Customer Reviews

Outward Bound

5 star:		(1)
4 star:		(4)
3 star:		(2)
2 star:		(1)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

This is a hard book for me to review. I am of an age to have read Heinlein and Asimov's juveniles when I was a teenager, although most of them I read as an adult. I read this book primarily because I am a big fan of James Hogan. I have not read any of the other Jupiter Novels, but I get the feeling from reading some of the descriptions and reviews on Amazon that there is a specific formula or "bible" that is set up for this series. That is not bad in and of itself, but I couldn't help but feel that Hogan was a bit constrained by this format. I remember the Heinlein juveniles as being a bit more free-wheeling. I would say that if you are an adult fan of Hogan, don't expect too much of this one. If you are a teenager and have enjoyed the other books in the Jupiter series, you will enjoy this one as well. It is a quick read, the characters are likeable, the science is realistic, and the changes in the main character and his friends as they come of age are believable.

Outward Bound is one of Tor's Jupiter series of young adult science fiction novels. These are trumpeted as an attempt to recreate some of the spirit of Robert Heinlein's famous "juveniles". In particular, they have mostly been set in the solar system, and have featured fairly realistic space exploration technology, and teen age protagonists. In these ways they resemble much of Heinlein's work. But too close attention to the model can result in a pale imitation instead of something special and new, and I fear that Outward Bound isn't new enough; or different enough.

The protagonist of the novel is Linc Marani. Linc is 15 or so as the book opens. He gets into a bit of criminal trouble, and gets offered an alternative to prison: a special new program.

The rest of the book details the steps of this program. They are pretty much what you might expect: a touch of discipline, learning about unsuspected skills (naturally including leadership), and learning about responsibility, for his own life and for others. The other main characters are a typical set: the sidekick, the girlfriend, the rival who does Linc wrong but isn't without ability, the weaker rival who Linc turns to his side. Linc progresses through the program, overcoming several obstacles: his problems with the bullying rival, resolved first by violence, subsequently by earning his respect; learning a cherished skill and facing disappointment when he learns he might not be good enough to do make a career of his skill; and finally a return to his home, where he learns that his problems on Earth just aren't important anymore.

Hogan is a good storyteller, and the book was enjoyable to read. But nowhere was I surprised: the whole thing unreeled exactly as I expected from the onset, with perhaps one minor twist. The characters held my attention, but they were all from Central Casting. The message was a bit understated, perhaps even too much so. While it was a relief to avoid the heavyhanded political screed of, say, the earlier Jupiter novel Higher Education (by Pournelle and Sheffield), and while the general point (that accepting responsibility for self and others is a good thing) is a fair enough message; once again there wasn't a compelling enough theme to really demand attention. When Heinlein got on his soapbox, as in Starship Troopers, he could be annoying. He could invite argument and disagreement, or full-throated praise, depending on your viewpoint or mood. But he definitely held your interest. Hogan here doesn't really hold the interest with his theme, or his plot; and the characters and storytelling voice are interesting enough to make the book an OK read, but not to make it memorable.

Outward Bound by James P. Hogan is the sixth book in the Jupiter series. This book was relatively easy to follow for me, a college age reader who is still getting used to cyberpunk type novels. The story is predictably told in short intervals, but without any major jumps occurring in the flow of the plot. As with many other cyberpunk novels, Outward Bound's main character, Linc Marani, knows only a community of selfish, backstabbing individuals whose greatest enjoyment comes from the use of drugs. At first, Linc sees no wrong with life being this way. Also consistent with other cyberpunk novels is the ultimate struggle the main character has with the stagnant society he finds out he wants to escape from.

One striking difference, however, is Hogan's acute characterization of Linc. The fifteen-year-old Linc Marani has spent his whole life within a few city blocks, running around with the wrong crowd, trying to scrape up enough money to get him and his parents by. The reader is able to see Linc's character change for better or worse with the decisions he makes. The story centers around Linc's ability to find a meaning for his life and his place in the universe. Will Linc be able to overcome his rough start to life and find his niche, or will he continue spiraling toward nowhere?

Hogan's confusing descriptions of futuristic technology coupled with a somewhat predictable plot prevents the novel from being a personal favorite, but the topics and issues the story brings up makes it quite worthy of reading.

Linc Marani, teenage stooge for drug dealers, is arrested and left to the system by his bosses who he once admired, he has only two choices - be written off and dropped in a hole in the prison system or check out a program run by Outzoners who are building a new society beyond Mars' orbit.

Set in the same unverse as the other Jupiter Novels by Charles Sheffield (Higher Education, The Billion Dollar Boy, and Putting Up Roots) and Jerry Pournelle (Starswarm), Outward Bound would be the fourth chronologically after the Sheffield books.

While Higher Education and The Billion Dollar Boy were very good entries in the series, and Putting Up Roots was a bit of a let down, Outward Bound misses the mark. This is not because it is a bad book; actually it is a pretty good book on its own. But, it is almost a retelling of the first book in the series, Higher Eduction, with different characters and different scenarios, but basically the exact same formula: Boy goes bad, boy chooses different path offered instead of being written off, boy is tested with other troubled teens, boy must deal with bully/nemesis without getting thrown out of the program, boy does well and goes to space, boy learns more in space and earns responsibility, boy saves the day. That series of events are identical with both books in the series. Oh, and Outward Bound is basically a Science Fiction version of the Outward Bound program.

So, if you only ready one, this one would be good, but Higher Education would be better as it establishes the universe and sets the tone for the series.

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A Guide to my Rating System:

1 star = The wood pulp would have been better utilized as toilet paper.
2 stars = Don't bother, clean your bathroom instead.
3 stars = Wasn't a waste of time, but it was time wasted.
4 stars = Good book, but not life altering.
5 stars = This book changed my world in at least some small way.

(Don't let the number of stars fool you. I only give the Bible a five. Four means I would *buy* this one.)

This is a fun read that is very upbeat. I have read it three times, checking it out of the library, and each time come away feeling better about the world. Good things can happen, even in a yucky future!

Linc (short for Lincoln?) really overcomes an awful background. Nice!

Having been an avid Heinlein reader for years, I was doubtful I'd ever find another writer who could capture my attention to such an extent...then I found Inherit the Stars one day. After several years of reading the Giant series, I thought I might look at some other books from Hogan. To my delight, I have discovered that James is every bit as good at weaving a story as the Master was, heh heh.

Outward Bound captures the same flavor as many of the Heinlein juvenile series does, telling the story in a uniquely Hogan fashion. While I detest flowery descriptions, I have to say this one is uplifting and touches your soul. Everyone should be able to relate to the young man's trials at different levels, and I recommend this book as a must read. Most will love it, some like it, and very few disappointed by the style...

Outward Bound is an excellent science fiction book for either the science fiction fan or anyone looking for a good novel. The book is a short read that seems to go by rather quickly, which is a first for a slow reader like myself. The chapters are fairly short, but make the book easier to follow. I was definitely surprised that the book kept my attention, I could hardly set the novel down.

Linc Marani is a troubled teen who wants nothing more than to live the fast life. He runs into problems with the law and is turned to an alternative boot camp for youth. There he faces the adversity of his new and mysterious life. He interacts with many characters and problems, such as Angelo, the buddy, and Arvin, the bully. Tension rises when Arvin and Linc continue to butt heads and neither are willing to back down. The central theme is whether Linc will be able to turn his meaningless life around into something that is worth more than anything on this planet.

This is an uplifting story that gives hope that there are better things out there, showing that hard work and self control can get you somewhere in life. The technology is a little hard to follow but gets the point across. I was intrigued throughout the novel, this is the best science fiction book I have read, and I would rate it above the well known novels such as Blade Runner, Snow Crash, and Shockwave Rider. James P. Hogan's Outward Bound is just an entertaining, feel good novel.

Outward Bound

Outward Bound is an excellent science fiction book for either the science fiction fan or anyone looking for a good novel. The book is a short read that seems to go by rather quickly, which is a first for a slow reader like myself. The chapters are fairly short, but make the book easier to follow. I was definitely surprised that the book kept my attention, I could hardly set the novel down.

Linc Marani is a troubled teen who wants nothing more than to live the fast life. He runs into problems with the law and is turned to an alternative boot camp for youth. There he faces the adversity of his new and mysterious life. He interacts with many characters and problems, such as Angelo, the buddy, and Arvin, the bully. Tension rises when Arvin and Linc continue to butt heads and neither are willing to back down. The central theme is whether Linc will be able to turn his meaningless life around into something that is worth more than anything on this planet.

This is an uplifting story that gives hope that there are better things out there, showing that hard work and self control can get you somewhere in life. The technology is a little hard to follow but gets the point across. I was intrigued throughout the novel, this is the best science fiction book I have read, and I would rate it above the well known novels such as Blade Runner, Snow Crash, and Shockwave Rider. James P. Hogan's Outward Bound is just an entertaining, feel good novel.