Jumping Off the Planet [Paperback]

David Gerrold (Author)

Product Details

• Paperback
• Publisher: NY Tom Doherty Associates; Uncorrected Pf edition (2000)
• ASIN: B000J3MR2M
• Average Customer Review: 3.8 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (24 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #9,121,960 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

More About the Author

David Gerrold is a figment of his own imagination.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

17 of 19 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars From The author of "The Trouble With Tribbles, March 1, 2000

By 

Harriet Klausner - See all my reviews
(#1 Hall OF FAME REVIEWER)    (REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Jumping Off The Planet (Hardcover)

Thirteen-year-old Charles feels as if he and his brothers are possessions that his divorced parents battle over. His mother loathes his father because she believes her three progenies ruined her career as a singer. His father detests his mother for her infidelity. Now his mother wants to terminate her former spouse's visitation privileges. However, the court awards him custody of his children for one month each year. He takes Charles, Douglas, and Bobby to Mexico where they catch a train to Beanstalk City. There they ride an elevator that reaches beyond the atmosphere and serves as the jumping off point for the moon and other space colonies.

Initially, the Dingillian siblings think they are enjoying a family adventure, but the older two brothers (Charles and Douglas) soon believe their father plans to abduct the trio. Though a bit unsettled and frightened, they realize their father wants to make up for his past indiscretions and broken promises to them. However, they soon feel like pawns again when they learn their father is involved in a plot to change the world order. That latest betrayal shatters the sense of well being leading the boys down a course that will alter their lives forever.

Anyone who likes the works of Norton or Star Trek's "The Trouble with Tribbles" should immediately jump on JUMPING OFF THE PLANET. The tale is set in an alien, high tech environment, but deals with human problems caused by the divorce wars. David Gerrold has created a trio of memorable characters who deserve to continue as stars in an ongoing series. Anyone who enjoys a thought provoking science fiction tale will fully relish Mr. Gerrold's latest novel.

Harriet Klausner

9 of 10 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Fast-paced yet thoughtful science fiction. A+, May 28, 2000

By 

Edward Alexander Gerster "miamibooks" (South Miami, FL USA) - See all my reviews
(VINE VOICE)    (REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Jumping Off The Planet (Hardcover)

When this novel first slid across my desk, part of me was thrilled to have another David Gerrold novel to read, while part of me dreaded dealing with a story line wrapped around a dysfunctional family -- seen primarily from the perspective of an adolescent. I am now extremely happy to tell you that the story line reels you in, and moves along at a pace like a run away train. The characters are believable and wonderfully real in their strengths and weaknesses.

The "world building" that Gerrold did in creating this novel is reminiscent of Arthur C. Clarke's "Fountains of Paradise" but in the Western hemisphere of a not-so-distant future. The balance of science to storyline is handled well, and the twists of story along the way are entertaining, if not exceptionally new. It is by no means a 'juvenile' novel, but instead should appeal to a much wider readership. Highly recommended.

4 of 4 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Before the Chtorr, February 19, 2004

By 

Joshua Koppel (Chicago, IL United States) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Jumping Off The Planet (Paperback)

This book is hard to classify but if you have read Gerrold's War Against The Chtorr books you will be familiar with the style.

The story concerns three brothers spending a visitation with their father. He suggests a trip to the Moon and, against all previous behavior patterns, actually seems to follow through on the idea.

Getting to the Moon involves using a space elevator located in Ecuador at Sheffield Clarke. This is one of two currently in operation.

But nothing is quite so simple. Mom thinks Dad is trying to kidnap the children. Where did Dad get the money? What about all of the strange characters who are interested in the family? Needless to say, it gets quite complex.

The whole story is seen through the eyes of the middle son (Charles or Chigger). Because of this, events and characters often seem more incidental than they really are.

The story is also fleshed out with loads of discussions on planetary economics, physics, biology, etc. There are also complications from the overcrowded Earth. Plagues are starting to spread over vast sections of the planet and there have been reports of giant pink caterpillars that can eat horses (Chtorr?).

Kids may star in this book, but it is really aimed at the thinking reader. This is not a fluff piece or an action yarn. But it is very entertaining and a good first piece to the series.