Renaissance [Paperback]

A. E. Van Vogt (Author)

Product Details

• Paperback
• Publisher: Pocket (March 1, 1983)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0671468413
• ISBN-13: 978-0671468415
• Average Customer Review: 3.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (2 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #4,506,032 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

3.0 out of 5 stars Aliens give women the power to dominate men, December 23, 2011

By 

Mitchell Glodek (New York, NY United States) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Renaissance (Paperback)

Renaissance by A.E. Van Vogt

Van Vogt often writes about secret societies and people who can see more or more clearly than others, and Renaissance is no exception.

Space aliens took control of the Earth decades ago, and, on the pretext that all of Earth's problems are caused by the male of the human species, have passed laws that forbid men owning property, reserve all political offices for women, and compel men to wear special spectacles at all times, even in bed. These spectacles severely diminish men's sexual drives and any other aggressive drives; in this way the aliens have created a society in which women totally dominate men. Peter Grayson, the novel's main character, becomes involved in a conspiracy led by ruthless men who break his spectacles, so that his natural drives return. On the one hand Grayson is happy to be able to live a more independent and more emotionally fulfilling life, but on the other the conspirators are a violent and dangerous lot, and may very well get him in trouble with the virtually invincible space aliens. What is he to do?

In addition to the traditional conspiracy adventure shenanigans and science fiction gadgetry (Grayson is a physicist who develops James Bond-style devices and weapons for himself), in Renaissance Van Vogt introduces somewhat unconventional musings on sexual mores, gender roles, and the role of religion in society, adding a welcome dimension to the novel. (Some may not welcome this content as much as I did; Renaissance could easily be read as anti-feminist or even misogynist.) This unusual philosophical content, along with a fast pace and many tense moments, make Renaissance a fun read that I am happy to recommend.

1 of 2 people found the following review helpful:

3.0 out of 5 stars Lacks credibility., June 24, 2001

By 

"phyed-rautha" - See all my reviews

This review is from: Renaissance (Paperback)

In Van Vogt's better works ,you believe whatever you read ,no matter how incredulous. In this book however ,something does'nt work ,too far-feched.

Peter Grayson ,is a man in a world dominated by women. Men can't drive ,can't have real-astate property ,and so on. All men are going through a procedure ,when they're 16yr old ,that weakens their eye-sight ,and are given spectacles ,that cause the aggresiveness of males to disapear.

All that is because an all powerfull race-the Utt ,decided ,after examining the human race ,that all the major problems are traceable to the human male behaviour.

Grayson is freed from his spectacles accidentally ,and becomes involved with the males underground ,as well as with the Utt official on earth.

In all ,not really bad like "The book of Ptath" for instance ,but not as idea filled as other books by Van Vogt ,and his usually wonderfull sociological theories of behavioral patterns ,are inclined toward chauvinism this time.

I would'nt recommend this book as a first Van Vogt.