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27 Reviews

5 star:		(22)
4 star:		(1)
3 star:		(3)
2 star:		(1)
1 star:		(0)

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4.6 out of 5 stars (27 customer reviews)

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38 of 38 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Gripping, September 6, 2001

By

Kurt A. Johnson (North-Central Illinois, USA) - See all my reviews
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This review is from: Space Viking (Paperback)

Lord Lucas Trask of Traskon lives on the Sword World of Gram, but is opposed to the Space Viking raids, on which numerous of the most talented Sword Worlders leave and never return. However, when his bride is killed a half-hour after their wedding, Lucas fits out a Space Viking ship and sets out for revenge. Sickened by the waste of the Space Viking life, he finds himself returning to his older convictions: that it is better to build than destroy. But, he finds that there are many who find destroying a simple and easy life, and what is the murderer of his wife up to? This is the story of one man's odyssey across the remains of the old Federation, his life, death and rebirth.

As I've said before, Mr. H. Beam Piper is probably one of the most underrated science-fiction authors ever. Here again, he produced a book with a fascinating milieu, populated by people who act consistently with their culture. I found the book to be quite gripping, proving impossible to put down as it rocketed towards the finale. I highly recommend this book to everyone!

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25 of 25 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Still relevant., August 12, 2001

By

Gilmoure "Gilmoure" (Sandia Park, NM) - See all my reviews

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This review is from: Space Viking (Paperback)

Though some of the technology is dated in Piper's books, the story, characters, writing and themes are perfectly fresh. "Space Viking" is a gripping space opera on surface but is also a great essay on the rights and responsibilities of citizens as well as a questioning of civilization itself. The only other science fiction books to address these concepts so well are Heinlen's "Moon Is A Harsh Mistress" and "Starship Troopers".

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20 of 20 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A Master Work, August 23, 1998

By A Customer

This review is from: Space Viking (Paperback)

I've been re-reading this book for 15 years and still find get something new from it each time. I judge all other sci-fi by this book and nothing has ever matched it. Jerry Pournelle once mentioned that he *attempted* to write a sequel to Space Viking but couldn't begin to match the details. The best part is that the reader never notices the acute attention to detail Mr. Piper must have paid to this . . you just enjoy the story. PS. no, I'm not related

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Most Recent Customer Reviews

5.0 out of 5 stars One of my all time faves!
This is one of my favorite golden age sci fi novels ever! I'm a huge Piper head and in my opinion this was the absolute best thing he ever wrote. Read more

Published 5 months ago by Amber Stuart

2.0 out of 5 stars I'll have a Heinlein instead, please
We all have fond memories of some books read in youth, and many people seem devoted to this book. Reading it for the first time as an adult, I do not find that Space Viking... Read more

Published 17 months ago by Dictum

5.0 out of 5 stars A great book
A great adventure book with quite a few things to think about hidden within it. This is one of the books that made me start to love classic sci-fi, and appreciate H. Read more

Published on November 24, 2009 by R. Paterson

5.0 out of 5 stars Great Space Epic
This story is in the genre of Space Opera, or even what is now called YA, though when Piper wrote it was most likely called Juvenile Fiction. Read more

Published on January 8, 2009 by David Wilkin

5.0 out of 5 stars One of the Best from One of the Best
This is classic sci-fi in its space opera format. I read this when I was a teenager because I'd read Lord Kalvan (Paratime series) serialized in Analog. Read more

Published on July 14, 2008 by Elfstone

3.0 out of 5 stars juvenile at best
This novel reads like an adolescent fantasy. What would I do if my new bride were murdered? Become a space viking of course! Read more

Published on July 13, 2008 by S. Gill

5.0 out of 5 stars One of the Best
If you ever played Traveller, or GURPS or anything else like that, you will love this story. Very well written and entertaining. Read more

Published on April 18, 2008 by J. Franklin

3.0 out of 5 stars The Echo of a Name
_Space Viking_ (1963) was a four-part serial in _Analog_ in 1962-63 and was accompanied by some marvelous John Schoenherr illustrations. Read more

Published on January 24, 2008 by Paul Camp

5.0 out of 5 stars A science fiction classic!
I picked this book up the other day at a used bookstore. I decided to do this when I saw that the book was in better shape than the one I have in the basement and the price was... Read more

Published on January 6, 2008 by N. Trachta

5.0 out of 5 stars Piper's best novel - a sci-fi classic!
With the transition of much of H. Beam Piper's work into the public domain publishers like Aegypan Press have finally begun to bring Piper's work back into print and for that fans... Read more

Published on August 1, 2007 by David Johnson

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Inside This Book (learn more)
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Key Phrases - Statistically Improbable Phrases (SIPs): (learn more)
telescopic screen, civilized planet, base planet

Key Phrases - Capitalized Phrases (CAPs): (learn more)
Space Vikings, Andray Dunnan, Prince Trask, Prince Bentrik, Space Scourge, Zaspar Makann, Old Federation, Otto Harkaman, Duke Angus, Lord Trask, Rovard Grauffis, Sesar Karvall, Royal Navy, Baron Rathmore, Alvyn Karffard, King Angus, Vann Larch, Duke of Wardshaven, Guatt Kirbey, Omfray of Glaspyth, Captain Harkaman, Boake Valkanhayn, People's Watchmen, Black Star, Count of Ravary

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