Customer Reviews

Tuf Voyaging

5 star:		(24)
4 star:		(9)
3 star:		(6)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

Originally a collection of shorts published in Analog magazine as a continuing saga, Tuf Voyaging is all the pieces put together into a smooth novel with an extremely unique protagonist.

Haviland Tuf and his ship, the 'Cornucopia Of Excellent Goods At Low Prices', has been hired by a group of five people to travel towards what is known as The Plague Star. When upon arriving, they discover it is not a star at all but a long abandoned Seedship, left over from the war a thousand years ago. Their first problem is getting past the ship's automated defenses and boarding, their second problem is the greed that has filled every head except Tuf's.

Tuf, of course, winds out in charge of the Seedship, named the Ark. (no details, just read the book! The first chapter details these events, and is most excellent!) the remaining six chapters chronicle Tuf's voyages from planet to planet, using the Ark to solve problems such as overpopulation, sea monsters, cruel animal-fighting pits, and religious plagues.

Eccentric and droll would be the best way to describe Haviland Tuf, a very tall and very large bald man. He travels alone, except for his cats, Havoc and Mushroom. The cat family expands, and Tuf is inspired by his human encounters to name the new kittens Suspicion, Doubt, Hostility, Ingratitude, and Foolishness. Tuf is a loner, intelligent, peculiar, a vegetarian with an enormous appetite, and a dry wit. Indeed.

The Seedship is a marvelous invention of Martin's, thirty kilometers long and three kilometers high, the pinnacle of the old Earth Ecological Corps inventions. Although the EEC used their Seedships for war, Tuf has only benign uses for it. Inside the Ark are stored millions and millions of cell samples, and all the equipment, including a chronowarp engine, to genetically engineer or clone any species.

Travel with Tuf through space, and revisit the planet S'uthlam (three chapters have S'uthlam) where Tully Mune is the acerbic Portmaster who lives her life in zero gravity. Tully's will and determination prove to be a match for Tuf, and the chapters in which they face off with each other are excellent.

This is SciFi at it's best, very character oriented with enough strange planets, strange beings, strange traditions, and technology to satisfy the hungriest of SciFi palates. Even more enjoyable if you are a cat lover like myself. Get out and buy this book now! Enjoy!

I first came across these stories when reading "The Plague Star" in an issue of my father's Analog magazine. Ever since, I've avidly consumed everything I could find by Martin. This collection of stories is such a pleasure to read, I can't do it justice here. If they book has any weakness, it is that the stories were written over a fairly large span of time (ten years, or more - I can't remember). Because of this, the quality of the written varies, growing better as Martin developed his skills.

The stories work on so many levels, and Tuf is such a singular character, the stories remain in my mind almost daily even ten years after I've read them. The fact that these stories live in the 'ghetto' of science fiction shouldn't scare away those who don't typically read it. Martin's grasp of humor, horror and the human condition is unmatched. I've often compared him to Mark Twain, in that his writing is so simple and universally appealing, yet contains so much more moving beneath the surface.

It's a wonder to me that with Martin's forays into screenwriting that he's never decided to pitch "Plague Star". It works almost perfectly as a feature film, with just the right length, rhythm and imagery. Perhaps the one thing holding him back is the lack of the standard 'human' element in all these stories - Tuf is profoundly asexual, and indeed, seems to have almost no typical heartwarming hooks that Hollywood demands be in virtually every film it rolls out. There are no love interests, no (traditional) paternal emotions. There's no boy meets girl here, just boy meets destiny. Yet I think that it could appeal to a wide variety of viewers nonetheless. The book after "Plague Star" has a fairly strong 'population control' message that might not appeal to the religious right, but I have a feeling the message would go right over their heads - history has shown us that people aren't to quick to pick up these subtleties.

Accessible and rewarding. If you can find this gem, don't let it slip through your grasp.

I've read literally thousands of science fiction novels in the last 35 years (all the masters back to the very beginning), and Tuf Voyaging rates as one of the top five science fiction novels of all time. When it comes to a plot and ideas that that stick with you, it rates number one. I've waited in vain for a sequel or a film or a television dramatization. Tuf Voyaging tells the story of a highly moral man gifted with virtually absolute power. I read it every few years and continue to flip flop about the rightness and wrongness of his final acts. Was Tuf corrupted, or was he indeed uncorruptible? In the end, was he a man, or was he a god? It's that good. It doesn't let you go. The book touches on issues humanity faces everyday, issues that are becoming increasingly more urgent: populations outstripping food sources, species extinctions, short term political thinking, cruelty, abuses of power, etc. I keep two, very much read and battered copies of the book, one for myself and one to lend to others. This is the book that sent me in search of everything else George R. R. Martin has ever written. While his writing is always excellent, Tuf Voyaging is his greatest masterpiece. The book creates a variety of emotions in the reader, amusement (it has wonderfully humorous sections), anticipation, dread, exhilaration, and uncertainty. Once again, it's unforgettable and has been responsible for single handedly hooking several young people I know on science fiction. If you haven't read it, track it down and do so. If you have read it, read it again and see if your opinions have changed. If you have any influence on the author, demand the character return in another book!

Haviland Tuf. Lover of Cats, maker of snide remarks and healer of worlds... Tuf has the largest and most powerful ship [so far] in the universe. It is an ecological seed ship that can replicate genetic material from aliens/monsters from anywhere imaginable...and in some cases creatures beyond imagination...

Some say that absolute power corrupts absolutely... Not so with Tuf.

He could level any galaxy and bring any empire to its knees...but instead chooses to make a modest living helping out worlds in trouble... (and yes sometimes he even likes to play God and render moral judgments) - but hey we have to forgive him for that...we all need a little fun from time to time...

This book is a series of short stories that were written by GRRM over about a 10 year span, yet they seamlessly flow together... We learn the origins of the seedship in the first story "The Plague Star" which is quite possibly the best of the bunch (receiving 11/10) while the others only get 10/10... Tuf has to save a world from overpopulation (twice), save another world from sea monsters like no one can imagine, solve a worlds cruel practice of gambling on a wicked sporting event, and protect a world from a biblical prophet who has a unique ability to create plagues...Fortunately he has the help of his massive starship, his massive brain and a few cats...

An amazing read...When I look up at the stars now I wonder when Tuf will come and solve the problems of this world...for he is long overdue...

While we wait - I suggest you read this masterpiece to be reminded that one person can make a difference...

Thank you Mr. Martin - and since Tuf never gets the recognition he deserves - Thank you Mr. Haviland.

I'm shaking my head wishing I had taken better care of my Tuf Voyaging. This is science fiction the way I like it: an interesting character, unusual situations, clever writing. No techno-babble, no first of a 4-part "saga" or "cycle" or whatever, no pseudoscientific straining to make us believe the science. Good storytelling, episodic self-contained tales, a fun read. Only Zelazny's Lord of Light comes to my mind as a book I'd reread in parts again and again. Or would reread if I still had my copy.

A delightful collection of short stories, relating the travels and adventures of the oversized self-proclaimed space-faring "Ecological Engineer" Haviland Tuf. These stories, for the most part, were orignally written in the mid-1980's, and this collection itself was originally published in 1986.

I found the Haviland Tuf main character to be so uniquely different from any other SciFi character I've ever encountered, that it was delightfully refreshing.

Virtually all of the seven stories themselves are individually captivating; however, my favorite is the first from the collection, Plague Star. Plague Star is by far the longest individual story of the seven, weighing in at over 100 pages (none of the others are much more than 50 pages).

Another unique factor regarding this book are the illustrations; which I also found to be another refreshing difference versus the hundreds of other SciFi books I've read. I'd say that there are over 40 illustrations, and in all but maybe two or three cases, I found them to add to the enjoyment of the stories.

Another kudo goes to the jacket art for the book - extremely well done, and oddly, nothing like the illustrations found inside.

Unfortunately, it seems that the author's other works are mostly fantasy-related, and that he produced nothing else quite like these stories - so I suppose I'm going to have to be content with this limited sample of uniquely enjoyable SciFi.

Like many people who have recently read "Tuf Voyaging" for the first time, I was introduced to George R. R. Martin through the outstanding "Song of Ice and Fire" series. "Tuf", of course, has a very different setting. In the far future, humanity lives on scattered planets long after the collapse of the Empire. One relic survives: a 'Seedship', containing all the ancient data and technology needed to clone extinct species or create new ones. This ship falls into the hands of a trader named Haviland Tuf, who promptly sets off on a series of adventures, using the ship's capabilities to address ecological and societal problems on various planets.

Although this is certainly early Martin, I would argue that we can definitely see the same qualities here that we love in his current set of fantasy triumphs. Characters stand out for their strong personalities and unshakable convictions. Tuf, portrayed as intelligent and self-confident but still holding a sense of humor, embodies the same strength and likeability that we find in Tyrion Lannister and other unforgettable creations. As in the "Song", minor characters are also well-developed in the space of just a few lines, creating genuine emotional intensity as they vie against Tuf. I should mention also that the humor is strong. Things that are supposed to be funny actually are funny.

The best story of the bunch is "The Plague Star", the opening chapter in which we see how Tuf acquires his ship and grow introduced to his tough but patient personality. This one is a minor masterpiece that pitches an entire crew into an every-man-for-himself battle where nobody can be trusted. (Petyr Baelish and Varys would feel right at home.) As with his later fantasy novels, Martin toys with the reader. He sets up situations where you think you can predict what will happen, but keeps some tricks up his sleeve until the last minute. Slightly less enchanting, but still definitely worth reading, are three stories where Tuf helps a crowded planet deal with overpopulation. I didn't find these tales excessively preachy, but there was certainly less action there than what I've come to expect from Martin.

I was the cover illustrator for the hardcover and first edition paperback of Tuf Voyaging. It was my break-in assignment from Jim Baen at TOR. And, as an avid science fiction reader for years, I couldn't believe my luck when I read the book in manuscript form. To this day it is one of my favorites. Haviland Tuf is one of the most distinctive characters in science fiction. As I read the stories, I kept thinking this would make a great film. I still think so today.

I only wish they had let me do the cover design I wanted. It had dinosaurs. Read the book and you'll understand why. Instead, they wanted a more iconic design showing Haviland and the cats.

I hope they bring this title back into print, because it's a classic. Seems like a no-brainer, given Martin's popularity today.

"The man is an independent trader, of sorts. Not a very successful
one.... He has a small, battered ship with a long, ridiculous name...
There is no crew to worry about, only the man himself. And he -- well,
he's a little ridiculous, too. He'll give us no trouble... He keeps
cats, I hear... If he so much as threatens to report us, the hireling
and I can dispose of him and feed him to his cats".

Thus does Kaj Nevis, adventurer ordinary in a distant future, describe
Haviland Tuf to his motley gang, whereby you have guessed that they are
up to no good. But Haviland Tuf, skipper, owner, crew and sole
shareholder of the "Cornucopia of Excellent Goods at Low Prices",
nevertheless ends up the master of the prize coveted by Kaj Nevis: the
last ship of the long-forgotten Genetic Corps for late Galactic Empire,
a 30-mile long leviathan, with working weaponry and tens of thousands of
operational cloning vats ready to spew biological death in any form from
deadly alien bacteria to a herd of Terran Tyrannosaurus Rex. How Tuf,
the gentle giant with a fondness for cats, onion pies and ale, and with
a paunch to match, now self-taught genetic engineer, has the gigantic
ship repaired and roams the galaxy to set aright half a dozen mand-made
impending ecological disasters, that is the rest of the tale. Barely
ever lifting a finger, and never his voice, soft-spoken long-suffering
Tuf, with a kitten or two peering out of his ample
pockets, teaches a stinging lesson to the bloodthirsty arena masters of
Norn, unmasks the false messiah of Charity, and brings peace between the
sea-dwelling aborigines of Namor and the human settlers who had mistaken
them for tasty tidbits. But it takes him two attempts to solve the
runaway population explosion of S'uthlam which threatens the peace with
its neighbours (Lebensraum! Lebensraum!).

The characters come to life, splendidly. No two are alike, each is
strongly typed, even the most minor. No two have the same mannerisms,
the same speech, the same personality. Yet they are never caricatures.
They are all dreadfully ordinary in their unusual ways, from Kaj Nevis
the psychopathic wannabe master-of-the-universe to Celine Waan, the
lawsuit-happy loud-mouthed gross blockhead academic, we've all met their
kinds. The worlds visited by Tuf are equally imaginative, credible, and
diverse. It all adds up to just under 400 pages of sheer delight. The
hardback is out of print, but Victor Gollancz of London did bring out a
paperback in 1988 (ISBN 0-575-04266-4). Failing that, hunt around for
old issues of Analog: January, February, October, November, mid-December
1985, October 1981, and February 1978, where most of Tuf's voyages were
published.

The half dozen short stories centre on Haviland Tuf, a fastidious, pompous, somewhat misanthropic character, who outsmarts his foes, and appears to be the only person with integrity in the whole universe. The superior prequel story describes how he gained possession of an ancient but technologically massively advanced juggernaut - its most crucial capacity is genetics. Tuf can create virtually any species he wants - from devastating viruses to gentle cute grass-eaters to beasts of nightmare.
 
The story that started this collection (all written for Analog) probably came from the old notion that the technology we have now would make past cultures view us as God/s. In `Call Him Moses', Martin sets up a self-styled prophet who takes over a planet by (secretly non-miraculously) reproducing most of the plagues of Exodus - the executive hand over office under threat of the first born`plague'.
 
Our `hero' deliberately appears to this dictator as a pillar of light, saying I am the Lord God. With his far greater technology he displaces the `false prophet'. Martin pushes this pretty hard, having his (not ironic or undermined) protagonist sincerely say for all intents and purposes in this case he is God because of the planet altering powers his ship gives him.
 
The same theme is explored in `Manna from Heaven', written seven years later. Faced with an absurdly overpopulated planet which, after every chance to work on birth control (something their religion abhors), is descending into anarchy and expansionist warfare, Tuf devises a plant that will essentially sterilise 99% of the population.
"You have no right," declares the (straw woman) president of the planet. "...Who the hell gave you the authority to make that decision for them? ... You're no better than we are. You're only human ... What gives you the goddamned right to play God with our world and our lives?"
 
..."I make no claims to godhead in the mythological sense, " [replies Tuf,] "Yet I submit that I do indeed wield the power of a god...I traffic in the life and death of worlds. Enjoying as I do these godlike abilities, can I rightfully decline the accompanying responsibility, the equally awesome burden of moral authority? I think not."
 
Normally such a declaration would have the reader saying with Tuf's antagonist, "He's insane." But Martin is pushing us to think a little deeper. A cool theme that emerges is that we should recognise our responsibility rather than just act as if it doesn't exist. Learning to be comfortable with the power we have is actually admirable. It'd be great if he wrote something about this relating to the responsibility we in the `1st world' automatically have to the `3rd world' - with every purchase we make.
 
Tuf persuades the president with the analogy of the way he sterilised his cats:
"... Ultimately, as you yourself will discover, there are but two fundamental options. You must either reconcile yourself to inhibiting the fertility of your cats, entirely without their consent, I might add, or, failing that, some day most assuredly you will find yourself about to cycle a bag full of newborn kittens out your airlock into the cold vacuum of space. Make no choice, and you have chosen. Failure to decide, because you lack the right, is itself a decision, First Councillor. In abstaining, you vote."
 
"Tuf," she said, her voice agonised, "don't! I don't want this damned power."
 
I can see in this why he deals so well with the nature of kingship in his, `Song of Ice and Fire' series, particularly Danerys. Also putting the power thing into this context doesn't offend my sensibilities as a Christian who actually does think God is not merely a myth, and all believers fools and/or manipulative liars.
 
While these two stories are easily the most challenging thematically, they don't really set the tone for the book. Interesting that the first story written, `Call Him Moses', comes second last. The earlier ones are all prequels, most written seven years later in `85. The longest and most enjoyable, `The Plague Star', is simply a thriller - Tuf has to kill or be killed by the individuals in the landing party attempting to claim the valuable ship. We then have novel accounts of how Tuf deals with the ecological problems of various planets.
 
There is another theme: despite him solving massive problems, his solutions are generally resented by those he rescues, and his motives always unjustly impugned (projection). This may be Martin deliberately setting him up for godhood, rightly seeing that justice from above, even in response to calls for help, often just results in rank ingratitude and abuse.
 
A weakness, however, is that no other character is given the sense or personality to actually appreciate or even understand Tuf's actions. Because some of these actions are so clearly helpful, this means everyone else is either stupid and/or ugly, or inconsistent. Tuf's eccentricities and virtue could have been much more enjoyable if he'd had at least some sympathetic characters - his precious cats aren't enough for me.