Scan barcode
A review by shane_tiernan
Orbitsville by Bob Shaw
4.0
I'm reading this because I miss my friend Seth. His username on the first site I met him on was "Orbitsville" because it's one of his all time favorite books. I actually went to visit him in Toronto about 10 years ago and we used to send books to each other all the time. He was on a bunch of sites but it looks like he dropped off the earth. Seth if you're reading this message me. It would be really good to know you're still kicking around memorizing every Dr. Who book ever written.
It worked.
And now about the book. I'm not sure why but I couldn't seem to put this one down. 240 pages in 12 days is a lot for me (and I read a graphic novel during that time too). It started off fast and ended the same way but the middle 80% wasn't action packed - just interesting. The book is subtle. Mr. Shaw doesn't go gonzo with the aliens and first contact stuff - it's all about (at least on the outside) a man with a mission. At a philosophical level it's more about the Dyson sphere thingy - which worked for me this time (I didn't understand it in Ringworld). It's about proportions that are almost impossible for the human mind to comprehend and how those proportions change the human (and alien) condition.
This is very "classic" sci-fi. Not as dated as some of the older stuff I've read but reading it reminded me of first reading the Foundation trilogy. The cigarette ads in my copy also added to the ambiance.
Thanks Seth.
It worked.
And now about the book. I'm not sure why but I couldn't seem to put this one down. 240 pages in 12 days is a lot for me (and I read a graphic novel during that time too). It started off fast and ended the same way but the middle 80% wasn't action packed - just interesting. The book is subtle. Mr. Shaw doesn't go gonzo with the aliens and first contact stuff - it's all about (at least on the outside) a man with a mission. At a philosophical level it's more about the Dyson sphere thingy - which worked for me this time (I didn't understand it in Ringworld). It's about proportions that are almost impossible for the human mind to comprehend and how those proportions change the human (and alien) condition.
This is very "classic" sci-fi. Not as dated as some of the older stuff I've read but reading it reminded me of first reading the Foundation trilogy. The cigarette ads in my copy also added to the ambiance.
Thanks Seth.