The man on the moon was dead. They called him Charlie. He had big eyes, abundant body hair and fairly long nostrils. His skeletal body was found clad in a bright red spacesuit, hidden in a rocky grave. They didn't know who he was, how he got there, or what had killed him. All they knew was that his corpse was 50,000 years old -- and that meant that this man had somehow lived long before he ever could have existed!
--This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.
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The man on the moon was dead. They called him Charlie. He had big eyes, abundant body hair and fairly long nostrils. His skeletal body was found clad in a bright red spacesuit, hidden in a rocky grave. They didn't know who he was, how he got there, or what had killed him. All they knew was that his corpse was 50,000 years old -- and that meant that this man had somehow lived long before he ever could have existed!
--This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.
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Most Helpful Customer Reviews
17 of 18 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
A future of possibilities.,
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This review is from: Inherit the Stars (Mass Market Paperback)
What makes 'Inherit the Stars' a good novel is the fact that it's genuine SCIENCE fiction, not science FICTION--or what some call science fantasy. Hardcore SF is difficult to find and it's difficult for publishers to fills those slots for hardcore SF. Most SF is actually social science fiction. Just because a story takes place in the future doesn't mean science and scientific theory is used, explained or investigated within the context of the novel. BUT `Inherit the Stars' has all that and more.'Inherit the Stars' is something of a mystery--not that a crime has taken place but there is a mystery--a science mystery--which Hogan went to great pains to make consistent as well as interesting to read. Clues are found and examined by the characters. Theories are tossed about, and soon enough, some of the theories `stick,' and the story hangs together well. Even though the book was published over twenty years ago, there are no glaring inconstancies due to the passage of time. The novel is solid as if it came off the press today, and very entertaining, and offers a startling future of possibilities.
10 of 10 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
Fabulous book.,
By
This review is from: Inherit the Stars (Mass Market Paperback)
I won't comment on the literary merit of this book, which I suspect is probably not all that high, but it was distinctly different in its time and probably influenced a lot of people for that reason. As others have mentioned, it's very much of a "science" fiction book. Even at the time, most of the speculative science seemed very plausible, and even reading it again today, most of it holds up really well. That was my first real introduction to evolutionary theory and, having studied it extensively since then, the way Hogan explained it via the Danchekker character, is a very good encapsulation of Darwinian evolution (interestingly, Hogan himself has become something of Darwin contrarian; check his web site and other novels).What I find so interesting about the book is its lack of heroics, really. There's no real action taking place, no battles between aliens (sort of) and courageous Earthlings. No one's life is ever threatened. It's a scientific detective story that gradually unfolds, but logically and rationally, and based on the results of research. This is why it was particularly influential to me; I eventually went on to an advanced degree in the sciences. Hogan showed that normal, ordinary scientists can be interesting. That you don't need to wield a laser gun or a lightsaber (!) to be part of a fascinating story. Essentially, that the process of discovery and analysis can itself be intellectually exciting. He captured the essence of what drives working scientists all over the world. As a budding computer nerd, this was the right fertilizer at the right time. Over the years, I've noted how his technology and societal predictions have held up. Some well, some not so well. Lots of people are still smoking all over the place in Hogan's 2027. Digital Equipment is still a major player in that world as well (and no sign of Microsoft! Ah, one can wish. . . .) Doesn't look like we'll have people on the moon, Mars, and Jupiters moons by then though, nor a Boeing 1027 that will reach LA from London in 3 hours. Still, even back then his imagined future seemed plausible.
4 of 4 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
Outstanding, gripping read,
By
This review is from: Inherit the Stars (Mass Market Paperback)
It's been more than 20 years since I first read Inherit the Stars, and yet I still rank this book #1 of all my favourite SF books. Like other reviewers have already mentioned, how do you possibly explain a 50,000 year old corpse on the moon? Hogan spins an interesting and believable tale and the result is a page turner you can't put down. Three sequels followed this novel, and although all enjoyable reads, they can't match the freshness and originality of this hard SF classic. Read Inherit the Stars - you won't be disappointed.
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