Status
Available
Call number
Series
Collection
Publication
Voyager (1999), Edition: New Ed, Paperback, 208 pages
Description
Fiction. Science Fiction. HTML: Author of The Chronicles Of Thomas Covenant, one of the most acclaimed fantasy series of all time, master storyteller Stephen R. Donaldson retums with this exciting and long-awaited new series that takes us into a stunningly imagined future to tell a timeless story of adventure and the implacable conflict of good and evil within each of us. Angus Thermopyle was an ore pirate and a murderer; even the most disreputable asteroid pilots of Delta Sector stayed locked out of his way. Those who didn't ended up in the lockup--or dead. But when Thermopyle arrived at Mallory's Bar & Sleep with a gorgeous woman by his side the regulars had to take notice. Her name was Morn Hyland, and she had been a police officer--until she met up with Thermopyle. But one person in Mallorys Bar wasn't intimidated. Nick Succorso had his own reputation as a bold pirate and he had a sleek frigate fitted for deep space. Everyone knew that Thermopyle and Succorso were on a collision course. What nobody expected was how quickly it would be over--or how devastating victory would be. It was common enough example of rivalry and revenge--or so everyone thought. The REAL story was something entirely different. In The Real Story, Stephen R. Donaldson takes us to a remarkably detailed world of faster-than-light travel, politics, betrayal, and a shadowy presence just outside our view to tell the fiercest, most profound story he has ever written. From the Paperback edition..… (more)
User reviews
LibraryThing member clong
This is, in my experience, a truly unique book . . . a really bad first book in a series that turned out to be really quite good (doesn't it usually seem to work the other way around?). The Real Story disappointed on many levels. There's not much plot: a sadistic criminal captures and then
The Real Story's sole redeeming quality is that it sets up Donaldson's later transformation of the three key characters in the series (who are very one dimensional here) to pretty much the polar opposite of where they stand when first introduced (the good guys become bad guys, the jailer becomes the rescuer, the powerless become the powerful, etc.). In fact, my recollection is that (in the forward or afterward) Donaldson suggests that this book was as more of an etude in character transformation than anything else.
Despite my disappointment with this one, I did go ahead and buy the second book of the series at a used book store. I found it much, much better, leading me to go ahead and ultimately read the entire series, which I recommend.
Show More
repeatedly rapes the sole surviver of a space accident. That pretty much sums up the book. With that information in hand, you might well be advised to skip this first book altogether and move directly to the second in the series. The Real Story's sole redeeming quality is that it sets up Donaldson's later transformation of the three key characters in the series (who are very one dimensional here) to pretty much the polar opposite of where they stand when first introduced (the good guys become bad guys, the jailer becomes the rescuer, the powerless become the powerful, etc.). In fact, my recollection is that (in the forward or afterward) Donaldson suggests that this book was as more of an etude in character transformation than anything else.
Despite my disappointment with this one, I did go ahead and buy the second book of the series at a used book store. I found it much, much better, leading me to go ahead and ultimately read the entire series, which I recommend.
Show Less
LibraryThing member conformer
A short, disturbing read that might have been the science fiction equivalent of Joseph Conrad's Heart Of Darkness if it was a little deeper. As it is, it's little more than a whodunit turned inside-out, telling the story of an abduction and a framing in a twisted kind of detached retrospect.
Show More
Donaldson's writing style makes us feel like we're watching a security video as the events unfold, with the overall impression of a small, significant event in the past that triggers a larger sequence; this book is the first of five.But the real story of The Real Story is marred by some early and persistent scenes of misogyny and rape. Whether these incidents are supposed to make the reader sympathetic towards Morn, the female protagonist, or simply used to demonize her tormentor, doesn't really matter. The majority of the characters' backstories are laid out in more or less black and white, so there's no question as to whom each person's loyalties lie; mainly with themselves.Between the three characters, (there really are only that many) two are psychotic assholes, and when Morn is "rescued" from one by the other, you're not quite sure if it's a victory or not. Show Less
LibraryThing member Homechicken
I really wanted to like this book, I’ve enjoyed other books by Donaldson, and thought that a SciFi novel by him would be on par with his fantasy (eg The Mirror of Her Dreams), but alas, I was to be disappointed.
Violent and profane, it was a story that wasn’t fulfilling or really even rewarding
To top it off, Donaldson tells you the entire story in the first two pages as an outline, then lets you read the details in the rest of the book, so you already know what’s going to happen, you just don’t know how.
I even went so far as to read the Afterword at the end, where Donaldson explains the story and goes in to detail explaining Robert Wagner’s operas. Unfortunately, I stopped caring many many pages earlier, and just finished reading to finish the book. Sorry Steve, this is one series that is getting crossed off my list, and my opinion of you went down from this book markedly.
Violent and profane, it was a story that wasn’t fulfilling or really even rewarding
Show More
at the end. I understand there are four more books in the series, but based on this “introduction”, I have no desire to continue reading. I didn’t care enough for any of the characters, and the only one that wasn’t totally shallow was so evil and foul I hated him.To top it off, Donaldson tells you the entire story in the first two pages as an outline, then lets you read the details in the rest of the book, so you already know what’s going to happen, you just don’t know how.
I even went so far as to read the Afterword at the end, where Donaldson explains the story and goes in to detail explaining Robert Wagner’s operas. Unfortunately, I stopped caring many many pages earlier, and just finished reading to finish the book. Sorry Steve, this is one series that is getting crossed off my list, and my opinion of you went down from this book markedly.
Show Less
LibraryThing member ragwaine
This was strange. Whenever I read a book with perversion in it for some reason I always feel like it's the author writing out their fantasies and it creeps me out (even though I'm a huge pervert). In this case it's a major part of the plot so I get it, and I got over it fairly quickly. In the end
Show More
this ends up being a really original sci-fi story that is character driven instead of plot driven. I'm really curious what happens in the later novels since they're quite a bit longer than this first one. Not sure I would enjoy the same kind of thing if it was twice as long. Show Less
LibraryThing member Karlstar
I've read this book, or parts of it, twice, and found it very hard to get through. I like Donaldson's other books very much, but the plot, sequence and theme of this book bothers me, and the writing itself is not up to his style. I read the afterword and discovered how this book came about, but the
In addition, Donaldson is much more suited to fantasy than scifi. His universe just isn't well crafted. Don't read this unless you feel compelled by some mysterious force to read everything he's ever written, or every sci-fi book ever written. Save yourself some time and pain and read Asimov or Heinlein instead, if you are looking for sci-fi without reading an epic.
Show More
question remains, why? Why write a book about a pirate/thug/rapist/villain, only to make him the victim in a later book? Why?In addition, Donaldson is much more suited to fantasy than scifi. His universe just isn't well crafted. Don't read this unless you feel compelled by some mysterious force to read everything he's ever written, or every sci-fi book ever written. Save yourself some time and pain and read Asimov or Heinlein instead, if you are looking for sci-fi without reading an epic.
Show Less
LibraryThing member jburlinson
(...) Then there's a quite ridiculous, pretentious "afterward" where the author tells of his struggle to achieve "aesthetic perfection" with this book and compares himself to Richard Wagner.
All of this is made "profound" by the author telling us that the victim is really the rescuer and the
A piece of depth psychology: "maybe if I rape somebody often enough, she'll fall in love with me." (I paraphrase, but only to improve the grammar.)
If you like extreme sexual psychopathology -- stick with "The End of Alice." Space jockeys would do better to re-read their Heinlein.
All of this is made "profound" by the author telling us that the victim is really the rescuer and the
Show More
rescuer is really the villain and the villain is really the victim and hip bone's connected to the thigh bone and the... A piece of depth psychology: "maybe if I rape somebody often enough, she'll fall in love with me." (I paraphrase, but only to improve the grammar.)
If you like extreme sexual psychopathology -- stick with "The End of Alice." Space jockeys would do better to re-read their Heinlein.
Show Less
LibraryThing member danconsiglio
Stephen R. Donaldson has issues with women. If you don't believe me, just read the first chapter of those books about that chick who walks through mirrors. Bad issues. The man hates his ex-wife. He wrote this book around the time when his wife became his ex-wife (I read wikipedia as well as trashy
The universe that he creates in this "Gap" series is quite excellent. Good space opera stuff. The rape scenes that occur every other page are not as excellent. The first one is shocking, the second one makes it seem edgy, by the fifth you start to feel sick, by the ninth or tenth *you* start to feel like you need therapy. Good for die-hard fans. Good for the torture porn crowd. The series gets better, so you might want to give it a shot.
Show More
sci/fi). I hope his ex-wife either didn't read this book or moved way the hell away from him. The universe that he creates in this "Gap" series is quite excellent. Good space opera stuff. The rape scenes that occur every other page are not as excellent. The first one is shocking, the second one makes it seem edgy, by the fifth you start to feel sick, by the ninth or tenth *you* start to feel like you need therapy. Good for die-hard fans. Good for the torture porn crowd. The series gets better, so you might want to give it a shot.
Show Less
LibraryThing member N.W.Moors
I've read and greatly enjoyed all the Thomas Covenant books. I love the two books of Mordant's Need. I tried at one time to read this series and couldn't get into it, but recently a friend convinced me to try again.
The Real Story is more of a novella that, I understand, is the start to a much
I did enjoy this and now I will continue the series to find out what happens next. A great SciFi setting and story.
The Real Story is more of a novella that, I understand, is the start to a much
Show More
bigger series. The characters here, Angus, Morn, and Nick was well-drawn with hidden depths. That's the premise of the book, that the first chapter tells their story, but it is not the 'real' story of what has happened. Each character has good and bad reasons for what they do- I'm not sure you could say who is the protagonist or who is the antagonist. I did enjoy this and now I will continue the series to find out what happens next. A great SciFi setting and story.
Show Less
LibraryThing member imyril
This is very clever and very very horrible. And I still don't like what Donaldson does to women.
LibraryThing member TheOneTree
The Gap Series, stark, confrontational, and non-stop action all the way.
LibraryThing member mainrun
I hate tv shows that start with a scene, and once it finishes, have the text, "two weeks (or what ever) earlier." That's what this book did. The first 31 pages should have been the LAST 31 PAGES! It ruined it for me. Boooooo!!! Why do that! Ticks me off. Not going to bother with the rest of the
Show More
series, or this author. Show Less
LibraryThing member reading_fox
An odd start to Donaldson's magnificient space opera. This thin book is more of a prelude, setting the scene: Human's have expanded into space by virtue of megacorporations, and eventually alien contact was made. Nowadays the border is familiar, dangerous but known. Human's haven't changed much,
Show More
amoungst the ordinary people making a living are always a few who's prefer to take what oterh's have worked hard to earn, and then there's a few people just born lucky who seem to have an easy life. Set on ComMine Station by an asteroid belt some of these lives interact, but is the superfical reasoning really correct? Show Less
LibraryThing member mzieg
Read this twice, trying to give SRD the benefit of the doubt (loved Covenant 1-6), but still not impressed.
The author's afterword inserted between books 1 & 2 of the newly combined "Gollancz" edition did provide considerable insight, and gave me a much better understanding of what Donaldson was
I can't yet speak to his decision to graft the rest of the Gap Sequence onto what he admits was intended as a 1-off experimental novella -- I've only been through most of the next book, and while it's definitely a step up, it's far from the best best work he's done. (Will hopefully update this later if I can make myself finish it...)
The author's afterword inserted between books 1 & 2 of the newly combined "Gollancz" edition did provide considerable insight, and gave me a much better understanding of what Donaldson was
Show More
trying to do here -- but he shouldn't have to explain. If you need to explain your painting / poem / whatever, then unfortunately you've failed. I admire the experiment he was attempting, and I love it when authors try something new, but this was not a great book.I can't yet speak to his decision to graft the rest of the Gap Sequence onto what he admits was intended as a 1-off experimental novella -- I've only been through most of the next book, and while it's definitely a step up, it's far from the best best work he's done. (Will hopefully update this later if I can make myself finish it...)
Show Less
LibraryThing member Ma_Washigeri
Have read the first few and last chapters and flicked through the rest. I love the Chronicles and picked this up while waiting for the last (10th?) book to be written. I know he does torture but this was just too misogynist and life is too short to be bothered, even though it was a short book.
Show More
Probably a great scene setter for a new world for the later books in the series but I'll just have to miss out. Show Less
LibraryThing member stefferoo
Another recommendation from my husband, with the caveat that The Gap series can be a pretty dark and brutal read. I asked, "Dark and brutal like A Song of Ice and Fire but with spaceships?" His answer: "Actually, that's not such a bad comparison, in the
This first book, originally meant to be a standalone novella, only reads like an introduction to the three main characters. However, it's still a great story, meant to explore the classic archetypes of hero, villain and victim by presenting a scenario in the first chapter and then telling the "real" story behind it in the rest of the book. Things are not always what they seem and characters are not always who you think they are.
I look forward to reading the second book so I can start getting to the actual story and meat of this series.
Show More
horrible-things-happening-to-the-main-characters kind of way." So I picked this up knowing exactly what I was in for.This first book, originally meant to be a standalone novella, only reads like an introduction to the three main characters. However, it's still a great story, meant to explore the classic archetypes of hero, villain and victim by presenting a scenario in the first chapter and then telling the "real" story behind it in the rest of the book. Things are not always what they seem and characters are not always who you think they are.
I look forward to reading the second book so I can start getting to the actual story and meat of this series.
Show Less
LibraryThing member Ma_Washigeri
Have read the first few and last chapters and flicked through the rest. I love the Chronicles and picked this up while waiting for the last (10th?) book to be written. I know he does torture but this was just too misogynist and life is too short to be bothered, even though it was a short book.
Show More
Probably a great scene setter for a new world for the later books in the series but I'll just have to miss out. Show Less
LibraryThing member MacDad
The first volume of Stephen Donaldson's Gap series tells a story that sets he stage for the volumes to come. It's a futuristic tale of three people: two pirate ship captains, Angus Thermopyle and Nick Succorso, and a woman, Morn Hyland, who is Thermopyle's captive and the object of Succorso's
This is the plot of the book, and yet it isn't a spoiler to explain any of this as these developments are all outlined in the very first chapter. What follows in the seventeen chapters that succeed it is a detailing from Thermopyle's perspective of the events that made Hyland his prisoner and how Succorso creates the circumstances necessary to free her. It's an impressive feat of storytelling, as even knowing the outcome I was still engaged by Donaldson's description of the developments leading up to the confrontation at the beginning of the novel. The achievement is even more remarkable given Donaldson's characterization, as what starts out as a cliched tale of a chivalrous hero rescuing a beautiful damsel from the clutches of a swinish villain becomes a more complicated story with no real romance or heroism, just degrees of self-interest and depravity. While the narrative is often a brutal and unpleasant one, it's a masterful exercise in writing that serves as an effective introduction to a morally complex universe.
Show More
interest. Determined to free her from Thermopyle's clutches, Succorso frames his rival for a crime he did not commit, freeing Hyland from Thermopyle's control and leaving her former captor a prisoner of the authorities.This is the plot of the book, and yet it isn't a spoiler to explain any of this as these developments are all outlined in the very first chapter. What follows in the seventeen chapters that succeed it is a detailing from Thermopyle's perspective of the events that made Hyland his prisoner and how Succorso creates the circumstances necessary to free her. It's an impressive feat of storytelling, as even knowing the outcome I was still engaged by Donaldson's description of the developments leading up to the confrontation at the beginning of the novel. The achievement is even more remarkable given Donaldson's characterization, as what starts out as a cliched tale of a chivalrous hero rescuing a beautiful damsel from the clutches of a swinish villain becomes a more complicated story with no real romance or heroism, just degrees of self-interest and depravity. While the narrative is often a brutal and unpleasant one, it's a masterful exercise in writing that serves as an effective introduction to a morally complex universe.
Show Less
LibraryThing member usuallee
Grim, brutal, yet compelling prelude to a lengthy science fiction series. Much better written than your typical sci-fi novel.
LibraryThing member stnylan
Really just a novella, it has an excellent first chapter that sets the hook perfectly. Easily possible to finish at one sitting, and it sets up the rest of the series nicely. For all that it is possible to read it as a stand-alone, more or less.
LibraryThing member Zare
This was an unexpectedly interesting read.
I have to admit that I was wondering whether or not to pick this one up because of some criticism (heavy adult themes, in lack of better words). I was not sure I had stomach for anything heavy it was said this book contained.
But curiosity won and I read
Story centers around three characters:
- Angus Thermopyle, ruthless pirate, suspected by everyone on the local station to be a criminal but there are no proof of his shady activities. He is proud owner of a deadly starship (akin to Millenium Falcon, packing more than it is visible on the surface) and enjoys spreading rumors and fear wherever he goes. In truth he is very insecure, psychotic and in general sociopath, and it is visible his very life is one noone would want to any living being. Story is told from his perspective and we get to know him the most as story progresses. He is like a wild animal, imagine a prospector/hunter living in the wilds of North West America in 18th and early 19th century, living alone, no human touch or contact and constantly on the lookout for traitors and assassins, never at peace, constantly on the edge. There is no etiquette, no civil correspondence (unless there is fear of immediate reprisal, this is only time when he becomes civil of sort), just raw instinct and hate, lots of hate.
- Morn Hyland is a police woman that ends up ensnared by Angus. She plays a role here of a character through which contact Agnus starts to change. She suffers hideous things from Angus, but in some smaller paragraphs we can see that she is not what we might initially think. She carries some secret (except the obvious one) and we are still to see what is it.
- Nick Succorso - greatest enigma of all three. We are given some pieces of his origin story and it is obvious that he is as devious and deadly than Angus, maybe even more considering that Nick, unlike Angus, is visually appealing an full of charm. Why would he choose to help Morn is in my opinion still not fully disclosed.
Author treats us with some very realistic and dynamic space combat scenes, schemings and counter-schemings between our characters. Overall we are given a glimpse of a very complex world, controlled by all means and purposes by asteroid mining companies and endangered by ruthless and merciless pirates. And then we have a mysterious force, some unspoken danger acting in the background, still undefined.
Scenes of Angus' violence over Morn are present, but except two rather graphic and violent scenes - that were kept short - all the other violent actions take place in Angus' mind alone.
As for the content If you ever read any cowboy westerns where civilians end up as targets of roaming gangs I think you know what to expect (some recent epic fantasy books (Game of Thrones is implied here together with Berserker series) are not that far from similar scenes). Nothing too graphic (since this is not that kind of book), but with impactful presentation of the violence. Goal seems to be to show more Angus' changes of behavior then shock the reader with constant violations.
If this was a standalone novel it would be great. Since it is part of the series I now need to chase down the rest of the books to see how it ends (author's Afterword truly hooked me up).
Highly recommended.
I have to admit that I was wondering whether or not to pick this one up because of some criticism (heavy adult themes, in lack of better words). I was not sure I had stomach for anything heavy it was said this book contained.
But curiosity won and I read
Show More
this first entry in the series, and I have to say this is one excellent book.Story centers around three characters:
- Angus Thermopyle, ruthless pirate, suspected by everyone on the local station to be a criminal but there are no proof of his shady activities. He is proud owner of a deadly starship (akin to Millenium Falcon, packing more than it is visible on the surface) and enjoys spreading rumors and fear wherever he goes. In truth he is very insecure, psychotic and in general sociopath, and it is visible his very life is one noone would want to any living being. Story is told from his perspective and we get to know him the most as story progresses. He is like a wild animal, imagine a prospector/hunter living in the wilds of North West America in 18th and early 19th century, living alone, no human touch or contact and constantly on the lookout for traitors and assassins, never at peace, constantly on the edge. There is no etiquette, no civil correspondence (unless there is fear of immediate reprisal, this is only time when he becomes civil of sort), just raw instinct and hate, lots of hate.
- Morn Hyland is a police woman that ends up ensnared by Angus. She plays a role here of a character through which contact Agnus starts to change. She suffers hideous things from Angus, but in some smaller paragraphs we can see that she is not what we might initially think. She carries some secret (except the obvious one) and we are still to see what is it.
- Nick Succorso - greatest enigma of all three. We are given some pieces of his origin story and it is obvious that he is as devious and deadly than Angus, maybe even more considering that Nick, unlike Angus, is visually appealing an full of charm. Why would he choose to help Morn is in my opinion still not fully disclosed.
Author treats us with some very realistic and dynamic space combat scenes, schemings and counter-schemings between our characters. Overall we are given a glimpse of a very complex world, controlled by all means and purposes by asteroid mining companies and endangered by ruthless and merciless pirates. And then we have a mysterious force, some unspoken danger acting in the background, still undefined.
Scenes of Angus' violence over Morn are present, but except two rather graphic and violent scenes - that were kept short - all the other violent actions take place in Angus' mind alone.
As for the content If you ever read any cowboy westerns where civilians end up as targets of roaming gangs I think you know what to expect (some recent epic fantasy books (Game of Thrones is implied here together with Berserker series) are not that far from similar scenes). Nothing too graphic (since this is not that kind of book), but with impactful presentation of the violence. Goal seems to be to show more Angus' changes of behavior then shock the reader with constant violations.
If this was a standalone novel it would be great. Since it is part of the series I now need to chase down the rest of the books to see how it ends (author's Afterword truly hooked me up).
Highly recommended.
Show Less
Subjects
Original publication date
1990-11
Physical description
208 p.; 7.01 inches
ISBN
000647019X / 9780006470199