Customer Reviews

The Avatar

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3 star:		(1)
2 star:		(2)
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This book displays some of the best and worst aspects of Anderson's writing. The basic story idea and many aspects of the background are very good. An imaginative use of what were then relatively new discoveries and ideas in cosmology, very clever constuction of alternative species, and a relatively interesting future history. Unfortunately, there is also a good deal of stilted prose, clumsy attempts at eroticism, and a rather strange combination of simpleminded libertarianism and new-agish pantheism. All of these defects occur in some of Anderson's other books, but not in such concentrated form. Aspects of this book were recycled from an earlier and better Anderson novel - Tau Zero.

It's a long time since I read this, but every time I hear someone say there is no motive for human cloning, I just wish they would read it! "If livin' were thing that money could buy, you know the rich would live and the poor would die" (All my Trials, Lord)

I like most of Poul Anderson's work, but he missed it on this one. The story line is good, but the dialog was so syrupy and fake that I couldn't finish it...and my wife couldn't stand it either...try something else.

A fairly standard plot with some good ideas is marred by excessively predictable stereotype figures (the Brave Buccaneer; the Wicked Politician; the Dutiful Soldier) and by phoney dialogue (notably the dreadful stage Irishisms). What characterization Anderson attempts here is unconvincing. He has written far better than this.