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romymcg's review against another edition
1.0
Had to stop reading after plowing through a dozen dreadful chapters. I liked "New Earth" and thought this would be interesting, but no.
scottpm's review against another edition
4.0
Ben Bova doing what he does best, writing great character driven sci-fi. Highly recommended for fans of the Grand Tour series. If you haven't read the last few books in the series you may be a little lost.
romymc's review
1.0
Had to stop reading after plowing through a dozen dreadful chapters. I liked "New Earth" and thought this would be interesting, but no.
tilmar's review
radiation from explosion at center of galaxy on way to devastate earth
graff_fuller's review
4.0
3.5 Stars
Well, I finally started my trek through a few books by Ben Bova. I started the Star Quest Trilogy, which seems to have FOUR books in it, and the three my wife bought me are (by Goodreads standards) books 2, 3, and 4. I was thoroughly confused.
I then wrote Ben Bova via his website and got his editor (who was truly very kind). He told me that Ben Bova had recently passed (November of 2020), but he told me it was safe for me to read that trilogy the way it is...for the books are fairly self-contained, though they tell an overarcing story (Grand Tour).
The main question was why Goodreads says that New Earth was the first book in the trilogy, but my wife bought three books in the trilogy starting with #1 Death Wave, #2 Apes and Angels and #3 Survival.
I've just finished Death Wave...and I can see that there is a portion of information that would've been nice to have experienced before reading Death Wave, but the editor is correct, Mr. Bova writes a fairly self-contained story...that was fun and easily understood within the parameters of the book.
I really enjoyed the main protagonist, Jorden Kell and his alien wife (from New Earth). I presume the previous book recounts their first meetings and the building of their relationship...and their eventual return to Earth.
We have a crisis on Earth that has needed a strong governmental hand...and the main antagonist is up for the challenge.
Intrigue and fumbles are fun to read. I was frustrated a few times where it seemed to convenient to have actually happened OR the main characters or the antagonists were during truly stupid things (that seemed uncharacteristic for their position).
With minor problems like that, I really did enjoy this story. I will definitely read on...and will eventually go back and read New Earth...to understand the precursor to this trilogy.
I am a child of the late 60's and have grown up in the Star Wars (1977) movie that was Episode IV. We don't always have to have the story told to us in chronological order. Also, I grew up on C. S. Lewis and the Chronicles of Narnia...which were not told (or published) in chronological order.
I'm okay with it. Now, on to Apes and Angels, the second book in the trilogy.
Well, I finally started my trek through a few books by Ben Bova. I started the Star Quest Trilogy, which seems to have FOUR books in it, and the three my wife bought me are (by Goodreads standards) books 2, 3, and 4. I was thoroughly confused.
I then wrote Ben Bova via his website and got his editor (who was truly very kind). He told me that Ben Bova had recently passed (November of 2020), but he told me it was safe for me to read that trilogy the way it is...for the books are fairly self-contained, though they tell an overarcing story (Grand Tour).
The main question was why Goodreads says that New Earth was the first book in the trilogy, but my wife bought three books in the trilogy starting with #1 Death Wave, #2 Apes and Angels and #3 Survival.
I've just finished Death Wave...and I can see that there is a portion of information that would've been nice to have experienced before reading Death Wave, but the editor is correct, Mr. Bova writes a fairly self-contained story...that was fun and easily understood within the parameters of the book.
I really enjoyed the main protagonist, Jorden Kell and his alien wife (from New Earth). I presume the previous book recounts their first meetings and the building of their relationship...and their eventual return to Earth.
We have a crisis on Earth that has needed a strong governmental hand...and the main antagonist is up for the challenge.
Intrigue and fumbles are fun to read. I was frustrated a few times where it seemed to convenient to have actually happened OR the main characters or the antagonists were during truly stupid things (that seemed uncharacteristic for their position).
With minor problems like that, I really did enjoy this story. I will definitely read on...and will eventually go back and read New Earth...to understand the precursor to this trilogy.
I am a child of the late 60's and have grown up in the Star Wars (1977) movie that was Episode IV. We don't always have to have the story told to us in chronological order. Also, I grew up on C. S. Lewis and the Chronicles of Narnia...which were not told (or published) in chronological order.
I'm okay with it. Now, on to Apes and Angels, the second book in the trilogy.
ticklemonsta's review
5.0
Love Ben's work. Also love that he is from Philly. Really interested in reading the book previous to this.
shebafamily's review
3.0
The book caught my attention enough to suck me in a little at the beginning. Managed to finish it...The writing itself is good. But I did have a few complaints by the end. The plot was too simplistic (save civilization from the death wave), there were no real side plots or stories. I found the author's behind-the-times mentality to shine through every now and then with his depiction of future science and male female relationships. Smalls details throughout such as 'global warming' instead of 'global change', a main female character being submissive instead of the (assumed) peaceful/enlightened character and so on made me disconnect from the story.
ajlewis2's review
3.0
The story includes a woman who is from another star system and is human created by a race of machines from genetic material from Earth. Within her brain is the ability to communicate at faster than light speed. I found this aspect of the story intriguing along with communication in general in this future setting of our solar system. I did not find the writing very good. The author is a big name in Sci Fi and has written a lot, so I was let down that the writing quality seemed to be that of a rather inexperienced author. There was not much depth to the story or characters in my estimation.
Still, I am interested enough in the story that came before this one to read Bova's Star Quest and possibly the second book in this trilogy as well. I did enjoy the book; I just didn't think it was more than average.
Still, I am interested enough in the story that came before this one to read Bova's Star Quest and possibly the second book in this trilogy as well. I did enjoy the book; I just didn't think it was more than average.
alexctelander's review
4.0
In Ben Bova’s previous standalone novel, New Earth, Jordan Kell traveled to a distant planet and found life that had been created by an advanced form of being akin to that of humans. They learned a lot from these “aliens” with their advanced technologies and way of life. Now Kell has traveled back to Earth with one of the aliens who is his new wife to show her off to the world and let them know of this new Earth.
But there is also something far more important to bring to the attention of the people of Planet Earth. A death wave is traveling through the universe, composed of lethal gamma radiation; it destroys everything in its path and wipes out all life. It will eventually reach Earth, millennia from now, but in the meantime it will wipe out many intelligent civilizations.
Kell launches a campaign to build starships to help save these civilizations, for the people of New Earth have the technology to save them but not the ability. But he must contend with a world government and a leader at its head who is essentially running a world dictatorship.
Like his previous books, Farside and New Earth, Death Wave features short chapters and conflicts get quickly and relatively easily solved. This is not deep, hard, complex science fiction, but a fun story that keeps you turning the page wanting to know what happens next.
Originally written on October 28, 2015 ©Alex C. Telander.
For more reviews, check out the BookBanter site.
But there is also something far more important to bring to the attention of the people of Planet Earth. A death wave is traveling through the universe, composed of lethal gamma radiation; it destroys everything in its path and wipes out all life. It will eventually reach Earth, millennia from now, but in the meantime it will wipe out many intelligent civilizations.
Kell launches a campaign to build starships to help save these civilizations, for the people of New Earth have the technology to save them but not the ability. But he must contend with a world government and a leader at its head who is essentially running a world dictatorship.
Like his previous books, Farside and New Earth, Death Wave features short chapters and conflicts get quickly and relatively easily solved. This is not deep, hard, complex science fiction, but a fun story that keeps you turning the page wanting to know what happens next.
Originally written on October 28, 2015 ©Alex C. Telander.
For more reviews, check out the BookBanter site.
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