Customer Reviews

Red Thunder

5 star:		(14)
4 star:		(19)
3 star:		(1)
2 star:		(3)
1 star:		(4)

 

 

This book is a departure for John Varley, which he pulls off impressively. It has the feel of the later (non-juvenile)Heinlein "juveniles" (particularly Tunnel In the Sky), and this is obviously not an accident -- a number of references to Heinlein's work are scattered throughout, and I'm not sure I found them all. As in "Jubal, this is Manny my best friend."

The story is simple and outrageous -- 4 diverse twenty-year-olds stumble across a drunkard ex-astronaut, who just happens to have an eccentric genius cousin, who just happens to have invented the perfect space drive (an energy-producing device seemingly of infinite efficiency). For a number of reasons, it seems like a good plan for them to surreptitiously build a spaceship and go to Mars, hoping to beat the competing Chinese and American missions already on the way.

Of course, it's never that simple, and several varieties of black hats and paranoia impede their attempt, things go wrong, people need rescuing, but all is right, and more than right, in the end.

If you're looking for deep meaning or angst, look elsewhere. If you want a book to ENJOY they way you did when you were reading "Moon Is a Harsh Mistress" or "Double Star", go buy this book.

A fine book for hopeful people of all ages.

Based on the dust jacket blurb I would not have cracked the spine had not the name John Varley been on the cover. The description just does not sound interesting. But because it was a Varley book I sought out the book immediately, and was not disappointed; for it is this very fact that the plot does not thrill that makes you appreciate how masterful Varley is at telling a story.

Unlike his other novels, which are set in exotic locales, such as Saturn's rings or Luna's underground disneylands, that have an attraction all their own, Varley has chosen to set RT largely in Florida's redneck country. It is as if he is intentionally breaking form with his other locales. Although, on the surface, it may seem mundane this book gives nothing away to his other, more ostentatious, efforts, such as his Gaea trilogy, or the baroque Eight Worlds stories. It just doesn't seem to matter what the subject, Varley is able to engage the reader sublimely. Despite my ambivalence to the plot, I found myself, in the midst of reading, marveling at how enthralled I was by a novel that did not contain what I have come to regard as essential Varley elements. RT showcases his knack for characterization without any distractions. For this reason RT may be his most accomplished performance, demonstrating that his typical shock and awe techniques are just so much window dressing disguising the fact that he is a supreme storyteller.

The characters are so expertly drawn that the reader finds himself becoming pulled into the story regardless of the initial appeal of the story line. One finds himself empathizing with the characters and then, by association, becoming involved in the sequence of events simply because the characters care about what is happening. Told in first person narrative, from the perspective of Manny Garcia, the reader first becomes attached to the protagonist through just a few key scenes that anyone with a childhood fondness for the power and the glory of manned space flight will immediately succumb. Manny is a likable guy that underachievers everywhere will relate to. Once that has been accomplished it is inevitable that his close friends will become your friends, and then their passion for the project becomes infectious, and you find yourself suddenly and unexpectedly rooting for the cast of characters, working with them on the project, and wishing you could be a part of the adventure yourself. It is really quite an event; to watch disconnectedly as you are transformed from a skeptic to a fan in the course of a few written pages. I try to be mindful of this as I recommend this book to others, avoiding plot synopses in favor of an emphasis upon the characterization and wit.

Then, of course, there is Varley's trademark humor; another way that Varley pulls you in, makes you a part of the story. You know how, in life, you are drawn to the people that can make you laugh through the hard times. When life gives you lemons you make lemon-aid, or in Varley terms, when life's problems cause you to pilot a space shuttle a little too drunk and shoot a hole in your windshield with your illegal colt 45 to suck out the fire in the cockpit so you can crash-land into a herd of water buffalo in the African outback, you make it into a water buffalo barbecue and force NASA to pin a medal on your chest (35.3). He manages to coax a smile even in the most somber occasions; like when Manny is forced to plaster over bullet holes in one of his family's motel rooms so that the guests wouldn't be alarmed and their half-star Michelin rating would not be endangered (44.-4). Or when Dak's estranged mother capitalizes on his new found fame by announcing to the press that, "She was praying for Dak's safety and appearing nightly at the Riviera Room in Charleston South Carolina (317.-1)." This kind of wit is rare and fulfills the desire of many to be able to take life's struggles in stride. His characters don't take themselves too seriously, but they do make the best of things, and make you want to be there, to become part of their cordial intimacy. His characters may have problems, but they have a rousing good time in the midst of them, and they have each other to keep them company. Varley is supremely optimistic, and it is contagious.

RT is a simple story expertly told. Were it not for the finely crafted characters one might be tempted to label this as a juvenile novel. Not that it is childish or immature; rather, it is so good that aspiring writers would be well advised to read it. It is not a complex tale, so readers of varying skill can profit from the reading. The plot is reminiscent of one of Heinlein's juveniles: The protagonist is a youth just out of adolescence, who stumbles upon the invention of the century. He and his friends capitalize on this invention and embark on the adventure of a lifetime. But it is there that the comparison of RT with other juvenile novels makes its departure; for though its protagonists are young and brash, RT is always in control, masterfully enveloping the reader with prose whose simplicity and clarity belies its impact upon the reader. It does have a childlike quality that one remembers fondly from reading books in youth. Like Huckleberry Finn it is accessible to children of all ages, but far too good to leave to the kids. Read it to get a taste of Varley's quality, but brace yourself, his other works, although every bit as good, are not nearly so tame.

I've always loved Robert Heinlein's "Rocketship Galileo". Sure, it's the weakest of his juveniles, since he was just learning to write for that market. But it is the first Heinlein novel I ever read at the tender age of seven and for my money it is still the best damned Atomic Nazi's on the Moon SF novel ever written. So it was with great pleasure that I read John Varley's "Red Thunder". "Red Thunder" is set in the near future, our protagonists are Manny, Dak, Kelly, Travis, Alicia and Jubal who manage to take a breakthrough in physics discovered by the brilliant but wildly impractical Jubal and turn it into a working space ship. The book reads like an updated "Rocketship Galileo" except the characters drink, get laid and deal with a far more realistic world and problems than Heinlein's foursome ever did. Buy this book, sit back and enjoy the ride, it will make you wish that Varley were a more prolific writer.

I love Varley. His Titan trilogy stands as one of the finest works in all SF. That's why this is --so-- disappointing. As others have pointed out, this is vaguely reminiscent of Heinlein's juvenile SF, but it is not nearly as good. This isn't appropriate for juveniles and I don't even think they would find it interesting. The first half of the book is about the variously messed up lives of some uninteresting teenagers. The character development is poor, the dialog is wooden. The "washed up ex-astronaut" and the events that led to his disgrace are implausible and the "character" is very poorly developed. The novel is supposed to be filled with coon-ass cajuns from south Lousiana. Well, I grew up in New Orleans, and these characters are completely hollow, with no authenticity.

I can't recommend this book at all. Read Titan/Wizard/Demon or the short fiction by this author, but this book is one to avoid.

While I have thoroughly enjoyed John Varley's other books, this one was a major letdown. The technology is {bad} and not outrageous enough to be believable. The characters are just too earnest and predictable, and don't really develop during the story. I really wish I had waited for the paperback to come out instead of buying it in hardcover...

This book really took me back to the Heinlein novels I (like every other S.F. fan of my generation) read when I was a kid. Unlike Heinlein, though, this novel is loaded with homages-- to Heinlein himself, and to Florida-based writers like John D. MacDonald and Carl Hiaason (don't know why Dave Barry didn't make it). Watch for characters named Jubal, Manuel, Travis and McGee, and the Rolls Royce-pickup truck parked up on blocks. Although chunks of the book succumb to what MacDonald might have called "a case of the quaints and the cutes," it's highly readable and a hell of a lot of fun. But, Mr. Varley, sir, if you're reading this-- more Eight Worlds stories! Please!

It's silly, and tacky, the physics are ridiculous, and it has 3 egregious mistakes, but I really enjoyed the story, and I'm pretty critical of most Sci-Fi. Maybe because it wasn't taking itself too seriously. A really fun book. Taking the physics innovation as a given, he hung that together pretty good. Made one wonder what would happen at phase 3 though, which was an obvious extension they didn't talk about. (I won't spoil it, but you can think about that as you read it.)

Only things I caught that just didn't work that the author missed:
Somehow, with a snapped weld on their comms antenna, they don't go EVA to fix it for a couple days of flight? Then anal-retentive-boy post alky captain does a flipover? But the go EVA later, no problem. Daft I call that.

And then that cell phone ringing out at 4 light seconds from earth? Sure, you could pump up a signal and reach the phone, make it bark, use it as an annunciator, but talk back to the caller on that phone? That's outrageously silly. There wasn't any delay on the cell phone, but there was on the regular comms? Snort.

I really don't think the big earthmover tires would disintegrate on Mars overnight if frozen. Wouldn't faze'em one bit at Valles Marineris temperatures. Those long chain hydrocarbons with cross links don't break down from freezing. I guess our man John ain't a chemist. Nor has he spent time in North Alaska in winter or he'd know you can drive a wheel when the tire's frozen solid. It's damned uncomfortable, what with the flat spot goin' whack, whack, but tire'll do OK. Sure, it's not in the manufacturer's spec, but just about anything you do with a tire is out of warranty anyway. Tires are tough things. Just ask any landfill manager.

Those were the only floozer things. I'm a stickler for things fitting together. But those were peripheral and unless you're a rip-snorter like me, you wouldn't notice them.

So OK. I've spoiled the story slightly for you. Except it's a really fun story, and I loved it. Made me want to get the shop back together and build something. I think he had fun writing this story, and it shows, so I forgive those little glitches.

I was so excited to learn a new Varley novel was being published... I was crawling out of my skin with anticipation... heck, I even pre-release-ordered (I've never done that before). I have so totally enjoyed everything else I've read by Varley. His prior work totally resonates with me on many levels. Red Thunder arrives... I tear into it... and slowly, painfully realize (after several bouts of denial) that this was REALLY lacking. I read a magazine review that called the plot line plausible. Did that reviewer read the same book? I couldn't find a thread of believability (Steel Beach & Golden Globe had tons by comparison)... and one needs at least a thread in successful science fiction or science fantasy. I felt like Varley was writing for children. It read like it was written by a kid. That's fine, but promote the book that way. His characters were shallow - they resembled "Our Gang" characters. None spoke in Varley's formerly-wonderful, multi-faceted comic voice. The book was not mentally challenging... on any level... but worse, it was not engaging either. Sadly, I had to force myself to finish it. Sorry John... but I long for another Varley worthy of Varley.

If you cut your teeth on the myriad science fiction magazines in the late forties and early fifties - Astounding, Startling Stories, Thrilling Wonder Stories, etc - then this book is right down your alley. Yes, it is very much like the Heinlein juveniles of the fifties, but I do not have a problem with that. This book took me back to those adolescent days and long afternoons of reading science fiction and totally loving it. This book is fun to read. I'm sick of reading science fiction books that are well written and instantly forgettable, the books you pick up a month later and wonder if you've read. That won't happen with this book.

Varley takes a group af high-school students, an aging astronaut, a backwoods genius, and launches them on a grand adventure. The Chinese have a ship in space destined to be the first manned ship to land on Mars, the Americans have a ship in space that should arrive second but are destined not to arrive at all, and Jubal, the backwoods genius, says we should get there first. So what do you do? You build your own ship with new technology and get there first.

Too many science fiction writers today write crap. Well written, but crap badly in need of an editor not afraid to cut from a thousand pages to three hundred and fifty. John Varley's book is a normal size book that will give you a pleasant afternoon's read. Have fun.

Red Thunder is certainly a novel of exploration and entrepreneurial spirit, but it is more importantly about the people who are doing it.

Red Thunder is solidly plotted by Varley who puts this bootstrapping space exploration novel into the near future (my guess is 10-20 years, but he never specifies). The plot deals with the race to Mars. China is going to get there first. The US mission is lagging behind and has some potential troubles. The cast wants to get to Mars first and figures out a believable way to get there thanks to an invention by the unconventional genius, Jubal. From a technology stand point Varley does a good job covering all the points that came up in the book (i.e. how they heck are they going to do that?).

The cast of characters are solid save for Jubal who is more of a plot device than a character per se. Varley as always does a good animating the characters and you get to know them well. Jubal is responsible for the technology behind the novel, but his characterization never rang true for me.

Red Thunder is not Varley's best book, but what might pass as an average novel for him is still better than most other authors on a good day. If you are into Varley or into space exploration or Mars the novel is definitely worth picking up. For everyone else I would pick up other of Varley's novels and work your way to this one.