Anti-Grav Unlimited [Paperback]

Duncan Long (Author)

Product Details

• Paperback: 176 pages
• Publisher: Avon Books (Mm) (August 1988)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 038075357x
• ISBN-13: 978-0380753574
• ASIN: 038075357X
• Product Dimensions: 6.7 x 4.1 x 0.7 inches
• Shipping Weight: 8 ounces
• Average Customer Review: 3.7 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (6 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #2,834,864 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

More About the Author

Duncan Long (http://DuncanLong.com/) is a freelance writer/illustrator who has authored 13 novels including Anti-Grav Unlimited (Avon Books), the Spider Worlds triology (HarperCollins), and the Night Stalkers series (Harper Collins). He's also written 60-some technical books and how-to manuals (with Paladin Press, Delta Press, Lyons Press/Globe Pequot, and others). Additionally, he's ghostwritten over a dozen titles for TV, radio, and stage celebrities.

Some of Long's technical manuals can be found in the private libraries of the CIA, US Marines, FEMA, the FBI's FTU (Firearms Training Unit), and other US agencies. Excerpts from his books and technical drawings have even appeared in US Congressional hearings.

As an illustrator Long has created cover and interior illustrations for HarperCollins, PS Publishing (UK), Byron Preiss/ibooks, Pocket Books, Fort Ross, American Media, Delirium Books, Ballistic Media, Mermaid Books, Swimming Kangaroo Books, and others. His artwork also appears in national magazines (including the Sun and Asimov's Science Fiction Magazine), and at Web sites and on CD covers.

Long's illustrations are noted for their often whimsical, dreamlike quality. Talk-show host Victor Thorn named Long one of the three "best graphic artists in the entire world." And the reviewer at 3D Millennium (M3 Corp., Inc.) wrote about Long's collected works, "To call him a prolific artist would be understatement, at best. Get yourself a snack and settle back while Duncan takes you on a wild ride through worlds only he has dreamt of."

You can find Long's graphic artwork and articles online at his site: http://DuncanLong.com/

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Very entertaining, March 7, 2007

By 

R. Bibber - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Anti-Grav Unlimited (Paperback)

A wonderfully entertaining and somewhat thought provoking work of "tounge-in-cheek" science fiction. Kind of reminiscent of some of Heinlein's work.

1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Enjoyable lightweight adventure, December 26, 2007

By 

booksforabuck "BooksForABuck" (Long Beach, CA) - See all my reviews
(VINE VOICE)   

This review is from: Anti-Grav Unlimited (Paperback)

Phil Hunter has just discovered the invention of the age--working antigravity--when he's laid off from his job, the entire department shut down. Phil decides this is what he's been waiting for--a chance to become fabulously wealthy with his own company, Anti-Gravity Unlimited. With anti-gravity, not only is space flight a cheap possibility, perpetual motion is also possible. With a couple of anti-gravity rods, it's easy to hook up a generator and create unlimited electrical current. All of mankind's environmental problems are solved--as are any issues with poverty. Phil sees a new utopia--until his house is blown up and all of his former co-workers are listed as killed in the paper.

On the run, Phil heads for his best friend's house, only to discover that his best friend has abandoned his long-time girlfriend (and clone)--where a hitman disguised as a bag lady tries to gun both of them down. Together, Phil and Nikki try to figure out how to stay alive for long enough to mass produce enough anti-gravity rods to allow him to start his business. Still, where on earth can they hide if the entire world corporate government is after them?

Author Duncan Long creates an intriguing dystopic future where corporations have taken over the government and are gradually replacing workers with robots, forcing the masses into poverty. Long adds charm to the story by having Phil accept this world in a matter-of-fact way. Sure everyone goes armed and expects to run into ambushes if they travel the interstates. Sure, armored bag-lady hitmen are going to be out there. Long keeps his writing and his narrative simple. ANTI-GRAV UNLIMITED wasn't (I don't think) targetted as a young adult novel, but it could have been.

I kept expecting to see some big reversal, a black moment, but things seemed pretty easy for Phil and Nikki. Because Phil made a big deal about his best friend (the one who'd cloned Nikki), I anticipated that Craig would play an important role--as an antagonist. Instead, the primary antagonist didn't seem especially frightening.

Unlike some other dystopic novels written during this period, ANTI-GRAV UNLIMITED doesn't really push the envelope and make us question society's directions. It's simply a nice old-fashioned story about one guy trying to get rich and get the girl in the face of overwhelming odds. Nothing wrong with that--I enjoyed it.

1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars A good old fashoned fun read., May 20, 2007

By 

John Patin "sfsponge" (LI, NY) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Anti-Grav Unlimited (Paperback)

Reminds me of the Heinlein books that got me started in SF (think 'Have Spacesuit, Will Travel').
I hope the typos mentioned by others were simply the result of a hasty data entry from the original print edition to the digital one. I never saw the original so I cannot say for sure. Only a couple of them are glaring enough to take the reader out of the story but I hope they get cleaned up before this entertaining book ever gets the reprint it deserves.
As for the suicidal 'bag ladies' I assumed they were 'programmed' with the same drug used on the Lincoln character. The bad guys were certainly portrayed as ruthless enough to expend a few pawns to keep their secrets.
Finally, If Duncan Long ever sees this I urge him to write a sequel. The ending certainly deserves one. It sure looks like he planned one. Let's hope he still has his notes.