Customer Reviews

The Clouds of Saturn

5 star:		(3)
4 star:		(2)
3 star:		(0)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

This is my favorite novel by Michael McCollum. It doesn't have the following of his Antares or Life Probe series but it has a kind of well crafted elegance that sets it apart and I think above the rest.

Earth has been abandoned, rising solar radiation sterilizes our home world. Humanity has retreated to floating cities in the atmosphere of Saturn (plus some small colonies on the more mineable moons)

Human nature being what it is, intereige and conflict abound.
Our Hero, an interesting mixture of Han Solo and perhaps Sir Francis Drake, is drawn into a plot to bring all the independent cloud cities under one government ("to prevent war" quoteth the villain).

The author serves up a full helping of mystery and suspense, along with plenty of action. Charactor development is particularly strong in this novel and the inevitable romance is well handled.

I find the political overtones in this novel interesting. The idea of a single super government to "end all war" has a Wilsonian ring that students of history will recognize and it resinates stongly with our current international situation.

This novel should appeal to a wider audience then even the usual Sci Fi croud. The future tech is well crafted but stays in the background and doesn't intrude on the story.

So if you like adventure, in exotic settings, mixed with action, mystery and romance, this is one that you shouldn't miss.

I picked this book up (literally) off an airline seat during a flight across the country...and began to read it as I had finished the novel (forgotten now) that I had brought with me. This book, however, I have not forgotten and has peaked my long-lost interest in science fiction again. Very well written with technically exciting details of 'future world' possiblities.

I hope Mr McCollum becomes wealthy writing books like these: they are fun and easy to read, and also (speaking as a physics trained guy) they are generally scientifically accurate. Most sci fi books these days make ridiculous mistakes with basic physical laws. Please write more books!

This story envelopes the reader from start to finish. Since Mr. McCollum is himself an engineer, he has a good idea about the theories that he has based this story on. That is just the beginning. This novel is fantastic!

Humanity living in cities that float in the skies of Saturn, and a battle is taking place.

I read this book when it first was released and after reading Michael's other books, this one was a little slow.