Five hundred years from now, rival groups battle for the contents of a vault containing remnants of 20th century civilization which could guide their society out of its primitive state.
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9 of 10 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
VAULT OF THE AGES - A timeless tale!,
By Ed Sharpe Archivist for SMECC (glendale, AZ USA www.smecc.org) - See all my reviews
This review is from: Vault of the Ages (Paperback)
When I first read "Vault of the Ages" it was an exciting book; in reviewing it as an adult close to 40 years later as an adult I find it still an enjoyable read. Looking back on the stories I read in my youth this had to be the first in the series of this genre of post doomsday chronicles that I continued to enjoy...
This book emphasizes messages about human responsibility and the importance of using science only for good almost as though accentuated with a bright yellow Hi-Lighter Pen. The story is set in the Alleghenies roughly 500 years after a nuclear holocaust, Vault of the Ages tells the story peaceful farming tribes vs. fierce warriors. Carl, our lead hero and son of the village Chief is responsible for trading with the people from the ruined city to obtain metal and other needed materials form the remains of skyscrapers etc... Carl and his companions discover a "time vault," basically a large time capsule remaining from the pre-holocaust civilization, containing numerous tools, books, models of apparatus and more depicting the sciences that have since been lost. With the aid of the newly discovered sciences and much common sense he is able to help his people. In rereading the description of the 'VAULT' it brings a smile to my face when I look around our office, library and museum facilities here at the Southwest Museum of Engineering, Communications and Computation here in Glendale Arizona.... I can imagine a facility such as this being the 'VAULT' spoken of in this story. I wonder what the world will be like in 500 years and what part the material preserved by the museum here will play in it.... Ed Sharpe, Archivist for SMECC [...]
2 of 3 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
Imaginative glimpse of post-apocalyptic future,
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This review is from: Vault of the Ages (Paperback)
This contains very succinct writing that conveys a very imaginative glimpse of a fictional post-apocalyptic future where civilization is about to be re-kindled. Very well written. The author doesn't get extravagant or excessive. This book is much more enjoyable when you maintain the perspective of what our culture was like when this book was written. It's also helpful to keep in mind that science fiction was comparatively rare when this book was written.
5.0 out of 5 stars
Vault of the Ages, quality early Poul Anderson,
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This review is from: Vault of the Ages (Paperback)
Vault of the Ages (1952), one of Poul Anderson's earliest novels, should not be missed. Although Vault of the Ages is at its core a simplistic juvenile (50s sci-fi for younger readers), Anderson's budding storytelling skills make it engaging and a joy to read. If only I had read it when I was younger! Suggested for any fans of 50s sci-fi, early post-apocalyptical sci-fi, and Poul Anderson completests.
Brief Plot Summary Sometime in the future the "Doom" (caused by atomic weapons) wipes out civilization -- all that remains are intensely superstitious loosely confederated tribes who live in wooden houses and tend livestock. Five hundred years after the Doom somewhere in the Alleghenies a boy named Carl, the son of the chief of the Dalesmen, dares to defy taboos and seek out the City (the ruins of a pre-Doom settlement). The plot concerns an invasion of fierce northern peoples called the Lann. Driven by a cooling climate and attacks from other unnamed peoples, the Lann desire to occupy the lands of the Dalesmen. Unlike other authors who are content to leave the "barbarian" enemy a nameless force of evil, Anderson tries give a rational for their actions and even introduces a character in parallel to Carl, Lenard, the son of the chief of the Lann. Like Carl, Lenard also does not fear the taboos and supposed curses and demons associated with ancient technology and the City. Carl is sent to the City to acquire metal (yanked from old skyscrapers) from the "witches" (various people who eek out an existence in the ruins). Here Carl finds a time vault with instructions to resurrect ancient technology (including simplistic mechanical technology -- windmills, sailboats, etc). The Dalesmen are suspicious of the time vault and its contents and condemn Carl to death. It's up to him and his few trusted friends to rescue his own people (despite their suspicion of him), raise the taboos on the technology which can deliver his people, and obtain the secrets of the vault before Lenard and the Lann! Final Thoughts The plot itself pulls no punches -- it's predictable and free of frills/twists etc. However, Anderson infuses his narrative with energy and excitement. Despite knowing the outcome I found myself rooting for Carl nevertheless! Vault of the Ages is characterized by unbridled optimism and obvious morals -- technology is beneficial if used by the right people and the right people are the idealistic young who push against the boundaries imposed by their elders with the good of society at heart. In frustrating 1950s fashion, the "idealistic young" are men... Women are nowhere to be seen.
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