The Green Odyssey [Paperback]

Philip Jose Farmer (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: August 3, 2006

The Green Odyssey has been called "rollicking science-fiction adventure," "uproarious," "swashbuckling," and "sheer fun," and described by science-fiction critic Sam Moskowitz as "filled with engaging humor." The adventure begins when Alan Green arranges passage on a "wind roller," a sailing vessel of the plains, by dazzling the captain with a financial scheme that offers rich profits to overcome his reluctance to help a fugitive. Setting "sale" with the captain, Green thinks he's escaped from his dominating wife--but he's wrong. Throw in pirates, floating islands, and a black cat-goddess with a taste for beer, picked up after shipwreck on one of the wandering Islands of the Xurdimur, and you have the recipe for science-fantasy adventure as irresistible as Riverworld itself. Newly designed and typeset in a modern 6-by-9-inch format by Waking Lion Press.

Product Details

• Paperback: 184 pages
• Publisher: Waking Lion Press (August 3, 2006)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1600963838
• ISBN-13: 978-1600963834
• Product Dimensions: 8.7 x 6 x 0.5 inches
• Shipping Weight: 2.4 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.2 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (5 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #4,673,779 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars An old fashioned swashbuckling adventure, February 19, 2001

By 

Kurt Granzow (Portland, OR United States) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: The Green Odyssey (Mass Market Paperback)

This book is just plain fun. There are no deep issues here, other than the love story, just an adventure that sweeps you along for 150 pages. The main character is stranded on a foreign planet with no technology and when a space ship arrives he sees his ticket back to civilization. The story that follows is filled with ships that "sail" on grass instead of water, cannibals, pirates, moving islands, and, of course, a love interest. Put simply, the book is just a lot of fun.

Unfortunately, the book is out-of-print. But if you're willing to find an old copy somewhere, it's worth the hunt.

1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars For Farmer Fans, A Look At His Beginnings, April 4, 2003

By 

Chris Ward (Costa Rica) - See all my reviews
(VINE VOICE)    (REAL NAME)   

This review is from: The Green Odyssey (Hardcover)

This was Farmer's first novel. It disappeared for many years, and broke his heart when he was ripped off by his fly-by-night publisher and the manuscript was stolen. It's nice to see it back in print (and it's also available in its entirety on the web)-- it's not his best, but still very entertaining as a rollicking adventure with some fun ideas along the way. Farmer fans will want to read it to see where he began, and new readers will enjoy its simple virtues.

4.0 out of 5 stars A fun sci-fi quest!, October 12, 2010

By 

R. Dunn (Merrimack, NH) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: The Green Odyssey (Kindle Edition)

Alan Green was stranded on a barbaric, alien planet for two years. After his space vessel malfunctioned he was forced to seek refuge among the natives. He has survived as a slave, had a child, and even wed. But of course he wishes to return home.

Word of spacemen and a ship in a far off land reaches his village. The spacemen are scheduled to be executed and along with it, Green's hopes of getting off the planet will die with them.He realizes his chances to return home lie in liberating these men and escaping on their ship. But first, he must escape from his owners and face leaving his wife and children behind.

He must find passage across a completely flat plain with grass as high as your knees. The plain is as vast as an ocean. The people on this planet traverse the expanse in wheeled ships that have sails like a boat and function in a similar manner.

The plains are filled with animals, barbarians, and floating "islands". The dangers have been fueled by years of superstition and many prove to be quite true.

This was a really good sci fi story. Farmer has a wild imagination and he creates worlds that are dangerous, exotic, and believable. Highly recommended.