Customer Reviews

Expendable

5 star:		(34)
4 star:		(19)
3 star:		(14)
2 star:		(4)
1 star:		(2)

 

 

SF is an excellent vehicle to explore aspects of our human nature or of human society. Expendable examines the definition of "humanness", the nature of bigotry, and the underpinnings of official corruption. The author creates a future in which people with appropriate physical defects are denied available medical care, and become second class citizens assigned to unpleasant and ultimately dangerous work as Explorers in the human interstellar fleet. Explorers make first contact with aliens and sometimes fall victim to injury or death due to misunderstandings. Because Explorers are physically unattractive, other members of the interstellar fleet can accept death or injury of these people (or almost people, in their eyes) more easily. A dark secret is that the Admiralty uses an apparently hospitable planet as a dumping ground for undesirables, since for unknown reasons, no one apparently survives or returns.

Gardner creates an interesting tale that has moral underpinnings without preaching to the reader. The book is well-written and flows nicely. He builds smoothly to a climax and the characters, including some distinctly alien beings, are people who you care about. I did wonder why the marooned Explorers, who have no close attachments in the way of family or friends, are so anxious to return to an institutionally corrupt society that has discarded them. A nice Earth-like world where one could live in peace seemed a pretty good alternative.

I read this book because it was on a list of books with strong female characters. I was not disappointed, and I found myself thinking that perhaps I had misjudged science fiction. The plot revolves around the concept that people get upset if attractive people are killed on dangerous missions, but no-one really cares about unattractive or physically flawed people. So although the technology is there to correct birth defects and other physical problems (such as stammering, obesity, or birthmarks), certain children are left with their physical problem uncorrected and raised to be "explorers", so that if they die on a mission of interplanetary exploration, there won't be a public outcry or grief. These people are expendable, and no-one will notice they've died, except for other explorers, who will respond with their motto -- "That's what expendable means." They have been raised from early childhood and specially trained to sacrifice themselves. These "explorers" simultaneously think of themselves as superior and inferior -- "real people", as they call them, are shallow and weak, and yet they envy "real people." This whole concept raises questions about the value placed on physical perfection by our society and what it means to be someone who can't meet those standards.

The main character, Festina Ramos, is a female explorer sent on a suicide mission to a planet from which no explorer has ever returned. She and her partner are being sacrificed as part of a larger plot to deal with another undesirable of society. Needless to say, the planet turns out to be inhabited. Festina sets off on a long adventure of survival. I really couldn't put the book down, and I particularly recommend it to those who are interested in strong, capable female protaganists.

I was suprised at how much I enjoyed this book. It was well-written, with a very interesting plot. But what won me over was Gardner's ability to create a realistic, heroic, kick-@%% female character. This is an extremely rare ability for writers in any genre, and is enough to recommend this novel even without its other outstanding qualities. The constant sarcasm is a wonderful touch, and the outcast Explorers will appeal to any other cynics out there. But Gardner's real twist is that he manages to sneak something close to optimism in there without anybody noticing. Very sneaky. Very good novel.

Expendable is an absolute brilliant novel; that it is the debut novel for James Alan Gardner makes it even more spectacular.

Many science-fiction novels, television series, and films present the future as something which should be desired by the people of our present time. Expendable, however, shows the future as not-so-desirable in two pertinent ways: 1.) Humanity can rule itself, but must constantly act within the strict guidelines established and summarily enforced by The League of Peoples, which take on a nearly-mystical, nearly-godlike role, knowing all without ever being seen; 2.) Not everyone is "beautiful," and those with both the aptitude and the lack of beauty are made into Explorers, also known as Expendable Crew Members because of the logic that "no one will miss someone who is not beautiful" - this despite the easy availability of numerous surgical procedures to essentially MAKE someone beautiful.

This second point is what truly grabbed my attention from the second page. The main character, Festina Ramos, was born with a "birthmark" condition which has left "a lurid port-wine birthmark covering the right half of my face from cheekbone to chin." A very close friend of more than a decade has the same "birthmark," so the tale spun by Gardner is particularly personal.

Gardner's writing style is excellent - easy to follow, providing technological explanations without being deeply detailed, and split into short segments (ranging from several paragraphs to - rarely - several pages in length) grouped together as chapters to enable the reader to stop at really any point and feel it is a good stopping point (thus making it a great book for those who are often interrupted when reading). Unfortunately, however, the story is told in the first person in flashback, which takes some of the "danger" element away from the overall mood of the narrative.

Overall, Expendable is a very good read. The primary world Gardner creates is both familiar and foreign, and the narrative twists mostly unexpected. Especially for those with or those who care deeply for someone with the "birthmark" condition, this mark of "disfigurement" takes on a new light and helps to cause the reader to consider concepts of beauty in our present reality.

I found the basic concept of this book, that particularly ugly members of our future technocracy are considered expendable, to be patently untenable. Perhaps that's just wishful thinking on my part and Gardner has it right - alas!

As we progress in this, Festina Ramos' absorbing adventure, we befriend a number of well fleshed out and interesting characters. I admit to feeling that the characterization, as the plot, was a bit heavy handed, but I certainly enjoyed it.

Swept along in her discovery of the secrets of the exile planet Melaquin, Festina gradually loses everything that she holds dear. She remains firmly rooted in her distinct personality, however, and finally triumphs in a most unexpected way.

This book, like many of my favorites, didn't end as I turned the last page. Even now, mulling over it to write this review, I am struck by new realizations of the deeper purpose and meaning of Melaquin, that..... Noooooo, you'll have to read it yourself.

Bravo James Alan Gardner, and thank you. I'll certainly look for more Festina and more Gardner.

Festina Ramos is an Explorer, one of the ranks of the ECMs (Expendable Crew Members), who are chosen for dangerous missions because they are not physically appealing. The League of Peoples ensures that life is sacred and that there's no war and little crime. Festina, who is also bisexual (although this has nothing to do with her status as an Explorer), finds that she and her partner have been chosen to go to Melaquin, the planet from which no Explorer has ever returned. Festina is not amused and is determined to survive. Melaquin is apparently the dumping ground for undesirable personnel (like crazed Admirals who refuse to retire) and for various Explorers. Upon landing on Melaquin, Festina finds it's not unlike how Earth used to be. And the similarities only get stronger. And weirder. Did the Explorers who arrived before her and her partner survive? If so, where are they? "Expendable" is a captivating story full of whimsical and sarcastic humor, as well as intriguing social commentaries. It's a fascinating adventure for Festina and the reader who's plunging along, fully involved. I wavered rating the book either 4 or 5, and finally settled on 4 because it does end as one would expect, but that didn't disappoint me in any fashion. Instead it made me want to read more and find out what happens in the next book.

Like most good SF, this book makes some uncomfortable points about our current society by picking a facet and exaggerating it. How do we see those who are "different" or do not meet our standards of physical perfection? In this book, and frankly in contemporary America, those who are distasteful to look at are expendable. This book takes that to the extreme, and wraps it in a powerful and evocative story. Unfortunately, Gardner finds it necessary to sprinkle the tale with miracles and improbabilities that add little to the story or the message. The characters are solid and well-envisioned, and Gardner tells the story elegantly and well, but much of the novel is, um, expendable. Overall, though, a good novel with complex issues; well worth the time it takes to read.

James Alan Garner is remarkable. He's created a story in such a tired out genre, and warped into something that is enjoyable and readable.

Those who may think the primise of the book is too simplistic will quickly find out how well this story has been written. It displays the main characters' dilemma in dealing with who she is as a person . . . a 'expendable' person, who is trapped on a planet that was supposed to kill her. What happens after brings the reader into this world she's in -- and what troubles being someone that noone wants to mind losing brings to those people.

Why can't all sci-fi novels be like this? God, I can't wait for his next book (after 'Commitment Hour'). I'm not worthy!

WOW! I'd constantly seen this book in stores and read the short synopsis in the back but I figured it would probably be a bore. Then one day I finally decided to check it out and I was extremely surprised. So much of science fiction books nowadays try to be difficult and impend some sort of sciecne fictional philosophy on the reader just to confuse and bore the reader( I could give some examples but I wouldn't LOL! ) all at once. EXPENDABLE is a novel in which you find yourself hooked with the main character(s). The style of Gardner's writing is great. There's not a dull moment. If so, it so the characters will develop more. A treat that's very rare. Read it now! Enjoy it! And thank me later!

This book is a somewhat enjoyable and a quick read. It starts with some very interesting concepts that offer the promise of great science fiction philosophy. Unfortunately the author seemed to get tired towards the end of the book and doesn't put much effort into ending what starts as a great book.

At first, I thought the author was writing a book based on a concept that was pretty original. That is the concept that an entire book could be written with a protagonist, but no antagonist. With no clearly defined villian, the hero was free to explore more than just the tight boundries dictated by modern day media entertainment. And for two-thirds of the book this concept is brilliant and works very well. Unfortunately, at some point the author seems to "wake up" and realize that he has no where to go with the book because he has run out of ideas or he is too scared to creatively finish what he has started. And so within the last 40 pages of the book he creates your typical villian character and ends the book on a huge cliche. Sad, this book could have been so much better if the author had stayed true to his original premise.