Customer Reviews

Alien Dreams

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Each year the Golden Duck Committee selects 3 books to get recognition as the best in childrens science fiction. Alien Dreams won for best in Young Adult Science Fiction.

This conversation I had online says it all:
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Me: I just read _Alien Dreams_, by Larry Segriff. It's a sequel to _Spacer Dreams_; dunno if you've read that or not.

K: Yeah, and I remember it too, what's more. It's the one where there was a girl who was wearing a black jumpsuit, and there's our hero of course, they're at a school for orphans, she gets picked on by a bully who's interested in her, they foil some space pirate's plans.

Me: Ooh, you *do* remember.

K: Amazing, isn't it?

Me: Well, I just read the sequel, and it's pretty good, except for one thing: The captain doesn't get a chair on the bridge. He has to stand. For his entire shift. On the theory that this will make him more alert.

K: No...chair? *tries to wrap her head around the concept*

Me: *giggle* I see you have fully grasped my befuddlement.

K: Maybe they have only a fraction of a gee to make it more comfortable.

Me: Good try, but no.

K: Oh come now, if we're saying they have artificial gravity, then it can obviously be modified - and why don't the captains mutiny for a chair? Or put one in when they're away from spacedock?
...
*still puzzling* So, if the captain wants to sit, he has to sit on the floor? And while he's waiting out one of his long, boring shifts, he just stands and/or sits on the floor?

Me: ROFL! No, no! He doesn't get to sit on the floor; wouldn't be dignified. Must stand!

K: *declares* We must take the weak, and separate them from the strong! We must differentiate the boys from the men, and the girls from the women! We must drive all weakness from the race of captains! And if that means they have to stand on shift, then by God they'll stand!

Me: ...and what's more, sometimes he stays *way* past the end of his shift, and I just can't buy it. I mean, he's *got* to be just *dreaming* of a chance to sit down as soon as he can.

K: A very valid point.

Me: Maybe they have genetic engineering that lets people stand for indefinite periods without pain?
Or really, really good orthopedics?
Or masochistic captains?

K: See above. Must purify the race of captains!
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And apart from that, folks, it was a pretty entertaining read. :)

This book offered so much to me. I thought I was all alone before I read it. This is a really good book. Did I mention this book is really good?