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Most Helpful Customer Reviews
1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:
3.0 out of 5 stars
Humanity's Landing,
By
This review is from: Arcturus landing (Paperback)
This out-of-print chestnut from the golden age of SF is an enjoyable story if you happen to come across it in a library or used book store. But on the other hand there's no need to search too hard, because Gordon Dickson did better in his books that are still in print. This one is a fairly typical future/outer space action yarn about the human race's quest to invent a faster-than-light device, without which the planet will continue to be quarantined by a federation of much more advanced aliens. However, the heroic inventor and his stereotypical sidekicks run into sabotage and obstructionism from a powerful corporation that has a stake in keeping the human race isolated and primitive. That's the one unique aspect of this otherwise typical novel, as Dickson explores themes of power, knowledge, and control. His future technologies and the personalities of his alien races are also engagingly creative. But unfortunately the novel doesn't try too hard to break out of the pattern of action and suspense that was typical for SF at the time, and the story wraps up too quickly for the important themes to be explored in any real insightful way. [~doomsdayer520~]
2.0 out of 5 stars
not great,
By Magnus (Chandler, Arizona USA) - See all my reviews
This review is from: Arcturus Landing (Mass Market Paperback)
I agree with the customer who said that Arcturus Landing is not Dickson's best, but it wasn't the worst book I've read recently either.
The concept was good. Humanity makes contact with an advanced alien civilization, only to be told it is not ready to join the Federation yet, and must prove its readiness by achieving faster-than-light travel capability. In addition, the aliens have imposed a time limit, and if humanity fails to achieve an FTL drive within that time limit, the aliens will break contact completely and let Earth fall back into isolation and economic collapse. The problem with this book is that the characters are much too thinly constructed and stereotypical (and in some cases so outlandish as to be caricatures, such as the protagonists' completely unbelievable alien friend Peep). The events and dialogue are childish and implausible, and nothing is ever explained to great detail (the few explanations are awkward), leaving you with the feeling that this was Dickson's freshman effort. I don't know if it was. Still, Arcturus Landing is mercifully short, has plenty of action, and kept me mildly entertained for a few hours.
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