Status
Available
Call number
Collection
Publication
Orbit (1991), Paperback, 192 pages
Description
The wild, galaxy-hopping adventures of brash young scientists Jerry Courtenay and Chuck van Chider are at the core of this classic space opera. When the two college students develop a faster-than-light space drive in their homemade workshed, they decide to sneak it aboard their football team's airplane as a prank. The boyish plan backfires, however, and the boys find themselves, along with their crush Sally and the seemingly loveable school caretaker, Old John, hurtling through the solar system towards Titan--an icy moon of Saturn inhabited by hideous ice creatures. Titan and the 20th century are only square one as the foursome becomes embroiled in a vast, intergalactic, century-jumping battle.
User reviews
LibraryThing member Noisy
A classic. Well, perhaps only a classic for the cognoscenti, but still a landmark work. This definitely deserves a 'Don't start here!' warning for those about to explore science fiction in all its forms. As it stands, it still hit the spot for me on a re-read after three or four decades.
Now, you
I found it a pleasure to read. I like Harry Harrison anyway, and I have the background to appreciate the genre that is being ripped-off, so even though this could be seen as really crass and unnecessary it still gets the thumbs up. A lesser writer might have held back, but Harrison has the gumption to follow it through all the way. And, the skill to give it enough of a story to keep you from getting bored.
This isn't a book to recommend to a neophyte, and could definitely put an unprepared reader off, but - for someone harking back to how things were before science fiction became 'literature' - this is a must-read. I can't give it top marks because of its very nature as a pastiche, and because it isn't saying anything 'new' or in a new way. Also, its appeal will be very limited - this is for the discerning reader, only.
Now, you
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have to understand that this is a lampoon, and so when it starts off with a couple of college kids knocking up an FTL drive in a shed in the back yard and then rapidly proceeds to zipping around the galaxy in a modified 747 ... well, the pointers are there that this is a pastiche of a type of pulp novel from the 50s or 60s. The principal characters are drawn ... no, plastered with a trowel ... as stereotypes, and encounter aliens to which they have stereotypical reactions - quickly overthrown as they determine that the baddies are in fact goodies and vice versa (for a while, and then again maybe not). The damsel is thrown into peril and rescued (time and again); mysterious alien races who could solve all the problems with a snap of their [fingers/tentacles/claws] (delete as appropriate) are encountered - but are aloof or have problems of their own. By now you should realise that the plot is entirely secondary to the intent, but the story still whips along with enough variety to keep you involved. I found it a pleasure to read. I like Harry Harrison anyway, and I have the background to appreciate the genre that is being ripped-off, so even though this could be seen as really crass and unnecessary it still gets the thumbs up. A lesser writer might have held back, but Harrison has the gumption to follow it through all the way. And, the skill to give it enough of a story to keep you from getting bored.
This isn't a book to recommend to a neophyte, and could definitely put an unprepared reader off, but - for someone harking back to how things were before science fiction became 'literature' - this is a must-read. I can't give it top marks because of its very nature as a pastiche, and because it isn't saying anything 'new' or in a new way. Also, its appeal will be very limited - this is for the discerning reader, only.
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LibraryThing member rexton
This is one of the most irreverent and hilarious books I the canon of science fiction. It pokes holes in so many of the platitudes of space opera and pulp fiction in general that it would put Mel Brooks and Blazing Saddles to shame. I recommend it unreservedly.
LibraryThing member jimmaclachlan
A spoof of Campbellian SF & it is funny - once. Google John W. Campbell, a very influential SF writer/editor in the 50's-60's. Earth men were smart, courageous WASPs, aliens were dumb, cowardly BEMs & wanted our women. Earthman ingenuity & courage beat the BEMs EVERY time!
LibraryThing member TheDivineOomba
How to review this book. First - its not very good. But than, its not meant to be. This is a book that pokes fun at the science fiction tropes from earlier times - that is, young, smart men who can figure things out almost instantly, a token woman along for the ride. There is even a black guy with
Now, I said this book isn't good, and it really isn't. But, since its not really a book meant to be take seriously. However, you might want to read it for sentences like this; "I know one half of you is East German. But the other half is American!" or "... isn't it always like that? after all, on our tree-shaded, Midwest, bible belt, WASP campus, wasn't John the only and he was the janitor?"
Yup. Not good, but written for a point. Generally, if you want something with character development, a plot that makes sense, and something a bit more.... well, transparent, this is not the book for you.
However, its an easy, fast read if you you want to give it a try.
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typical drawl - who isn't quite what it seems.Now, I said this book isn't good, and it really isn't. But, since its not really a book meant to be take seriously. However, you might want to read it for sentences like this; "I know one half of you is East German. But the other half is American!" or "... isn't it always like that? after all, on our tree-shaded, Midwest, bible belt, WASP campus, wasn't John the only and he was the janitor?"
Yup. Not good, but written for a point. Generally, if you want something with character development, a plot that makes sense, and something a bit more.... well, transparent, this is not the book for you.
However, its an easy, fast read if you you want to give it a try.
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LibraryThing member Dirk_P_Broer
Botched attempt at humor. I usually like Harry Harrison's books, but this doesn't do it for me.
LibraryThing member DinadansFriend
I still dip into this book, whenever nostalgic for 1950's space opera. So it was funny, at the time, and even now. Comedy is hard to review because one doesn't wish to step on the author's jokes, that's not fair. It is certainly one of Harrison's best books, in my opinion.
Subjects
Language
Original language
English
Original publication date
1973-12
Physical description
192 p.; 17.6 cm
ISBN
0860078507 / 9780860078500
Local notes
Omslag: Chris Achilleos
Det er ikke angivet at det er Achilleos, men hans A signatur er nederst til venstre på omslaget
Omslaget viser to mænd og en kvinde i rumdragter og med laserpistoler
Indskannet omslag - N650U - 150 dpi
Det er ikke angivet at det er Achilleos, men hans A signatur er nederst til venstre på omslaget
Omslaget viser to mænd og en kvinde i rumdragter og med laserpistoler
Indskannet omslag - N650U - 150 dpi
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Pages
192
DDC/MDS
| 813.54 |