Pirates of the Universe [Paperback]

Terry Bisson (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: March 15, 1997

In the shabby, war-torn, depleted Earth of the twenty-first century, Gunther Glenn wants to live in the utopian theme park "Pirates of the Universe." He only needs one more mission as a Space ranger--hunting the enigmatic Peteys, 1200-kilometer voids in space whose "skins" can be harvested and processed into a substance more valuable than gold--to get his chance. But the arrival of a mysterious package and the disappearance of another Ranger ship into the Petey void sends Gun on a mission through the bureaucratic maze of the mother corporation, the virtual-reality maze of the Dogg, and the Escher-like multidimensional maze of the Tangle for the key to his future.

Editorial Reviews

From Publishers Weekly

In the six years since the publication of his celebrated satire Voyage to the Red Planet, Bisson has published only short stories?one of which, "Bears Discover Fire," won both a Nebula and a Hugo. Now Bisson has returned, with elan, to the novel to tell the adventures of Space Ranger Gunther ("Gun") Ryder, who is one mission away from the coveted "Pirate of the Universe" title (and permanent resident, with his "best girl" Donna, in a Disney-Windows "live-in theme park"). When Gun returns from an encounter with some "Peteys" (mysterious, unmanned spaceships that have revolutionized Earth's economy), he finds himself entangled in a Kafkaesque conundrum. Unable to access either his money or his e-mail, he moves vulnerably from bureaucrat to administrator, with each encounter more macabre than the last, until he realizes that he and his fugitive cousin must, literally, save the universe. In the hands of a lesser craftsman, this comic-book plotting would dominate, but Bisson's deadpan narrative and dialogue carry the day, as do his laconic and dysfunctional, but very empathetic, characters. Readers will want to root for Gun as he tries to make sense of goings-on, even as they laugh at his creator's sharply satiric observations and cheer his storytelling panache.
Copyright 1996 Reed Business Information, Inc. --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

From School Library Journal

YA?Gunter Glenn, 21st-century Disney-Windows Ranger, is one hunt shy of reaching his life's ambition when he is put on Administrative Hold and stripped of his Ranger braid. His search for justice in a world gone mad takes readers on a wild romp. Business and government are tweaked in this story that weaves science, fantasy, and the indomitability of the human spirit into a page-turning adventure. One bit of 20th-century common knowledge after another is stretched to the absurd while the central thread holds readers' interest. Teens capable of leaving their disbelief parked for a few hours should have a grand time with Gun Glenn.?Barbara Hawkins, Oakton High School, Fairfax, VA
Copyright 1996 Reed Business Information, Inc. --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

See all Editorial Reviews

Product Details

• Paperback: 288 pages
• Publisher: Tor Books (March 15, 1997)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0312862954
• ISBN-13: 978-0312862954
• Product Dimensions: 8.2 x 5.4 x 0.8 inches
• Shipping Weight: 14.4 ounces
• Average Customer Review: 2.6 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (8 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #3,049,351 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

More About the Author

Formerly ('75-'02) a Kentuckian living in New York,
currently a New Yorker living in California.

Known mostly for SF short stories (Hugo, Nebula awards),
also writes novels, screenplays, comics and non-fiction.
Biographer of Mumia Abu Jamal. Former automechanic,
wrote CAR TALK with 'Click and Clack'. Produced and
edited NO FRILLS Books back in '80s. Completed ST
LEIBOWITZ AND THE WILD HORSE WOMAN for Walter M Miller
estate. Lives in Oakland. Rides a KLR650.

Hosts monthly author reading series in San Francisco (SFinSF).
Edits 'Outspoken Author' series for PM Books.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

3 of 4 people found the following review helpful:

3.0 out of 5 stars standard - but intelligent - post-apocalyptic sci-fi, July 26, 2002

By 

erica "ejs192" (New York, NY) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Pirates of the Universe (Paperback)

It seems every writer of science fiction has to publish at least one novel set in the not-too-distant future, in which the Earth has been largely destroyed by wars or environmental disasters, currently commonplace amenities such as electricity and personal freedom are rare, and the future is just as hopeless as the present. "Pirates of the Universe" is typical of that sub-genre. The main character begins in a position of status that insulates him from the difficulties of his world. His privileges are stripped from him without explanation, and he embarks on a journey to discover unexpected truths about his family, his society, and the universe.

There are positive aspects of this book that set it apart from most other works of its type. The plot is uncommonly complex, and there are a number of unusual, interesting details - it's clear that Bisson has devoted a lot of thought to the world he's created, and it makes for an engaging and stimulating read. But these strengths are marred by the book's essential weakness, which is - not surprisingly - its post-apocalyptic setting and tone. Bisson is often preoccupied by impressing upon his readers the unpleasantness of the book's universe, and this makes the book awkward and unpleasant to read at times.

Overall, "Pirates of the Universe" is an interesting and enjoyable book. The author has some good ideas, and he has the ability to write a plot that strings them together engagingly. However, readers who can't tolerate the preachiness that seems inherent to the genre will probably not want to subject themselves to the dose Bisson metes out.

2 of 3 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Surprisingly good, unsettling, and allows the reader to..., May 12, 2004

By 

J. Zeaman (Ashland, OR USA) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Pirates of the Universe (Paperback)

fill in some of the blanks.

I appreciate an author or director who allows the audience to make some sense of their world rather than spelling everything out in black and white. Bisson dips you into the world in a way that seems very natural, never heavy-handed. He's a writer who has some flair...in a subtle, sparse way. Odd combination, I know.

Hmm...hard book to describe...it's uncomfortable in spots, I can't say I'd want to live in this world, it's depressing...and yet I felt oddly bouyant. Its a rare near-future book that seems plausible, but this is one.

I'm not a huge P.K. Dick fan, but this remninded me of the things I like best about him.

Definitely worth a read.

1 of 2 people found the following review helpful:

3.0 out of 5 stars Lots and lots of spinning ideas; not quite enough coherence, July 29, 1998

By A Customer

This review is from: Pirates of the Universe (Paperback)

I read another review of this book which claimed that Bisson generates ideas at a frenetic pace, each of which could serve as the seed of a novel in its own right. While this is true, that's also one of the book's flaws. Some ideas do well with just a quick glimpse (like the virtual reality girlfriend who is copy protected and thus can't be remembered), but others just left me confused (the artificial-teenage-girl "gen"s, who ask only questions and are some sort of world-observing tools? How do they report their observations, and to who?). Some of the scenes were hysterical, though; my favorite was the Disney-Windows customer assistance office with three-day lines for the free clerk, the shorter lines that started billing you when you got in line, and the even shorter lines for the subcontractors to deal with D-W for you who took a substantial cut of the money you were due. Well, Bisson described it better than I do.