Customer Reviews

Princes of Earth

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

 

 

I still find myself yearning to read this book occasionally, which says something to me about the quality of the writing.

It's a fantastic book with a well-crafted plot that takes you through the galaxy with a main character you feel that you know immediately. This is space opera in the best sense of the term. If you like Heinlein's juveniles or Lois McMaster Bujold, you'll love this one.

This book is a "juvenile" science fiction novel in the best sense of the word. It is a tour of a galactic empire by a young man who has received a scholarship to the Imperial university. Most of the book is his trip from the backwater planet where he grew up to the University on Mars. Travel can be complicated in this imagined future and several adventures break out along what should have been a routine trip.

A high school student will recognize the real cultures in history that inspire the peoples and planets encountered in this fictional world. There are some good ideas put foreward to stretch the mind, a brush with the dangers of politics, and the book never gets bogged down in details.

I find myself rereading this book every few years to remind me of what good science fiction should be. Highly recommended.

I can't believe that it took me 33 years from the original publishing to discover this book. I had never heard of it or of its author. And it is a shame. This is a thoroughly enjoyable read reminiscent of the best Heinlein juvenile novels.
I like this kind of novels because beyond the coming of age story, the author usually takes the pretext of having a young and naive hero to express a deeper subtext. Michael Kurland doesn't fail to do so, exposing very adult subjects with simplicity, style and the kind of tongue in cheek humour I particularly like. I wish I had known about this book sooner.

An out of print Michael Kurland I'd been wanting to reread for years. I was very happy to find it again and the price was reasonable. Shipped fairly quickly, and well protected. Happy with this transaction and overjoyed to be able to revisit this science fiction book. Not his best early work, but entertaining. His new works are mysteries, also very entertaining, but my favorite of Kurland's will always be the Unicorn Girl, a classic 70s trippy scifi, fun and funny.

Somewhat dated YA sci fi, but a great read nonetheless. The characters are likeable, the technology is fun, and it's a great old book if you can find a copy.

I thought this book was very well done. You do not get bored reading this book. One event in the beginning creates a chain reaction of events. It's just good old fashioned science fiction.