Cyborg From Earth [Turtleback]

Charles Sheffield (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: August 30, 2004

Called "the new Arthur C. Clarke" by The Washington Post Book World and "a scientist with a fine literary sense" by The Denver Post, Charles Sheffield has crafted a an exciting adventure about a frustrated teen who just can't seem to do anything right.Jeff Kopal is heir to a powerful military family. He's got everything going for him. Except one thing: Jeff is a total screw-ups. His family has had it. So when Jeff blows off his naval entrance exams he figures his future is basically kaput. Instead, he is being sent by the navy into deep space to deal with rebellious cyborgs. How did that happen?Jeff will have to find out before it's too late. Otherwise, He may become the pawn in someone else's dangerous-and very deadly-game.

--This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

Editorial Reviews

From Publishers Weekly

The Messina Dust Cloud is home to a flourishing human population seeking independence from Earth and rumored to be illegally experimenting with nanotechnology to create warrior cyborgs. The misfit heir to a transportation empire, Jefferson Kopal, is sent out to the Cloud in spite of nearly failing his qualification tests for the Space Navy. Once there, he undergoes a classic process of coming of age and of learning that things are not what they seem?things including his family, the Space Navy, the Cloud and, above all, the Cloud's technologies. Young Jeff is an appealing protagonist, embodying a plausible mixture of virtues and vices. Perhaps he's too appealing: Sheffield focuses so closely on him that other interesting and even essential aspects of the story (such as the climactic space battle and the confrontation over control of the Kopal transportation empire) are undeveloped, even somewhat jumbled by comparison. In any case, the novel?the most ambitious yet of the Jupiter series (Putting Up Roots, etc.)?succeeds as the edifying entertainment it, and the series, is meant to be.
Copyright 1998 Reed Business Information, Inc. --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

From Library Journal

Despite his demonstrated unfitness for military duty, Jefferson Kopal, scion of one of Earth's ruling dynasties, finds himself assigned to the Space Navy's Border Command, where he becomes a pawn in a conspiracy that brings the solar system to the brink of civil war. Sheffield's fourth entry in his Jupiter novels (e.g., The Billion-Dollar Boy, LJ 12/96) delivers a classic coming- of-age story that features a genuinely appealing hero caught in a conflict between duty and integrity. Following in the tradition of early Heinlein, this title should appeal to YA as well as adult fans of sf action-adventure. A good purchase for large libraries.
Copyright 1998 Reed Business Information, Inc. --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

See all Editorial Reviews

Product Details

• Turtleback: 286 pages
• Publisher: Demco Media (August 30, 2004)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0606311734
• ISBN-13: 978-0606311731
• Product Dimensions: 7.7 x 5.3 x 1 inches
• Shipping Weight: 9.6 ounces
• Average Customer Review: 4.2 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (4 customer reviews)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars HEINLEIN READERS WILL LOVE THIS, June 11, 1999

By A Customer

This review is from: The Cyborg From Earth (Jupiter Novel) (Paperback)

I really enjoyed the book, as I enjoy Heinlein books as an adult, but it is obviously geared toward the juvenile audience. Great. However, it is not finished and we are left hanging in space (pun intended) with the story unresolved. Heinlein didn't do that. I hope Mr. Sheffield continues the story line, but he has so many irons in the fire------. Well, we'll see.

3 of 4 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Just FYI..., July 9, 2007

By 

John A. M. Darnell "Pedantic Voracious" (Brookfield, MO USA) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: The Cyborg From Earth (Paperback)

I have not read this book, but since some are indicating that they wish Dr. Sheffield would finish the series, I would simply like to inform the public that Dr. Sheffield died in November of 2002, which is why it is unlikely that further episodes will be added to this series.

4.0 out of 5 stars My Only Regret, January 19, 2004

By 

W. Karoly (Tulsa, OK United States) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: The Cyborg From Earth (Paperback)

My only regret was purchasing this book without knowing it was obviously written as a series but obviously cancelled since it is now six years since The Cyborg From Earth was initially written. Seeing as how it is now 2004 I really don't think there will be a sequel. Oh well.