Customer Reviews

Higher Education

5 star:		(6)
4 star:		(7)
3 star:		(6)
2 star:		(2)
1 star:		(2)

 

 

"Higher Education" is the best science fiction novel written for young people since Robert Heinlein stopped writing juveniles in the early 60s. Using a future history that is both shocking and sad in its predictions (the satire on education alone will make any student or teacher love the book), Pournelle and Sheffield quickly capture the reader's attention with a classic prank. Like all of Heinlein's juveniles, "Higher Education" is a coming-of-age story, rife with the hardships of that perilous journey. The science is dead-on accurate; the adventure is even better. This is just a first in a series called "Jupiter Novels" all set in this future; while the other novels aren't sequels in the strictest sense of the world (and when will we get that sequel, Dr. Pournelle? Dr. Sheffield?), they are just as wonderful to read. I've taught this novel to high school freshmen over the last several years, and most of them go on to read the other "Jupiter Novels." As an adult who grew up reading Heinlein's juveniles, "Higher Education" brought me back that same sense of wonder.

Charles Sheffield and Jerry Pournelle have produced a feat of metallurgical wizardry: they took a plot worthy of the best of Golden Age hard science fiction and alloyed it with up-to-date characters, biting social commentary, and the best of modern space science. Given Dr. Pournelle's history in human factors studies in the space program and Dr. Sheffield's background in -- I believe -- satellite imaging, the realistic science is not surprising. Yet this book DOES surprise, in more than one instance. In a world of predictable plots, I find art that surprises me is GOOD art. "Higher Education" is good art. Because I think the surprises are integral to enjoying this book, I will praise them, but I won't describe them. For the plot, you can read the cover blurb, or the Amazon.com synopsis which covers the same essentials. In a nutshell: restless youth can't fit into the mundane world, and goes to space for a career and an escape. It's no coincidence that many reviewers have invoked the name Heinlein when discussing this book: readers of many of the late Robert A. Heinlein's works (especially his juveniles) can sketch out the broad outlines of the plot from there, as the protagonist grows and learns and becomes worthy of the appelation "hero". Said readers will expect one or more tough-but-caring mentor figures, at least one point where the protagonist realizes just how much he has changed, and a climax wherein his newly mastered skills are key to the resolution. Sheffield and Pournelle, both long-time Heinlein fans, haven't disturbed a formula perfected in works such as "Starship Troopers". Instead, they updated it, added in the aforementioned surprises, and underlaid the whole novel with a subtle primary theme which hides behind the more obvious Heinleinesque themes. And I think Heinlein would be proud: it's a theme he supported in many of his essays. There is one other reason why this book grabbed my attention, and why I expect to reread it very soon. It is my personal perception that the science fiction section of most bookstores is being inundated with the extremes: either fantasy, or else far future space opera that might as well be fantasy. Technological or "hard" science fiction, a staple of the Golden Age, has been a rarity for more than a decade; and hard SF set in the near future in the Solar System has become almost non-existent. It is as if this sub-genre, which in the Golden Age inspired the early pioneers of the space program, has lost its luster, as if this frontier-next-door isn't exotic or exciting enough for modern tastes, no matter how many exotic, exciting Golden Age stories prove otherwise. Recently, Allen Steele and others have been bucking this trend with stories of the next half-century in space. With "Higher Education", Sheffield and Pournelle have added another excellent counter-example: no aliens, no big explosions, no firefights, but a darn good story set in the day after tomorrow. We can only hope it inspires some future engineers like Heinlein inspired them.

I picked this book up in the store based on my like of the writing of Charles Sheffield. It sat on my shelf for a few months until I got around to reading it. Now I wish that I had started it sooner.

The book is about a young man named Rick Luban, an intelligent person but someone who is not challenged at his school. After getting expelled, he gets that chance to join the school of a asteroid mining corporation. His life will be changed from that point on.

What most of the book is concerned with is the education of Rick and his fellow student. Since most of them come from an educational system that does little, if not nothing, to prepare them for life outside of school most of what they are learning seems very basic.

This book's view on the science of the future is a nice change from the usual "Hey that piece of equipment could kill us all. Let's go ahead and use it with no fear what-so-ever." Ricks reaction to his first trip into space would probably be my reaction as well.

My only complaint about this book would be that some characters seem to act strange, or not how we think they should act. An example would be two characters who for about half of the book dislike and hate each other suddenly become somewhat friendly towards each other. I'm not saying that this ruins the book, only that it seems a bit odd.

This book has made a place for itself alongside my other favorite books. This look at the future that humankind makes for
I only wish that there were more books based on the same characters. The ending of the book is good, but I want more. I suppose that it the mark of great writing, that it always leaves you wanting more.

This first book in the "Jupiter Novel" series is still the best (with Cyborg from Earth coming in close second). It's a great short sf read for adults, and a good "entry" sf book for teens.

Follow the new life of frustrated teenager Rick Luban, kicked out of his medicore school. As it turns out, it was the best thing to happen to him--he's given a chance to prove himself able to meet his full potential and learn more than he ever dreamed.

The book does a wonderful job emphasizing the value of working hard and putting an effort into getting a good education (in spite of everything in this case). Yes, as someone has said, there are perhaps some adult themes (for that reason, I would not give this book to anyone under 14 or so--thus only 4 stars since it is advertised for all young adults and doesn't quite fit that in my opinion) but they are fairly tacitful, and fit the context. I wouldn't worry too much, it isn't half as bad as most of those prime time sitcoms on today...

All in all, well written with an adventurous plotline that has good values along with a dose of reality for good measure.

This book is a perfect evocation of the so-called "juvenile" novels that Robert Heinlein wrote in the 1950s, which got many young readers hooked on science fiction. The book has, however, a 1990s sensibility in the use of four-letter words and bluntness about sex that could keep it out of some school libraries. A right-wing sensibility informs the philosophical core of the novel, but the resultant message is that paying attention in class and working hard for the things that matter are the keys to fulfillment in life - which isn't such message for young people to hear. The girls in the book do work as hard and achieve as much as the boys, but it is at heart a boy's novel. If you liked Starship Troopers, you'll like this book too.

This is the best book I've read in several years. It goes straight from a very believable, present-day setting to an outer-space adventure which is reminiscent of Heinlein. I am deeply disturbed that the realistic portrait of the ghetto makes so many reviewers want to silence these authors.

There are a large number of science fiction authors who write entertaining fiction. There are a small handful of science fiction authors who write believable science. A depressingly small cross-section of authors can do both at the same time.

It is a rare treat to come across a "hard SF" novel as well-researched and entertaining as "Higher Education". There are no great technological leaps of faith here; everything is clearly explained and plausible. In many "hard SF" novels the tech is so obtrusive it ought to be a character in its own right. "Higher Education" leaves the science comfortably in the background while never losing sight of its importance to the story. Things are explained as needed, accepted as background when not.

Yet the most well-researched and plausible SF novel would read like a college textbook without people to identify with, characters who live in this world and show it to you through their eyes. Sheffield and Pournelle do a terrific job here and make this a great afternoon read

I found "Higher Education" to be a great read. It was entertaining on the surface and it discussed and made some evaluations of our society and education system that were enlightening and true. The only drawback of this book is the language and sexual conotations made throughout the book. Though it may be realistic, it is not the model that it should be for teens. If only we could see books that highlighted the good and the moral in people, rather than the bad and the immoral. This book almost reached that plataeu, but not quite.

I bought this novel because it has been compared to Heinleins juvenile stories, which I rather liked. The books feeling, in fact, is right, but apart from that it suffers from an oversimplified plot, rather wooden characters and a hard-to-believe background setting. The science seems correct, but that does not make this book "hard SF". I do not know about Sheffield, but if you want to read a good Pournelle, stick to "Prince of Mercenaries" or other books of his.

I really liked the premise of this book. The vision the author lays out is very believable to me, I could see this really happening.

I didn't care for his character development, I found it over done 'coming of age', but that's just me.

Overall, a fun quick read, but nothing really special.