The Exiles Trilogy [Mass Market Paperback]

Ben Bova (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: October 1, 1994

Computer engineer Lou Christopher's life falls apart when the World Government decrees that the project he is working on is too dangerous to continue. Thus, he and thousands of other scientists and their families are sentenced to permanent exile from Earth on a space station. But Lou and several others decide to escape--by converting the space station into a starship.

Product Details

• Mass Market Paperback: 496 pages
• Publisher: Baen (October 1, 1994)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0671876317
• ISBN-13: 978-0671876319
• Product Dimensions: 6.6 x 4.1 x 1.4 inches
• Shipping Weight: 10.4 ounces
• Average Customer Review: 4.2 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (8 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #250,069 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

4 of 4 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars A good starter book for the young reader, May 12, 1998

By 

[e-mail] (United States) - See all my reviews

This review is from: The Exiles Trilogy (Mass Market Paperback)

This was the first science fiction book I read as a kid. The simple but imaginative storyline launched me forever into a love for true science fiction. The story is simply written but is very thought provoking. I have recently found the book again, and re-read it. It still has a magical effect on me, and it will be one that I hope does the same for my kids someday! I too would love to see a sequel of some sorts from Mr. Bova...!

2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Great sci-fi that should be made into movies!, May 28, 2008

By 

Ronald Martin II "betterJedi" (Columbus, GA USA) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: The Exiles Trilogy (Mass Market Paperback)

Someone recommended Bova's EXILES trilogy to me and at first, when I read the description, I wasn't too sold on the idea but I went ahead and decided to take in this adventure.

The three books that make up this trilogy are as different as different can be. EXILED FROM EARTH, the first in the series, was my least favorite. In fact, after reading it, I wasn't sure I wanted to read the rest of the series. It basically focuses on the world government forcing many scientists off Earth and onto a satellite that orbits Earth. It ends with the exiled crew voting to turn their satellite/prison into a spaceship that will carry them to another planet so that they can live in freedom once again. There's a lot of pulp-style action in it but a lot of it just wasn't very compelling and didn't make sense, ie, Lou escapes capture only to immediately return to work and grow suspicious that the place is deserted and then acts surprised when they come to capture him again. Unfortunately, if you're going to read any of this series, the first book is necessary to set up the real stories to come later on. I don't think the first book would make a good movie at all. On the bright side, it's a short, quick read.

However, book two is where things really get cooking. FLIGHT OF EXILES is somewhat of a murder mystery/political drama played out in space. The situation was much more compelling, as were the characters. This would make an excellent Sci-Fi channel movie-of-the-week.

My favorite book in the series was definitely book three - END OF EXILE. Talk about coming out of left field! It focuses on Linc, a kid amongst many other kids on the now century old, falling apart spaceship. There is almost no explanation given as to what happened to the adults in the prior book. Bova does a great job of leaving stuff up to the reader's imagination and I'm glad about that because I didn't necessarily want him to break away from the story he's telling here to take a time out and fill in the blanks. The story plays out almost like a LORD OF THE FLIES in space. There are a lot of themes about religion and faith - Linc ascending "up" the ship to consult Jerlet (more or less, God in this story) and then coming back ("resurrected") to face the masses and lead them to salvation. This third book would make an excellent made-for-tv movie.

2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Good sci-fi, September 9, 2003

By 

J R Zullo (São Paulo, Brazil) - See all my reviews

This review is from: The Exiles Trilogy (Mass Market Paperback)

People like to divide Science fiction in many genres: hard sci-fi, soft sci-fi, alien sci-fi, whatever. I don't even know what each one means. All I care is if it's good sci-fi or not. "The exiles trilogy", though not a masterpiece, is one very enjoyable story.

Ben Bova wrote the three parts of his trilogy between 1971 and 1975. The first part, "Exiled from Earth", set in the near future, tells about how the World government decides to cast away all the top-most genetic scientists and people working with them, least they un-balance the already precarious staquos quo of the overpopulated planet. This first part is the most action packed and has little science fiction in its lines, and is in fact the least likeable part of the trilogy. But what I noticed is that Bova's style is very similar to some of Asimov's stories, the ones featuring Lucky Starr, Elijah Bailey and Hari Seldon in the prequels to the "Foundation" series (books that I constantly re-read). Full of little plots that get together in the end, shallow but likeable characters, fast-paced reading.

The second and third parts, "Flight of the exiles" and "End of exile" are set aboard the sattelite/spaceship that becomes home to the exiles. These two parts have little or no connection between themselves or the first part of the trilogy, except for the fact of the earlier exile. They're darker, better written and the main plots are much more interesting. I won't say anything because I don't want to spoil the fun of reading them.

But my two comments on "The exiles trilogy" are: 1) Although the three parts were written in separate and were meant to be standalones, I think they must be read back-to-back. They'll be better enjoyed this way. 2) There are many things that happened between the three parts of the trilogy, but Bova hardly explains what happens. I was left with the feeling that I wanted something more, and I kept looking for it till the end, but those explanations never came. Maybe Bova could write new books about the Exiles. The story is very good and has potential for further development.

Grade 8.1/10