Tau Zero Collector's Edition [Deluxe Edition] [Leather Bound]

Poul Anderson (Author), Vincent D. Fate (Illustrator), Hal Clement (Introduction)

Book Description

Publication Date: 1970

Masterpieces of Science Fiction, Collector's Edition bound in geniune leatehr, collector's notes by author

Product Details

• Leather Bound: 205 pages
• Publisher: Easton Press (1970)
• Language: English
• ASIN: B000M0S4MY
• Average Customer Review: 3.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (1 customer review)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #6,414,768 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:

3.0 out of 5 stars Thought-provoking science-fiction with cardboard one-dimensional characters, April 10, 2008

By 

Christopher Culver - See all my reviews
(TOP 500 REVIEWER)    (REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Tau Zero Collector's Edition (Leather Bound)

Paul Anderson's TAU ZERO, originally published in 1967, is one of those classic science fiction novels based around a simple scientifically plausible premise. Some three hundred years from the present time, the space vessel Leonora Christine is sent to colonize a star several light years away. Because of the relativistic affects of traveling at speeds close to that of light, only five years will pass for the crew on board, while a couple of decades go by outside. The twist comes when the Leonora Christine's deceleration system is destroyed en route in a collision with the dust and gas clouds of a nebula. Unable to stop her acceleration, the ship moves closer and closer to the speed of light, with billions of years eventually passing outside while the crew struggles to find a way to stop and find a new home.

The science behind Poul Anderson's plot is fascinating, leading the reader to reflect on the vastness of space and the challenges to space exploration that it poses. While the Bussard ramjet concept on which the story is based is now somewhat dubious, and the lack of heavy computing in Anderson's future makes it somewhat dated, it's still a good read for fans of hard science fiction. Unfortunately, the other side of the book weakens it. Anderson decides to relate how the crew might psychologically with their predicament, and creating realistic characters was not Anderson's forte. I found it wearying that his only way of depicting the international nature of the expedition to have e.g. a German through "Jawohl" into his other perfect 1960s American English, while a Frenchman says "Eh, bien". Much of Anderson's works are split between amazing science and poor depictions of interpersonal relationships see, for example, the future history starting with Harvest of Stars.