Burster [Mass Market Paperback]

Michael Capobianco (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: June 1, 1990

Homeless Among the Stars

In a last ditch effort to reunite the world, the multinational starship Asia was launched fourteen years ago on a journey through the near solar systems. Its mission: to search out and colonzie Earth-type planets that could support human life. Yet, as the crew approaches their first destination in the Epsilon Indi system, an unexplained burst of radiation apparently emanating from Earth wipes out all contact with the mother planet.

Fearing the worst but unwilling to jeopardize essential crew members, the captain chooses the brilliant but restless Peter Zolotin to undertake the hazardous voyage back to Earth. With the aid of an advanced artificial intelligence Zolotin embarks on a mind-bending journey to discover the truth about Earth's fate. And the message he carries back to the orphaned cre will change the course of humanity forever.

A remarkable solo debut, Burster is a stunning and thought-provoking novel of a young man's coming of age in the galaxy.

Product Details

• Mass Market Paperback: 272 pages
• Publisher: Spectra (June 1, 1990)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0553285432
• ISBN-13: 978-0553285437
• Product Dimensions: 6.8 x 4.1 x 0.8 inches
• Shipping Weight: 5.6 ounces
• Average Customer Review: 3.5 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (2 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #4,152,445 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Excellent, October 11, 2004

By 

Johnnie B. (Dallas, Texas) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Burster (Mass Market Paperback)

As I understand it, this is Mr. Capobianco's first published work. If so, hes got a lot to live up to as this is an excellent work!

The author begins as Earth's first manned interstellar craft "Asia" is about to reach its target star system. Shortly after reaching orbit, "Asia" suddenly looses contact with Earth. After a little research the crew discover they are stranded. It appears a test of a spacecraft engine similar to theirs blew up in Earth orbit.

At this time, the story breaks into two segments. One is the "Asia" commander's efforts to figure out exactly what happened back home by sending the young slacker Peter Zolotin back in an exploration satellite called "Traveller". While Zolotin flys home, civil war breaks out between the long term inhabitants of "Asia" and a scientific team that were pulled out of suspended animation upon entry into the new star system.

Although the story is short, the author does an excellent job of developing the characters. At times one of the segments of the stroy line will slow down but the other one more than takes up the slack when this happens. All in all a good first showing.

I read this book many years ago and it appears the book is out of print. Take it from me, its worth it to search hard for this gem!

3.0 out of 5 stars Not bad, December 13, 2009

By 

Evan the Dweezil (A Place-Sort Of, Montana) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Burster (Mass Market Paperback)

This variation on a post-apocalyptic tale has battling factions amongst the last humans trying to make a go at colonizing a not terribly friendly system. Decent characters and writing make this story pretty good until the end just fizzles out.