Customer Reviews

Steel Beach

5 star:		(23)
4 star:		(7)
3 star:		(10)
2 star:		(7)
1 star:		(2)

 

 

More than one of my friends has picked up "Steel Beach" on my recommendation, soon after asked me what on Earth I was thinking, and then soon after that told me it was one of the best books they've ever read.

Some people may initially find John Varley a challenging writer, if only because he doesn't flinch at thinking about how sexual mores will change along with science fiction staples as bio-engineering, space colonies and artificial intelligence. As a result, compared to most science fiction, "Steel Beach" initially feels as though it's obsessed with sex, although it's no more so than modern society's sexual obsessions projected forward over the centuries.

Once one gets beyond the discussions of future sexuality that would raise even Hugh Hefner's eyebrows, "Steel Beach" turns out to be about much more. There's a discussion of the role of a free press, celebrity-as-journalist, libertarianism, the role of ambition in human history and, once again, the relationship between God and man.

While not a short novel, "Steel Beach" feels like one, as Varley sends protagonist Hildy Johnson (look up the name on IMDB.com if you don't already get the joke) on a wild roller coaster ride that works both as a straight story and serves to make the thematic medicine go down smoother than smooth: "Steel Beach" never feels like Varley's got a Point To Make.

Ultimately, the book is a wonderful showcase for Varley's Eight Worlds setting -- aliens who sympathize with whales and dolphins have kicked humanity off the planet, almost exterminating them in the process -- and is a big wet kiss to Robert Heinlein's science fiction and worldview.

A rollicking good read, equal to his Gaean Trilogy, and only excelled by them in that we (so far) have only seen one book's worth of character development with Hildy, as opposed to the full arc in "Titan," "Wizard" and "Demon."

A must-buy for Varley fans and fans of Robert Heinlein.

"Steel Beach" was my first introduction into Varley's "Eight Worlds" universe (although he claims that this book technically does not belong in that series because of several timeline inconsistencies, come on, we all know it for what it is). The action in this book takes place much earlier than most of his "Eight Worlds" short stories, right at the Bicentennial celebration of mankind's eviction from Earth.

Denied their own home planet, Varley's humans have nevertheless carved themselves out a few nice spots in the solar system. They've managed to create a society totally dependent upon machines and artificial intelligence for their survival - the "steel beach" of the title, where man must struggle to evolve to his new environment.

Varley addresses a wide range of topics here, everything from suicide and depression to journalism, animal rights, child abuse, and the Second Amendment. Sound awfully didactic? Then you haven't been treated to Varley's prose yet, a delightful mix of cynicism, insight, imagination, and humor. His narrator, a tabloid journalist named Hildebrandt/Hildegarde Johnson (he undergoes a routine sex change partway through the story) walks us through Varley's world conversationally, as though you're an old friend.

I'm always impressed by how well Varley writes women (particularly Cirocco and Gaby from his "Titan" series). Hildy Johnson is another great female character, a tough cookie with a heart of... Well, gild at least. Secondary characters are great, too, although you end the book feeling that there were a lot of stories left untold. I wanted to know so much more about Callie, Walter, Liz, and the Heinleiners! I can only hope Varley returns to Luna soon.

I also regard this book to be one of the best I've ever read- I am a great fan of John Varley's works, and believe that Steel Beach is a culmination of something Varley's been saying with his Gaean Trilogy and Millennium- that life is only worth living when the fight is still there. I thought Steel Beach was a great commentary on the lives we live today, and what kind of a future we could be heading toward. He didn't have to kick humanity off of the planet to make the point he does with Steel Beach, but would we care about the lives of faceless billions, versus the hundreds isolated on the moon? The story, plot, characters, and fine details of Steel Beach will make it one of the most memorable stories I've ever read. I urge anyone with an open mind to pick it up

This book had me laughing out loud so many times my wife finally read it just to see what was so funny -- and she's not even a sci-fi fan (she loved this book, too). Varley's social commentary is so incredibly amusing and agonizingly accurate that it truly seems as if this were a very possible future for us. While the plot of this book can be a bit slow and wandering at times, the book itself is never boring. I highly disagree with other reviews on here stating that the characters are flat -- Hildy Johnson is, to me, a very believable character who engages my empathy and compassion. The only real problem I had with this book was the fact that it ended.

I have read all of Varley's works, and this one, while off to a slightly slow start, is worth reading! By the middle, you will be up way past your bedtime following the adventures of Hildy, whose satirical sense of humor had me laughing out loud. A brilliant social and cultural commentary of the future, which reflects on the "lunacy" of many 20th century institutions, such as the ludicrousy of media hype and consumer madness. Non-stop action, great dialogue, and an engrossing story make this one of my favorite science fiction stories, out of the many, many I've read. You really feel like you're there in the future. And I think it IS the plebian aspect of the characters that make them so fun to read about

Varley is not upbeat. He is not little trolls or faeries with gossamer wings. Varley can be man and woman, flesh and machine, human and god. If you want to read without thinking, stick to fantasy; If you want your grey matter stimulated, Varley!!!!

One of the best hard-science fiction novels of all time, one that does something most of that genre fails to do: tell a story about human beings.

Hildy Johnson and his/her world is involving, recongnizable without being mundane, and the story is thus all the more exciting.

Moreso than even the world of Varley's "Titan"/"Wizard"/"Demon" trilogy, this is a world I'd like to visit.

While Varley has his fetishes -- freaky future sex and comparing man's relationship to God with man's relationship with computers and alien entities -- he's the solid, mature, subtle writer Heinlein could only be in flashes.

A great read. Buy, read, share.

For a diehard Varely fan (since Analog's condensed version of "Titan" appeared) it was good to see Varley back in the literary game again, after a long absence. His book draws mostly from Opiuchi Hotline and Blue Champagne material, with some disappointing cyberpunk leitmotifs. Good action, interesting characters, sloppy plot (that's the cyberpunk influence again). Overall, a fun read for those of us who have long appreciated Varley's storytelling talents.

I have to say I've been a Varley fan since the the early 80's and this has to be his best stories ever. Everything in this book simply works for me.

the idea of mankind being booted from our homeland, barely surviving on the colonized worlds and of course on Luna.

Varley seems to have a great ability write female characters like no other male author can. We follow the main character through his/her sex change and he never skips a singe heart beat. the idea of how we evolved as a race it so well done.

Hats off to you Mr. Varley. We await your future works.

_Steel Beach_ can be a little scattered, but if one is willing to look between the lines I believe he has some interesting things to say about our society. Varley has a unique way of writing women characters- stong, passionate, independent, complete with historical context that helps us understand the person they have become. His gender definitions are more fluid that most, which results in characters that have depth and intersting tapestries of life. _Steel Beach_ is a detailed example of this perspective. While the plot line jumps sporadically, meaningful messages are appreciated by this reader.