Procyon's Promise [Mass Market Paperback]

Michael McCollum (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: July 12, 1985

Trade paperback version of science fiction novel. Originally published by Del Rey. Book is large format, printed on bright white paper, perfect bound, with full color, plastic laminated covers. Books are autographed by the author.

--This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

Editorial Reviews

About the Author

Michael McCollum is the author of 10 science fiction novels and one book of short stories, with total sales of 250,000 books in bookstores. He is now the proprietor of Sci Fi - Arizona, an Online Science Fiction bookstores and publishing company. --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

Product Details

• Mass Market Paperback
• Publisher: Del Rey; First Edition edition (July 12, 1985)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0345302966
• ISBN-13: 978-0345302960
• Product Dimensions: 6.7 x 4 x 0.9 inches
• Shipping Weight: 2.4 ounces
• Average Customer Review: 4.5 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (4 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #957,171 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Quite a Good Yarn, August 12, 2007

By 

John A Lee III "jal3" (San Antonio, TX) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Procyon's Promise (Mass Market Paperback)

An ancient race has been civilized for hundreds of thousands of years. They have made all sorts of advancements but one secret eludes them. That is the secret to Faster than Light travel. As they become aware that there star is ending its time on the main sequence and will die, they become more and more concerned with finding FTL. They hit upon a scheme to send out probes to every star they can reach willing to trade their considerable knowledge for that of FTL.

One of these probes comes to Earth. Earth is not really it's goal but it has detected a hint that the goal may be found at Procyon and it needs fuel. Even so, Earth officialdom is eager to take part in the promised bounty. Not everyone is happy, though. Some fear that the new knowledge will affect their income and power and the probe is severely damaged in a battle, losing all knowledge of its Makers but not of its mission. The victors, aghast at what has happened, agree to outfit an expedition to Procyon. It departs and then fails to return on schedule.

Human beings, being what they are, soon forget their promise, at least on Earth. Those dispatched to Procyon, however, do not forget. After many trials, the find the secret and return to Earth in an FTL ship expecting Earth to help get the FTL information back to the original Makers. Their obligation to fulfilling the promise is almost a religious devotion. Earth thinks otherwise but eventually, after much coercion, signs on to the deal and the stage is set for a grand exploration of the Universe.

This is a highly readable story, engaging in its characters and sometimes painful in its frank evaluation of human tendencies. It is well written, enjoyable throughout and comes to an unexpected conclusion. What more could a SciFi junkie ask for?

5.0 out of 5 stars Well written, hard to put down, May 24, 2010

By 

Alan S. Rosenberg (the great American Desert-- Seattle in the summer!) - See all my reviews
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This review is from: Procyon's Promise (Mass Market Paperback)

As a follow up to the book Life Probe, which I found in my library and re read last month, I looked forward to Procyon's Promise and I had trouble getting to bed because I didn't want to put it down, I wanted to see what happened to the characters. Good work with character and plot development, I'll be looking at other work by the author,

5.0 out of 5 stars Procyons Promise ---UNFORGETABLE, October 1, 2009

By 

L Steven Richards "L Steven Richards (stvrich... (Long Island) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Procyon's Promise (Paperback)

Back in the 80's I bought this book, read it. It's the second part of an absolutely MARVELOUS first book... And NEVER could forget the story. As described it GRABBED you and carried you through. A very compelling read if you like Hard SciFi. I am here, searching for it now, because I want it again in my library. The only OTHER book I care about nearly so much is Larry Nivens "Protector". (well, John Steakley's Classic book 'Armor' is on my list too. "Armor" is a metaphor, for a very special soldier who -for some reason- can't die.). I also DO indeed want LIFE PROBE (the FIRST of this book-duo) for the same compelling nature of the story. In fact as with most stories it's usually the FIRST book/movie that "get's" you. Procyons Promise was simply the final chapter of a satisfying read, by a GREAT technical ("Hard" SciFi) writer.