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Most Helpful Customer Reviews
1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:
3.0 out of 5 stars
Uninspired/Standard Planet Colonization Novel,
By
This review is from: Orbit Unlimited (Paperback)
Poul Anderson's Orbit Unlimited is comprised of four short stories linked together chronologically and occasionally by recurrent characters. This structure is essentially a loose form novel. The first section describes the persecuted Constitutionalists (essentially Libertarians). There is a actually an interesting twist to this section however it feels very abrupt and hasty and leaves the reader at a loss (why didn't the father reconcile with the son?). The next section is from the perspective of the fleet captain (leading the colonization fleet) nearing the point of no return (i.e. if they are to head back to earth they need to or else it would take equally as long getting back as if they arrived at the destination and turned around - or something like that). This is actually the most interesting section since Anderson explores some themes that crop up in his later novels relating the culture the spacemen. Of course, he is not forward thinking enough to have women in the space crews and thus depicts the spacemen as sexist (the captain constantly worries that the women will be raped and even keeps them veiled). Anderson also explores the concept of time dilation etc. The "Most Dangerous Voyage of All Time" blurb on he front cover is essentially wishful thinking. The last two short stories describe the actually time on the planet. The planet is actually quite interesting so I won't give away its secrets since there isn't much else of to hold your attention in terms of plot/tension/culture/characters.
My main gripe is that Poul Anderson's characters are quite sexist. Women are veiled on the spaceships. On the planet the mothers are too scared to do much (even the most "developed" of the few female characters). Poul Anderson raises some interesting ideas. The colonists divide into small family units and when they settle the mayor of the colony seeks to rectify this situation since it will spell disaster for the colony in the future. On the whole its almost worth a read. If you enjoy Poul Anderson then it probably is worthwhile. 3/5
3 of 4 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
Enjoyable hard science fiction,
By
This review is from: Orbit Unlimited (Paperback)
Orbit Unlimited was published in 1961 by combining four previously published stories; I'm not sure whether to call it a connected short story collection or a fix-up novel. In either case, it is a hard science fiction story that tells the tale of the colonization of the distant Earthlike world of Rustum by a band of freedom-loving exiles fleeing an oppressive and stagnant Earth.
The story begins on Earth, but the bulk of the book tells the story of the journey to and colonization of Rustum itself. There are lots of details on the mechanics of space flight and the workings of different kinds of society. As is sometimes the case with Poul Anderson's protagonists, the main characters are interesting, even sympathetic, without being very likable. Orbit Unlimited is well worth reading for the Poul Anderson fan, for those who like fiction with libertarian themes, or anyone interested in a hard science fiction exploration/colonization story. I also recommend the follow-up, the story collection New America.
2.0 out of 5 stars
Disjointed stories form weakly linked plot,
By M-I-K-E 2theD "2theD" (The Big Mango, Thailand) - See all my reviews
This review is from: Orbit Unlimited (Mass Market Paperback)
Rear cover: `WAS IT A TRAP? The colonists' ships sped towards the far star- they were free at last from the tyrannical government that had oppressed them from birth. Then came the message from Earth- [Return at once- new government- guarantee your freedom- at home!] Was it a reprieve from death- for the perilous ordeal of colonizing an unknown planet would cost many lives- or a trick? There were only hours to decide- for it was almost too late to turn back...'
The 151 page novel was called a `superior planetary adventure' by Analog. However, the planetary adventure is only one third of the novel and it happens to be the last and worst part of book. The book is divided into four parts, but the plot is partitioned into three. Individually, the first three stories are OK but the limited connectivity of the last third to the other stories feels hasty and disjointed. The first third (3 of 5 stars) deals with the discrimination that the Constitutionalists are enduring on Earth. The tyrannical government start has the feel of Orwell's 1984 but swiftly turns from its literary beginnings into a fully-fledged `the oppressed seek refuge' kind of theme. Involving three generations of Svoboda's and a long unraveling of political oppression and aspirations, the aim of the full plot is quickly buried. The middle part of the novel (3 of 5 stars) find the Constitutionalists speeded through space to the once-explored (not unknown, as the synopsis says) planet of Rustum. Midway to the colony, the ship receives a message from earth to return. The captain grapples with the choice of homeward bound or refuge bound. His seemingly unpopular choice must be masked by betrayal and treachery. The final third of the book (2 of 5 stars) takes place in the planet of Rustum, years after the settlers have established their colony. Rather than focusing on the difficulty of running of a colony, the plot hones in on a runaway `exogene' child, which encourages his father and his unwilling accompaniment to go into unchartered territory.
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