Status
Available
Call number
Collection
Publication
Futura Publications (1976), Edition: New Ed, Paperback
Description
Nineteen light years from Earth, on Sigma Draconis, an international space team stumbles upon the first evidence of another highly advanced civilization in the universe.Tragically, however, the Draconians are extinct and have been for a hundred thousand years. What mysterious disaster destroyed man's nearest neighbour in the colossal emptiness of space? And will the same fate befall Earth?The answers, as Earth degenerates into squabbles, paranoia and self-destruction, are vital. But how to begin the almost insuperable task of cracking the enigma of a long-buried and utterly alien culture?
User reviews
LibraryThing member websearchlady
John Brunner was always able to extrapolate from the past and present to warn us of the future. In this book, the future did not end well.
LibraryThing member endersreads
Sigma Draconis III is where the ship Stellaris brings Ian Macauley and company by way of hyperdrive from Earth. I believe it is the 3rd or maybe 4th trip to the planet the Stellaris has made, bringing fresh scientists, archeologists, et cetera, each voyage. A small group, consisting of about 30
Now, there are a few questions I have upon finishing the novel. Firstly, I believe that Ian was the catalyst for General Ordez-Vico in some way convincing Earth that the Stellaris need not ever return to Sigma Draconis III. We are led to believe the opposite—that Ian is responsible for convincing Ordez-Vico of the reality of the extinct Draconians, their lost civilization, and the intent of the scientists to collect data and reach a conclusion as to why there are no Draconians.
I believe the clue as to what Ordez-Vico's paranoid mind (indeed, in light of the dark epiphanies the reality of a defunct alien civilization can bring, all of Earth had become irrational) concluded from Ian's little speech was given in his paleness, sweating, suddenly sweet nature, and immediate departure. Obviously, he concluded something not at all rational, and most sinister—thus the hopeless conclusion of the story, which is a slice of Draconian irony.
I was very delighted by the pipe-smoking wise and fatherly character of Igor Andrevski as well as old Director Valentine Rorschach. I also was as thrilled as Ian was in his lonely journey to become a Draconian. The present drained away and the past became visible. Little novelties such as that adventure into the "bush" made reading a pleasure throughout. Piece by piece the mystery of the Draconian's demise comes together, thanks to Ian and his ability to perceive pattern.
What a depressing ending though! I can only think of the current state of the economy and of what humanity has been investing in. The big picture here, is that nothing here is immutable—not humanity, not Earth's varying species (we are told that 90-something percent of species that ever were are now extinct), not the Earth, nor even the Sun. By not realizing this, we bring ourselves to our own end.
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something people is left to unravel the planet's mysteries.Now, there are a few questions I have upon finishing the novel. Firstly, I believe that Ian was the catalyst for General Ordez-Vico in some way convincing Earth that the Stellaris need not ever return to Sigma Draconis III. We are led to believe the opposite—that Ian is responsible for convincing Ordez-Vico of the reality of the extinct Draconians, their lost civilization, and the intent of the scientists to collect data and reach a conclusion as to why there are no Draconians.
I believe the clue as to what Ordez-Vico's paranoid mind (indeed, in light of the dark epiphanies the reality of a defunct alien civilization can bring, all of Earth had become irrational) concluded from Ian's little speech was given in his paleness, sweating, suddenly sweet nature, and immediate departure. Obviously, he concluded something not at all rational, and most sinister—thus the hopeless conclusion of the story, which is a slice of Draconian irony.
I was very delighted by the pipe-smoking wise and fatherly character of Igor Andrevski as well as old Director Valentine Rorschach. I also was as thrilled as Ian was in his lonely journey to become a Draconian. The present drained away and the past became visible. Little novelties such as that adventure into the "bush" made reading a pleasure throughout. Piece by piece the mystery of the Draconian's demise comes together, thanks to Ian and his ability to perceive pattern.
What a depressing ending though! I can only think of the current state of the economy and of what humanity has been investing in. The big picture here, is that nothing here is immutable—not humanity, not Earth's varying species (we are told that 90-something percent of species that ever were are now extinct), not the Earth, nor even the Sun. By not realizing this, we bring ourselves to our own end.
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LibraryThing member isabelx
The archaeological investigation into the aliens was very interesting since they were so different from humans, and the final discovery of why the rise and fall of their civilisation happened in such a short period of time was worth the wait.
However I kept thinking that I had read it before,
However I kept thinking that I had read it before,
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probably because I have read other novels about a small group of scientists investigating an alien planet, so that part of it was rather unoriginal. Show Less
LibraryThing member DinadansFriend
A group of archaeologists working in another planet find cultural indications of quick expansion followed by the discovery of an ultimate weapon that worked. It doesn't really do anything to help me with the worries that have been a life-long companion. There's still the possibility that we'll blow
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up the planet... Show Less
LibraryThing member math_foo
What I thought was foreshadowing for the plot turned out to just be bad writing.
Subjects
Language
Original language
English
Original publication date
1974
Physical description
192 p.; 17.7 cm
ISBN
0860078833 / 9780860078838
Local notes
Omslag: Eddie Jones
Omslaget er ikke krediteret, men der er en signatur på omslagets nederste højre hjørne
Omslaget viser et rumfartøj, der hænger over et stort teleskop på Månen
Indskannet omslag - N650U - 150 dpi
Omslaget er ikke krediteret, men der er en signatur på omslagets nederste højre hjørne
Omslaget viser et rumfartøj, der hænger over et stort teleskop på Månen
Indskannet omslag - N650U - 150 dpi
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Pages
192
DDC/MDS
| 823.9 |