest of the characters surrounding Holman come off mostly flat...with the troubled inventor of the brain probes that are used to control the animals on Altair VI involved in a romance with an African princess (who's also his laboratory aide).Even the "bad guy", Bishop Foy, just isn't really all that bad, showing some common ground with Holman towards the end of the book.

It wasn't just the characters that came off kind of shallow.The big moral dilemma of the book -- whether or not the wolfcats are "intelligent" enough to warrant a halting of the terraforming process -- comes off as...not particularily well thought through.Bova's arguments, through Holman just aren't all that persuasive.Bova doesn't present an argument for wolfcat intelligent much beyond the chimpanzee level.And according to the rules set down by the far off World Government, Bishop Foy must only halt the terraforming process if human level intelligence is detected on Altair VI.

What it all boils down to is that Altair VI is a rare (though not unheard of) fluke for Bova...a story that does not grab you and force you to turn page after page, a story that does not make you want to stay up into the wee hours of the morn just so you can find out what happens next.Personally, a rare dud for an author I usually truly enjoy will not turn me away from other stuff he has written...nor will I hope it will do the same to all who read this review...but Altair VI, standing by itself, should probably only be picked up by those who've really enjoyed Bova in the past, or those who simply want a quick read.

Quick, Entertaining Read
I was expecting something slighty different when I started reading this book. Maybe just a little bit more complex. I had read a handful of Ben Bova novels before this one, and I had always been impressed by them. I think I read this in one day if I remember correctly. None of the other characters besides the main one were memorable, but the plot quickly moved itself forward and never bogged down. It's definetely worth a look.

A disappointing book by an accomplished writer
A disappointing book by an accomplished writer.
"The Winds of Altair" portrays a future where the Earth teems with 17 billion mainly poor inhabitants. Crime and vice are rife on a world running out of resources. After making the leap to local space travel, humans discover a mechanism for faster-than-light travel A search begins for planets in other star systems that can be terraformed to allow some of the Earth's masses to be transported elsewhere, thereby alleviating terrestrial crowding. An expedition to the 6th planet surrounding the star Altair sponsored by a strict doctrinaire church and sanctioned by the World Government begins the preliminaries to terraforming a world that is occupied by alien life forms. The church leaders of the expedition see no problem with exterminating the existing life forms that could not survive in an earth-like atmosphere. The problem is complicated by the discovery that one of the species there may be intelligent.

The writing style is surprisingly simplistic for someone like Bova. The prose and structure is more appropriate for a "juvenile" level work than an adult novel. The characters are not well developed and appear shallow. For instance, the protagonist is a member of the church that sponsored the mission. The church has no black members, although it preaches racial tolerance. On meeting an African female member of the scientific team, he is initially perturbed by her black skin and exotic appearance. Soon, he comes to feel that she is beautiful despite being black. She is kind and friendly to him, and he then comes to believe that he is in love with her. Nothing is wrong with this evolution of events. The problem is that the development is sophomoric. A more fundamental problem that strains credibility is the idea sending Earth's unwanted away to terraformed planets at enormous expense. A few thousand or a few million people transported to another planet will not help when the problem is billions of poor. A flawed plot combined with puerile writing makes for an uninspiring novel.

Amazing!!!!
I read this book as I was entering high school, about ten years ago...it is an awesome book.It is a book that questions ethics in a futiristic sense.In this book, earth is crowded, so people go to the new frontier, space.Humans find planets that are similar to earth and then change the planet's atmosphere.The humans mentally link with the life living on the planet (using machines) and then use the animals to set up the equipment that changes the planet. This book discusses a young man that is transforming Altair IV, and his ethical problems with the transformation.I could not put this book down.At times the book makes you wish that you could be a part of this new future and this fantastic technology.

It is a must read, even if you are not a science fiction fan.

Thank you Ben Bova. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (2)

Mediocre
I'm a big fan of Bova...but I've read several of his earlier works recently and they've only been passable.I finished this book just last night.The story idea was an interesting one but Bova didn't flesh it out enough.The characters were a bit too cardboardy (<--is that a word?).The novel is definitely dated...because it's a political-based novel written in 1976 I entirely expected this.There were some interesting references that I doubt many people got.For instance, one of the background characters whom you never meet but is mentioned is said to have moved to Sri Lanka...also, another briefly mentioned character had the last name of Bester.The first is surely an homage to Arthur C. Clarke who has lived Sri Lanka for many years (perhaps going as far back as 1976, I don't honestly know); and the briefly mentioned Bester character is surely an homage to Alfred Bester...his most famous work is The Demolished Man, I've never read it but hear it's quite good.Aside from Bova's homages to his fellow Scifi writers, Bova also predicted at one point in the book the development of closed-captions on TV...you have to remember that this book was written in the mid-70's...most people didn't even have cable back then.To sum up, The Multiple Man leaves something to be desired...but for hardcore Scifi and/or Bova fans it's certainly worth reading.

A fine, but forgotten work
First published in 1976 and occassionally feeling dated, The Multiple Man is a fine science fiction mystery.As the President gives a speech in Boston, a body is found in an alley outside - a body that resembles the President in every way.Who was it?Who killed it, and why?Almost (but not quite) against his will, the President's press secretary is drawn into the mystery.Ultimately, the reader ends up being way ahead of the characters, but the ride, as one expects from Bova, is entertaining.

The novel takes place in an unspecified time, but probably around the late 1990's.It is always interesting to compare how the future actually unfolded to the way an author hypothesized.Fortunately, urban America has not imploded as Bova theorized.Even more fortunately, videophones have not become the norm.Interestingly, in the background of The Multiple Man is an invasion of Kuwait - this time by the Shah of Iran instead of Iraq (and isn't it strange to think of a world in which the Ayatollah never took power?).Bova wisely kept societal and technological changes in the background, so the conflicts between his future society and our own are noticeable but not distracting. ... Read more

Product Description
A new installment in the military science-fiction series by a Hugo Award-winner finds the superhuman, outer-space warrior John O'Ryan caught in the middle of a dangerous contest between a goddess and a god. Reprint. K. VY. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (9)

This is pulp Sci Fi
When I started the book I was hooked. After a hundred pages I caught on to the plan: A big battle in which many of Orions troops get killed except his girl, and after which he has a short episode with the big god who tells him little. Through the book it becomes clear that he will be loyal to his troops, pine after his love, who he never seems to see, and deal with the overgod. No suspense, only the continual introduction of plot elements that seem impossible, but you know that he will succede with. This book, and probably the whole series, could have been condensed into one large book. It's a good thing I got mine from the library, because I would not want to have to pay for this. I guess its ok for someone just starting in SF, but for so decorated an author I expect more. This is pulp science fiction, pure and simple.

jacket summary
from the back cover of the December 1996 TOR paperback edition
cover art by Donato
More than human, less than a god, John O'Ryan is Orion, made by the mysterious Creators who rule outside of time-created to do battle for them, and to die for them, up and down the timeline from the primal past to the unimaginable future.
But now Orion has become a key piece in a cosmic game between two of the Creators-Anya, the goddess he loves, and Aten, the god who toys with his destiny.Hurled by Aten far into the future, Orion finds himself commander of a human regiment consigned to perish in a vast interstellar war.But his passion for his beloved, and his raw determination to survive, snatches victory from the jaws of certain defeat.

Orion finally makes it into the "future"
Orion Among the Stars is the first Orion novel set entirely in the future.Orion leads a band of cloned soldiers in a galactic civil war that pits Creator against Creator.In this novel Orion is again out of place, but this time he does not have the advantage of his understanding of the future to help him in his battles.The story's action is just as strong as the previous 4 Orion books, but Bova introduces some unique new ideas in this book, such as cloned soldiers who are frozen between battles and do not have the rights one would expect human beings to have.In one interesting sequence Orion is arguing with an old time Army officer that the soldiers deserve a batter life, while the officer cannot get over the idea that they were cloned to be warriors and they are somewhat less than human.Obviously, this parallels Orion's own existence.Bova also introduces the idea that there are other species in the galaxy with more power than even the Creators, and those advanced species do not want to get involved in the petty disputes of the less advanced species.This acts as a reminder that the Creators themselves are descended from humans, because their strongest desire is for war and domination.Sadly, this is the last Orion novel and while Bova ended it on the same note of continuation, it does not look like Orion will be resurrected anytime soon.

Review of Orion among the stars
I read this book a year before my first year in college. I definitely recommend this book for anyone that enjoyed books like "Starship Troopers", "Forever War" and etc. "Orion Among the stars" is a book in the same grain as those. The book is military sci-fi (the best type of fiction of course).

WOW this is soo great! An up all night read for sure!!
i totally didn't expect to get any more good books from the local library for a long while but this one came out great more Orion master Bova please!!!!!! ... Read more

Product Description

In this fascinating and cutting-edge work, Dr. Ben Bova explores one of the most thrilling and elemental questions humanity has ever posed: Are we alone? From Copernicus to the advent of SETI and beyond, Bova takes his readers on a tour of the scientific and political battles fought in the pursuit of knowledge and speculates on what the future may hold.

Can life exist outside the planet Earth? The first question one should ask is: How is it possible for life to exist within Earth's brutal confines? On our own world, creatures exist -- and thrive -- in environments first thought to be completely alien and inhospitable. From the rare air of the upper atmosphere to the depths of the oceans, life persists amid crushing pressures, crippling heat, and absolute darkness. Bacteria brought to the moon have survived for years without water, at temperatures near absolute zero, and in spite of radiation levels that would kill human observers. With such resilient and tenacious creatures, it seems that life could spring up, and survive, anywhere.

Many skeptics believe that finding life outside our solar system will never occur within our lifetime -- but perhaps it's unnecessary to look that far. Our neighboring planets may already serve as havens for extraterrestrial life. Scientists have already identified ice caps on Mars and what appears to be an enormous ocean underneath the ice of Jupiter's moons. The atmosphere on Venus appeared harsh and insupportable of life, composed of a toxic atmosphere and oceans of acid -- until scientists concluded that Earth's atmosphere was eerily similar billions of years ago. An extraterrestrial colony, in some form, may already exist, just awaiting discovery.

With the development of new technology, such as the space-based telescopes of NASA's Terrestrial Planet Finder(TPF), we may not have to leave the comfort of our home world to discover proof of life elsewhere. But the greatest impediment to such an important scientific discovery may not be technological, but political. No scientific endeavor can be launched without a budget, and matters of money are within the arena of politicians. Dr. Bova explores some of the key players and the arguments waged in a debate of both scientific and cultural priorities, showing the emotions, the controversy, and the egos involved in arguably the most important scientific pursuit ever begun.

Customer Reviews (1)

On the subject of life in the universe
I enjoyed this book. It gave a lot of information on the subject of life in the universe and the lack of intelligence in Washington! ... Read more

Product Description
A young woman approaches the Emperor of the Hundred Worlds with a plan to save Earth--through astrophysics and engineering--before the Sun explodes and wipes out the last genetically unaltered humans in the universe. Reprint. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (4)

To Save the Sun so that you can Fear the Light (or reading the second book)
(This review is for both To Save the Sun and To Fear the Light as they are, together, one story)

Science Fiction veteran Ben Bova and rookie A. J. Austin have crafted a very attractive story idea with To Save the Sun and To Fear the Light: Humanity has spread out among 100 planets and are loosely collected in the Empire of a Hundred Worlds. When the empire's scientists determine that Sol, the sun of mankind's origin and genetic seed planet Earth is likely to start dying with a few centuries, it is a young scientist, Adela de Montgarde, from a frontier world that boldly proclaims that she can save the sun and thus the foundation of the species.

The scientists are all skeptical as their centuries of life have stifled all inquisitiveness and creativity from them. Many a bureaucrat believes the idea to be folly - including the Princess Rihana, wife of the Emperor's son Prince Javas. But Dr. Montgarde wins the support of the Emperor who initiates the grand scheme. In the process, Dr. Montgarde wins the heart of Prince Javas who discards Rihana like excess baggage when the Emperor moves the seat of power from Corinth to Earth's Moon.

This generation spanning tale starts with much promise, the storytelling delivers with a sweeping grand scope of style that sees the progress of the effort to save the sun first from the political standpoint and necessity and then from the scientific viewpoint. But as the first book, To Save the Sun, progresses, the story starts to loose focus; by the end of the first volume, it is apparent that nothing significant will come to pass before the second book.

Unfortunately, another aspect of the plot starts to become very obvious by the end of To Save the Sun: the 700+ pages of these two books is really just about the power struggle - and not a very interesting one at that - between two women, Adela de Montgarde and Rihana, and the the sons that both women have "with" the Prince (I put with in quotations because there is little normal or natural about how any of this plays out). So, by To Fear the Light, this once promising story looses all focus and becomes a book about the struggle between these two women and basically humanity's seemingly unrealistic fear of an alien race.

What does the second half of this story have to do with saving the sun? Only as much as that idea can interfere with the authors' determined attempts to loose all focus. And that is the sad part, because there is real promise buried inside of this story, which could have been one very good book of hard science fiction.

>>>>>>><<<<<<<

A Guide to my Book Rating System:

1 star = The wood pulp would have been better utilized as toilet paper.
2 stars = Don't bother, clean your bathroom instead.
3 stars = Wasn't a waste of time, but it was time wasted.
4 stars = Good book, but not life altering.
5 stars = This book changed my world in at least some small way.

Hard to put down.
I first read this book many years ago when it first came out. I found it very difficult to put down. I was a full time student at the time and had very little free time. Yet I still managed to read it in 3 days (usually at the expense of sleep). The other 2 reviews gave a fairly good description ofthe story outline. Though I would add there is a good amount of political intrigue. The parts that actually take place on earth are probably some of the most memorable. I would say that it is a fairly positive outlook on humanity of the far future. Very much worth reading.

Cover review
from the back cover of the December 1993 TOR paperback edition
Cover art by John Berkey
Ancient Earth is doomed.Its sun will explode, not millions of years hence but in mere lifetimes - violently enough to scour Earth clean and leave the Empire of the Hundred Worlds adrift.For the handful of "primitives" left on Earth are the baseline for humanity's ever-diversifying genetic stock.Every other human world sends regular delegations to check their own genetic pool against "Earth normal".

Now the center will hold no longer.The Empire's scientists deem that nothing can be done.The age of heroism is past:this is the long, stagnant afternoon of the human race.

Until - over massive opposition - a single young woman makes her way to the Emperor with that rarity, a new scientific insight...and a plan, flowing from its implications, to mobilize humanity's slumbering energies toward a millennium-long effort of applied astrophysics.Of engineering carried out on the hearts of stars.A plan to save the Earth.To save the Sun.

A fairly good book, but with a couple strange twists...
During the course of this book, one of the main characters travels near light speed to a certain place and back.In layman's terms, this means that she ages about a year while the other characters age about 40 years.While this is all written very well and realistic (for sci fi), it makes the book seem very discordant, like a trio of well-developed mini stories somewhat shoved together and on top of each other.

Worth your time to read, however, and although it doesn't leave any lasting memories, it does have some cool points in it.It's a good book to just sit back and relax and enjoy the story. ... Read more

Product Description
Take a tour of space with "Space Travel" that explains science to help readers make fiction plausible. Readers will see what is real today and what may become real tomorrow. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (10)

Great to begin with!
If you have no time to dig online for free facts and SF tendencies, this is the ideal tool for you. I highly recommend it to all serious wannabe writers, especially to those oriented more into "speculative fiction" (SF) rather than "science fiction" (sci-fi). If you don't know the difference, made by Isaac Asimov in the previous century, then know that SF speculates with most-likely probable and down-to-earth theories of space exploration, hi-tech, and all-together "futuristic prognostication" (e.g., Michael Crichton's Sphere, The Andromeda Strain, even Jurassic Park, which are not necessarily "directly space-related"). Sci-fi, on the other hand, is more into distant-future tendencies, allowing even a bit spicy and far-fetched Star Wars' ideas, which go quite beyond Star Trek's "sober fantasizing." To learn more or share your ideas, join Sci-Fi Almanac, at [...] (a community publication for writers and artists).

Don't waste your money
You can learn more off the internet than what's in this book. The premise is basically make up your own stardrive and call it a day. The stuff in this book is fluff. Sorry Ben Bova !

Another Excellent Book in the "Sci-Fi Writing Series".
This is another of the books in this series that was put together by Ben Bova and a host of others. Mr. Bova has written a ton of Sci-Fi, and he is definitely an authority on the subject.

This book covers the science behind spacecraft, and delves into the history of spaceflight, both manned and unmanned.It also covers the technology, even going into the math of calculating thrust, impulse, etc.

I have used the section on theoretical spacecraft design in a novel that I am currently writing. I have found the information it includes to be very valuable.

Prepares you for more advanced works
This is, for the most part, a good book.Although it does have some errors of style (METRIC UNITS!PLEASE!) and a few errors of fact, as noted by other reviews, it covers a wide scope in adequate detail.

This books gives the basics of space science.From these basics, you should be able to branch out to more advanced tomes (Example books: The Starflight Handbook, The Third Industrial Revolution, etc.)

Use this book to get started, but don't trust its entirety.

Prepares you for more advanced works
This is, for the most part, a good book.Although it does have some errors of style (METRIC UNITS!PLEASE!) and a few errors of fact, as noted by other reviews, it covers a wide scope in adequate detail.

This books gives the basics of space science.From these basics, you should be able to branch out to more advanced tomes (Example books: The Starflight Handbook, The Third Industrial Revolution, etc.)

Use this book to get started, but don't trust its entirety. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (1)

Bittersweet ending
The trilogy winds up with a bittersweet ending. If you've read the previous two books, you know about the human/alien relationships -- but this one ties a bow on most of the storylines, including Tom Gentry (Red Clay) and the contact and induction of Earth into the Federation -- and Tom's dealing with his own species self-hate, as well as his past -- and his wife's unfaithfulness, as well as the Sharwan Problem. The conclusion also deals with death of two of Tom's closest friends, one a bittersweet funereal scene. The entire series is a smart read, though probably not for everyone. ... Read more

Product Description
A futuristic satire on the fate of the publishing industry after the invention of "cyberbooks", electronic books which eliminate the need for paper, printers, salesmen, distributors and even booksellers. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (8)

How Could This NOT Be On Kindle???
This book was completely prophetic of the Kindle and similar readers - should have been one of the first available on that format!!

Hilarious satire
Ben Bova's "Cyberbooks" is a hilarious satire on the publishing business, the women's clothing industry, advertising, ocean cruises, romance, and paranoia.It includes a series of publishing house rejection letters of which the last, from a Japanese publisher, is hilarious and is really a satire on people who have bad news to impart but don't want to hurt the recipient's feelings.This is my favorite book by Ben Bova.

Not representative of Ben Bova's writing
For the time it was written and published, this book was incredibly visionary.The Internet didn't take over our lives until after 1997 - it hasn't been that long!So don't knock it.Those who claim it was a jaded idea when it was written could never have come up with anything with foresight like he could.

This book is not representative of just how awesome Mr. Bova's writing is.I suggest reading Moonwar or The Kinsman Saga, anything from 1990 on.

I read it when it was written
Regardless of the "hindsight" of some reviewers; it was visionary. I went to a Bova lecture and asked him about this book. He stated he & Arthur Clarke[2001] should have patented their books.

In his 1955 book "Challenge of the Spaceship", Clarke explained how communication satellites would operate. He would have been a Trillionaire.

The book is a "Satire", still relevant today. This may well be what is going on behind the scenes.

Publishers are trying to restrict Used book sales, by treating a hardgood as software. Stating a book cannot be "transferred". [7/30/2009 UPDATE: AZ has deleted copies of 1984 from Kindle users without first telling them - IT HAS COME TO PASS]

Publishers would like:
A Genetically engineered tree
Which would imprint itself with the DNA of its first handler.
The 2nd handler would erase the ink.

mediocre at best
I've read lots of SF but for some reason had never tried Ben Bova before this. I picked up Cyberbooks in the library on a whim and I'm glad I didn't pay for it. It was mediocre at best. The plot was not particularly creative, none of the characters were all that interesting, and the writing style wasn't particularly compelling. It wasn't bad... just not good. I wouldn't read it again or recommend it to anyone.

The notion of a 'cyberbook' may have been cool when Bova first wrote this, but, like the rest of the technology he talks about, it's old news now. But the lame technology is not really what turned me off. I mean, Asimov can write about coal-powered spaceships and I eat it up because with Asimov, it's all about the characters, the plot, and the writing. He isn't writing about some gadget, he's writing about how people interact in a timeless way. I didn't get that same feeling from Bova. The quality of his writing isn't good enough to make me interested in cyberbooks, so I never got sucked into this and never really enjoyed it.

On a more positive note, it wasn't bad enough to prevent me from trying another Bova book. Thanks to reviewer jerseymca for recommending the Exiles trilogy--I will give that a try and hopefully it will be better than this was.
... Read more

Product Description
Orion finds himself thrust back to the ancient world of Greece and must prevent the Greek army from destroying the citadel of Troy. If he fails, he will lose the only woman he has ever loved. But if he succeeds, the history of the world will be changed forever. The stunning sequel to Orion. HC: Tor. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (7)

Super Reader
In the second Orion book Orion gets to do the way back in the past thing quite a bit. More specifically, in Troy with the Greeks, and also in ancient Egypt.

Throughout this he is getting a bit tired of being a super-pawn, but this does not really please his Light Side overseer, you could say.

Actually better than the first in the series
I thought Vengeance of Orion was actually better than the first in the series (Orion).In Vengeance of Orion, Orion leads the Greeks to victory over Troy, the Israelites to victory over Jericho and prevents a royal conspiracy in ancient Egypt.Bova obviously did a lot of research into the events covered and the storyline is eminently believable.Like the first novel, Vengeance is more like historical fiction than science fiction, in fact there is very little interference from the Creators or others this time.

Orion the Hunter vs the Golden One
Interesting book.The main character, Orion, was created by powerful god-like human beings from the far future.Orion is a tool of these god-like beings, specifically, one that Orion calls the Golden One (akaApollo).Orion is tired of being a pawn, he wants to forge his own destinyand choose his own life but the Golden One won't stand for it.It's anyinteresting novel as Orion tries to thwart the Golden One's plans ofrewriting history during the Trojan War.Orion doesn't do this out of asense of right or wrong (even though he is a generally good guy) or to fixthe timeline.Orion does this to hurt the Golden One because Orion istired of being used, he wants his freedom.

Vengeance of Orion indeed.

Ilike this book because we see a character resisting fate and destiny.Eventhough this is science fiction, I do get tired of fantasy charactersaccepting their fate as they are drawn into a destiny they MUST fulfill. Vengeance of Orion is refreshing.

Note: This is the second in the Orionseries.Orion was the first novel and Vengeance is followed by Orion inthe Dying Time.There are five books in this series thus far but, as ofthis writing, I've only read the first three.Good stuff.

good adventure...
"Vengeance of Orion" is a pretty good adventurenovel, with interesting interpretations of Troy and Jericho.My onlyreal complaint is that I was ready to scream if he mentioned that he either "wanted to kill the Golden One" or moaned over his Creator girlfriend one more time.Other than those minor points, I would highly recommend it.END

Good entertainment for sci-fi/fantasy heroics!
This is yet another installment in Bova's awesome epic of Orion and his eternal adventures. Get them all! ... Read more

Product Description
In the Future, Everything is Different.
But Nothing Has Changed.

The Earth has been poisoned by pollution, choked by overpopulation, and ravaged by the mindless greed of power-hungry corporations. A fragile peace is threatened by landless revolutionaries and global anarchy seems imminent.

Yet a single ray of hope remains. . .

Island One is a celestial utopia, and David Adams is its most perfect creation - a man with a brain as advanced as any computer and a body free of human frailties. But David is a prisoner -- a captive of the colony that created him -- destined to spend the days of his life in an island-sized cylinder that circles a doomed and desperate home planet. Thousands of miles below him, a world trembles; its people cringe in terror and despair in anticipation of an impending apocalypse. And as Earth's boundaries, fate has cast one extraordinary human in the role of savior. For David Adams has a plan -- one that will ultimately ensure the salvation of his species . . . or its annihilation. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (10)

Sexist Malthusian Adventure
I bought this book not realizing it was published in 1978 or so.The blurb makes it sound like it will primarily be about this superhuman David, but in fact it is about a whole host of characters, and David's interesting qualities are not that interesting and do not come up that much.

The book is premised on a Malthusian vision in which, by 2028, the earth is grossly overpopulated, a permanent underclass has little hope of ever advancing, and giant corporations control everything despite a somewhat powerless one-world government.

Every woman in the book is either raped or in a minimally consensual sexual relationship; very few women seem to have legitimate professions that don't require them to cozy up to men.About the best most of the women seem able to hope for is that the men they're required to submit to sexually actually like them more than they let on.Woo-hoo.The consensual sex in the book is the kind of stuff that would be interesting to a 14-year-old boy and not much of anyone else (e.g., after minimal foreplay, "he buried himself in her and exploded" - gosh, I am sure she enjoyed that a lot).Race relations in the U.S. have not advanced much past the 70's.

Aside from the above factors, the plot is serviceable and it's not a bad airplane or beach read.But almost any decently well-written (as this is) sci-fi book from the past 10 years or so would be better than this, or at least not as almost-comically outdated.

jacket summary
from the back cover of the July 1978 Pocket paperback edition

Hurtling across a vast and rousing canvas, from Baghdad to what remains of New York City...from Messina, the capital of the Earth, to the moon, to Island One, the magnificent colony in space...Ben Bova's extraordinary new novel is a brilliant epic of sheer storytelling power that leaves its readers stunned and shaken.

Colony is the story of once-proud cities of the Earth made humble by greed and revenge, of Stone Age cultures and advanced civilizations in space, of a cast of full-blooded, unforgettable characters from the remote corners of the globe and beyond...and of David Adams, the first genetically perfect "test tube" human being, whose very human nature is the final hope of a world in infinite danger!

The Now Unspoken Topic of Overpopulation
First off, this book was written in 1978 and is set 30 years in the future from that date, which is right around the corner.So many of the technological advances that science fictions writers try to predict or possibly more often, hope will come true, miss the mark in the time of the setting.The fantastic space station, that may have seemed so plausable in 30 years is hard to conceive of to exist in even 100 years from now, considering the expense of such things and the consistent statement of the populace uninterested in space: "we should spend the money here on earth."Although there are some elements of interest that come close to todays technology, such as instant access to information that's vaguely similar to the internet.Probably the one thing that dates the book is its tackling an issue that was considered quite important at the time: overpopulation, which has virtually dropped off the face of the earth as a political topic.Both political parties agree that overpopulation is an issue, so ironically if there is no party to disagree to ones belief, then there's no recrimination that can be thrown about, so the topic ceases to exist as a political topic.Even more ironic, is that back in 1978, the author is creating this dismal futuristic world choked by overpopulation, and yet as the date of the setting approaches, the population of the world is really not that far off from this worse case scenario he envisions.Which makes one wonder of this non-discussed issue even more, and upon such things as how the planet is able to support such a populace today, and agricultural efficiency and genetically modified foods that feed greater numbers of people from the same plot of land.I have read that some groups do not wish to bring up overpopulation as an issue as it may be dictating to less developed countries, where the growth of population is greatest, to curb their population growth.Several years ago, National Geographic highlighted what will be the most populated cities of the world by 2050 and one city stuck out: Lagos.Now I know a bit of geography, but I had to go to the map to locate this city.This book also takes a hard look at race relations in the US, so much so that it's hard to believe that it would be printed today, in fact it's hard to believe it was printed back in 1978.Another tough social issue the author brings up is cloning and who or what does `the clone' belong to, which are ethical issues of today.

The world is basically separated into three main groups, the World Government (successor to the UN), multinational corporations really run by an oligarchy of five men, and a revolutionary movement.The books deals with the twists and turns and collusions between these three groups.This is an epic novel with several storylines that come together and a good sense of suspense that makes you want to continue reading to discover what happens.3-1/2 stars.

loved it
I loved this book. The characters and story are great, but what really made me like this book is the incredible background and locales Ben Bova creates. The intricacies of world government and corporate power are ultimately the main focus of this book. He unfolds things with good timing. The locales we see are awesome. A huge paradise inside a cylinder in outer space to a decrepit New York run by gangs and avoided by the military, dangerous streets of the middle east, a South American jungle. It was a fun journey, and I'm glad I decided to pick this book up.

Better than I expected
I was desparate for something to read, and this was the best looking thing that I could find lying around at the time, so I really didn't expect much.However, this book pleasantly surprised me, it was very well written with a lot of interesting characters and events.

I was surprised about a hundred pages into the book when I read something that didn't fit very well historically, to find out that this book is actually about twenty-five years old.I should have realized it sooner because the dates in the story are very close to the present, but I just didn't notice that until I checked the copyright date.Despite the abundance of picture phones, I thought the author did a really good job of writing a future world that doesn't seem to far fetched even after all this time.I was somewhat disappointed in the ending, not that it was bad, but just a little abrupt and anticlimactic.There was also a plot point that I thought was silly and unnecessary, it took one of the best parts of the book, a part that really made you see the protaganist's growth and just made it look like a really poor job of parenting by his gaurdian.

I wasn't expecting much from this book when I picked it up, but I will be looking to read more of Bova in the future. ... Read more

Product Description
In Star Watchman, the human race reaches space and discovers that it had been preceded by its own ancestors, while in The Dueling Machine, a new machine allows people to settle differences in an imaginary world. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (3)

Minor Correction
_Star Watchman_ is the sequel to _The Star Conquerors_, not the other way around._The Star Conquerors_ was Bova's first novel.

Not the only books in the series
For some reason Ben Bova found the original sequel (Star Conquerors, 1959) to the Star Watchman embarrassing. I recall something about it being egocentric in nature because it assumes the human form is the pinnacle of evolution. So what? he certainly wasn't the first-or last author to go down that road. So it has never been reprinted-making existing copies worth a small fortune-if you can find them! I found Star Conquerors as good (if not better) a space opera read as Star Watchman and certainly deserves to be reprinted.

What do Ben Bova & Space Opera have in common? This book!
This book is really the compilation of Ben Bova's two Star Watchmen books- `The Watchmen' & `The Duelling Machine' Ben Bova gives us a vast sweep of future history in his first book in which humanity has reached the stars and its last gaurdians are the Watchmen. Men (and women) who's duty it is to see that ethical conduct is played out on the interstellar scene. In the second book he focusses on the means by which disputes are settled in this far flung era. We have the wise old scientist, a klutzy star watchman, and an assasin from a domineering empire. The battlefield of this far flung era is `The Duelling Machine' a machine whereby two individuals fight in computer simulated environments, totally harmless and non-lethal. Or so it's inventor thought now people are dying. If you want to find out the rest read the book, I can thoroughly recommend it. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (2)

SF only by coincidence; a scathing satire on the television industry.
I doubt you ever thought of Ben Bova as a satirist, but he really has a romp in this dissection of the television industry.

It's early in the 21st century (the book was written in 1975), and a struggling TV network makes a desperate decision to go 3D with a new space opera called "The Starcrossed." The producer is a dissipated loser who happened to produce the ONLY series that his network didn't cancel in the previous season. The male lead is a limping, used-up hockey star whose ailments, and his quebecois accent, sort of detract from his heroic deeds. I won't even begin to describe the lady lead! Use your imagination.

It's not really a science-fiction novel, except in that it takes place in the near-future, but it will leave you howling with laughter at the utter ineptitude of its characters, and the low-grade mentality that pervades their chosen industry.

Art imitates life
"The Starcrossed" is a wildly satirical look at the entertainment industry, telling a true story with a thin veneer of science-fiction flavoring.

Author Ben Bova was involved in the early 1970s as the technical consultant for a science-fiction television series called "The Starlost," which was based on a premise by science-fiction author and all-around rakehell Harlan Ellison.A number of boneheaded executive decisions, cost-cutting and general ineptitude on the staff's part led both Bova and Ellison to quit the show, which has gained a reputation in science-fiction circles as a virtually unwatchable mess.

Bova - normally a "hard" science fiction writer - seems to have been trying to expunge some bad karma with "The Starcrossed," and produced one of the most enjoyable satires in the genre.

In the near future, volatile, blacklisted Hollywood writer Ron Gabriel (representing Ellison) is trying to sell his idea of a spaceborne Romeo and Juliet series; engineer Bill Oxnard (representing Bova) is trying to raise funding for his laboratory on the strength of a new, static-and-flicker-free 3D television system. When a struggling studio picks up Gabriel's story premise as a testbed vehicle for Oxnard's flicker-free 3D, the avalanche starts as various studio forces try their best to scuttle the show while, at the same time in circular logic fashion, try to make money off it.

Wooden actors, slashed budgets, scripts from Canadian high school students, hookers-turned-starlets, a director snorting drugs and mob financing sunk into sports betting trap Gabriel and Oxnard in a "damned-if-they-do, damned-if-they-don't" scenario.

"The Starcrossed" is at its very best when Gabriel and Oxnard are battling the forces of cinematic evil, such as Oxnard trying patiently to explain to Canadian modelmakers what is and isn't necessary on a starship - only to find later that a big, useless sailing-ship tilling wheel has been installed on the ship's "bridge" by order of the studio boss because he thinks it looks neat.

The only real disappointment for me was the final chapter, which seems a little weak and rushed, as though the author was trying to wrap things up in a set amount of pages and was running out of room.

All in all, "The Starcrossed" is a very enjoyable read, especially for those science-fiction fans who can spot all the in-jokes sprinkled throughout.

... Read more

Product Description
A sequel to "Orion" and "Vengeance of Orion". At the end of the Cretaceous Period, Earth is in the grip of the dinosaurs. Their leader is a reptile, worshipped by the Egyptians as a powerful god for thousands of years. His mission is to destroy the Creators - Orion's masters - and rule the planet. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (6)

Orion in the Dying Time
I am a science fiction fan, who most times despises fantasy. The Orion series often lay on the line separating the two genres, sometimes jumping across. The Orion Series by Ben Bova is terrific. Orion in the Dying Time is no exception. The Dying time excels in creating a nemesis that seems unsurmountable.

Super Reader
In this book Orion has another, different antagonist that his god-like avatar runners want him to deal with. This time the being is named Set, you know, the serpent god guy. This whole reptile control thing lets him be a dinosaur master. Now, really, this is pretty cool. Who wouldn't want to be a dinosaur master?

Orion still has to find some way to deal with him though.

jacket summary
from the inside cover of the August 1991 TOR paperback edition
cover art by Boris Vallejo
Anya and I would never be free to live as normal human beings.There would always be the Creators to pull my strings, never leaving us alone.Always a new task, a new enemy, a new time and place.But never a time and place for happiness.Not for me.Not for us.

I liked the historical settings but could do without Aliens
Orion in the Dying Time continues the tale of Orion (the Hunter), this time sent back to do battle with Set, an evil reptilian alien on whom all the legends of Satan are based.Unfortunately, in the Dying Time was not nearly as intriguing as the first two novels in the series.The alien Set is not a very interesting opponent and the seemingly unfair advantage he has over the humans in virtually every situation is somewhat ridiculous.Orion even travels back to the Cretaceous Period to do battle with Set (Set created the dinasaurs much the same way that the Creators created human beings).The ending of Orion in the Dying Time was shaping up to be very interesting with Orion using his developing powers to bring 1000 Mongol warriors back in time to do battle with Set, but they didn't even get involved in the final outcome.

Orion the Hunter vs Set the Dinosaur Man
Like Ben Bova's first two Orion novels (Orion and Vengeance of Orion), Orion in the Dying Time has the more-than-human, less-than-god Orion being used and abused by by the Creators, a race of very advanced god-likehumans.This time, they send Orion on an errand to save mankind before itis wiped out by the maddened alien pseudo-god Set.Though Orion hatesbeing the Creator's lackey, he realizes that if his mission fails, humanity(which includes himself as well as the Creators) will be erased from thetime-line.Orion then finds himself battling the minions of Set back inthe time of dinosaurs.At stake is his very existence.

This is a goodsci-fi novel that deals with gods, eternity, time travel and destiny --something Orion constantly tries to thwart, in one form or theother.

Orion hates being a slave to fate.Can't say I blame him. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (1)

The battle for control of the galaxy is won, now what?
This book is very much in the mold of science fiction of the 1950's, the heroes are real men and women play only a minor role in their lives. Humanity is locked in a titanic struggle against galactic "bad guys" called the Saurians. However, the Saurians are under the control of a mysterious species called "the Masters." Humanity has never made direct contact with the Masters; all that is known is that it is a very old race of intelligent beings.
The narrator is Alan Bakerman, a humanoid that was once in the service of the Saurians, now an adjutant to the Frontier Coordinator and a military officer. His first assignment is to rescue the command of Geoffery (Jeff) Knowland, fighting a delaying battle on the planet Scandia. The forces of the Masters are relentless in their attacks and the battle is a fighting retreat. Amidst all of this, Jeff demonstrates his skills as a battle commander, holding off the Saurians until all remaining human forces can depart to fight again.
The battle then shifts to a galactic one, when Jeff's father is killed in battle, Jeff is promoted to the command of all fighting forces in the Earth confederation. He also proves to be a skilled politician, rallying support for a massive military buildup and a plan to take the fight to the Saurians. Jeff's tactics prove effective, gaining allies among planets previously fighting for the Saurians and eventually coming face-to-face with the Masters. In an interesting plot twist, the Masters prove to be completely different from what was assumed and they give the upstart humans some advice on what to do next.
The battle for control of the universe is a storyline that is well used in science fiction, in this case, Bova does it very well, using some unusual devices in setting up the "After you win power, you must govern, how will you do that?" question. The setting is that there are many different races in the galaxy with differing agendas and perhaps a static empire is the only way to avoid rivalries on a galactic scale.
... Read more

Product Description
A tale of revenge and technological endeavor set on our solar system's most desolate stage T he closest planet to the sun, Mercury is a rocky, barren, heatscorched world. The planet's surface faces the sun for nearly sixty earth days at a time, and the only places that stay cool are the ice caches at Mercury's poles. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (14)

A Sci-fi Soap Opera with the emphasis on soap opera
The story got maudlin to the point that I refused to finish it. I don't like soap operas. I knew better than to pick this up. From now on I'll listen to my inner 'don't go there'. It's not the book, it's me.. nah, it's the book

A Fantastic Edition to the Grand Tour Novels by One of Our Best
I think Ben Bova is the present-day heir to Isaac Asimov (and perhaps John W. Campbell Jr.) in that he writes a kind of science fiction that balances story and science. MERCURY is one of his best and contains some of Bova's best writing. I would say that he has written the best disaster scene in the history of the genre.It involves a long flashback that comes at a very necessary point in the novel and it's something Bova rarely does. Most of his stories proceed in a rather standard linear fashion, shifting from one character to another, and there's nothing wrong with this. What's new in MERCURY is that he manages to keep the action moving while telling a tale about corporate rivalries and a fear of nano-technology. I would hope that he writes about PLUTO or one of the outer planets.I think that Bova could also write an excellent novel in this series (down the road) about the first expedition leaving the solar system. I'd love to live to see that happen, but it's perhaps a century away and probably will not be done by anyone on the earth, particularly Americans. In any event, I highly recommend this book and all of the others in the series. I think JUPITER and VENUS are also masterpieces.Bova justs gets better and better.

Action and Adventure Abound in This Novel About Mercury
Legendary Science Fiction author Ben Bova has crafted an excellent story about the closest and hottest planet in our solar system.

Saito Yamagata has dreams of using Mercury as a springboard for launching satellites and spaceships.He has chosen Dante Alexios to help make his dream a reality.However, Alexios holds many mysterious secrets of his own that he has been harboring for the past ten years.

During this earlier time, Alexios was known as Mance Bricknell.He had developed the concept of a sky tower which, built from earth, would stretch all the way into outer space.This tower was built using biological material to hold it together.Mance's dreams began to be realized, as the immense tower rose to the heavens from South America.Assisting Mance on his project was astrobiologist Victor Molina.Mance, Victor, and Lara Tierney met while in college and have been working together on the project.However, there were some factions, including the New Morality, who believed that the sky tower should not be completed.Others included different radical groups throughout the world.But the corporation who could suffer the most if the sky tower succeeded was the Yamagata corporation.The sky tower could launch satellites and spaceships much cheaper than Yamagata's corporation could.Plans were set in place to sabotage and destroy the tower.

With the help of various radical factions, the Yamagata corporation succeeded in recruiting people to bring the tower down.The tower was destroyed, killing over 4 million innocent people.Mance Bricknell was arrested and put on trial for the deaths of the innocents.Testifying against him at his trial were his so-called friend Victor Molina and Elliott Danvers, bishop of the New Morality.Found guilty, Mance was sentenced to exile in the Asteroid belt and was never allowed to return to earth.Resigned to his fate for the time being, Mance, who had lost everything, including his beloved Lara, pined away his time on a freighter ship.But, thoughts of revenge against those who betrayed him were never far from his mind.

Stealing a fellow crewman's identity after a space accident, Mance Bricknell became Dante Alexios, the man hired by the Yamagata corporation to oversee the operations on Mercury.But, revenge was the only motive for Alexios.He began with Victor Molina.Alexios planted rocks from Mars which contained lifeforms on Mercury's surface.Molina found the rocks and believed they were from Mercury.Thus, Victor claimed that life existed on Mercury.However, scientists back on Earth studied the samples and determined that they were not from Mercury.Victor Molina was disgraced by other astrobiologists and labeled a failure.Victor's other conspirator, Elliott Danvers, was disgraced by Alexios as well, as incriminating evidence was found on his computer.Suicide took care of Danvers.

This left Saito Yamagata, the head of the corporation which destroyed the sky tower.Two down, one to go.How will Alexios deal with him?

This is the first book by Ben Bova that I have read, and I was favorably impressed.The story is extremely well-conceived, and the development of the characters as the story goes along is excellent.I especially liked the story about Mance Bricknell/Dante Alexios and his quest to exact his revenge on the ones who betrayed him.Bova also included two "Data Bank" chapters in his book.These non-fiction chapters provide interesting facts about the planet Mercury and a proposed real-life sky tower project.

I recommend this book very highly.The story is very good and the reader will soon be drawn in to the world of the barren planet closest to our Sun.Read "Mercury" and begin an exciting trip through our Solar System.

Good book, but not very original
*** Warning: SPOILERS ***
I enjoyed this book, as I have enjoyed most of Bova's books.But I can't help thinking he "borrowed" a lot of ideas from Kim Stanley Robinson's "Red Mars".The sky tower, it falling, the critial levels on Earth, colonization of the planets/space, the wars, extended lifespans, etc...Yea, a lot of writers have written about these things, but there are just too many similarities between these two books.

Science Fiction That Will Keep You Guessing!
Another science fiction novel from prolific writer Ben Bova, this one largely on and around the planet Mercury. Saito Yamagata, who is back among the living after being in cryonic storage and subsequently cured of his former illness, has a dream, and the financing behind him, to build solar power satellites in orbit around Mercury and use their power to propel starships. However, the destruction of the Skytower years earlier on earth complicates things in a very dangerous and detrimental way for Yamagata. Things are not always as they appear to be. The biologist Victor Molina believes he has discovered evidence of past life on Mercury, and Bishop Elliot Danvers has been sent to Mercury by the "New Morality" to oversee their interests. A classic love triangle also complicates everything.

As I read this novel I began to realize that I could'nt anticipate the direction of the plot to any great extent, surprises abounded. Just when I thought I knew who the hero and villan was Bova turns everything upside down with new twists. I consider this book a definite page-turner, a very satisfying read of 'hard' science fiction, with an unconventional ending. ... Read more

Product Description

THE WORLD'S LEADING SCIENTISTS CONFRONT THE ULTIMATE QUESTION: ARE WE ALONE IN THE COSMOS?

Featuring Essays by: Philip Morrison, Arthur C. Clarke, Donald Goldsmith, Frank Drake, Bruce Campbell, and Ben Bova.<

Never before has so much time and concetrated effort been spent by so many scientists and writers in pursuit of the answer to this fundamental question. In this extraordinary work, major scientists involved in the Search for extraterrestrial intelligence known as SETI explain their work and reveal their thoughts. Joining them are some of the best speculative thinkers, from Arthur C. Clarke and Isaac Asimov to Gregory Benford, who address the major philosophical questions involved.

Includes new essay by Dr. Donald Goldsmith, author of The Hunt for Life on Mars, and The Ultimate Einstein, on the new personal computer search for alien contact via the internet, and how you can partake in it.

You can share your thoughts about the Search for Extraterrestrial Intelligence in the new ibooks vitual readers group at www.ibooksinc.com

Customer Reviews (1)

GREAT READ
This is a great book.It is not an interconnected novel.It is a collection of essays from famous scientists and writers.Read this book in any order you want! ... Read more

Product Description
Although the true nature of light remains one of science's great mysteries, it is nonetheless at the core of modern physics. Extensively illustrated in both color and black and white, "The Beauty of Light" explores the origins of light and life in the formation of our solar system; the complex and deep-seated place of light in our evolution and history; the uses of light in painting, photography, and films; how great scientists have groped to understand the very essence of light; and a myriad of other intriguing and engaging aspects of illumination. The book reveals: how humans have beheld light in their religions and folklore, and how they have used it from the kitchen to the battlefield; how light affects our moods, appetites, and behavior; how light is harnessed in lasers, fiber optics, optical computers, and a host of other applications; how artists from Monet to Mathew Brady to Ansel Adams have used light and color; how the light of distant galaxies reveals the structure of the universe, and how light-powered spacecraft may one day take us to the stars. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (1)

The embodiement of all that is light
Ben Bova's 'Beauty of Light' offers a comprehensive exploration into the magic of light; its effects on our world and our perceptions. For all who work with light and colour, or who have an interest in the topic, this is a must for the library. ... Read more

Product Description
Once, Dan Randolph was one of the richest men on Earth.Now the planet is spiralling into environmental disaster, with floods and earthquakesdestroying the lives of millions.Randolph knows the energy and natural resources of space can save Earth's economy, but the price may be the loss of the only thing he has left - the company he founded,Astro Manufacturing. Martin Humphries, fabulously wealthy heir ofthe Humphries Trust, also knows that space-based industry is the way of the future.But unlike Randolph he does not care if Earth perishes in the process.And he knows that the perfect bait to ensnare Dan Randolph and take control of Astro is his revolutionary new fusion rocket propulsion system. As Randolph - accompanied by two beautiful women who are also brilliant astronauts - flies out to the Asteroid Belt aboard a fusion-propelled spacecraft , Humphries makes his move.The future of mankind lies in Randolph's hands. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (1)

WHAT THE BLAZES IS THIS BOOK ABOUT?
Does anyone know what this book is about? I've looked all over and cannot find any info.I rated the book only because the system forced a rating. ... Read more