The Venus Belt (Mass Market Paperback)

~ L. Neil Smith (Author)

Editorial Reviews

Product Description

More than a 150,000 women have been kidnapped without a trace or any ransom demand in the 'normal' world run by the Federalists and the bureaucracy. But that is not the only problem, because the freedom loving population in the 'alternate' reality of the North American Confederacy are facing their own crises. *** People are disappearing across the Probability Broach, including Win Bear's closest friend, Featherstone-Haugh (who heads the Confederacy), and even Win's wife and assistant. *** Ill (and deadly) winds are blowing and threatening to destroy the Probability Broach as we know it. Win Bear, keeping one step ahead of lethal assassins and fighting incredible odds, must solve multiple apparantly disparate cases that all seem to lead to the end of freedom. *** --This text refers to the Paperback edition.

Product Details

• Mass Market Paperback: 214 pages
• Publisher: Del Rey (December 12, 1980)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0345287215
• ISBN-13: 978-0345287212
• Product Dimensions: 7 x 4.2 x 0.7 inches
• Shipping Weight: 2.4 ounces
• Average Customer Review: 4.3 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (3 customer reviews)
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #1,458,631 in Books (See Bestsellers in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

2 of 3 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A good sequel to The Probability Broach, June 5, 2009

By	M. Shepherd "Midwest" - See all my reviews (REAL NAME)

While it may not be quite as good as the original book, the author is able, with the main characters already firmly established, to have a lot more fun with the story line right off the bat.
To keep it short, if you liked the Probability Broach, you will like this book. If you didn`t, you probably will not care for it.
An excellent alternate history story.

5 of 9 people found the following review helpful:

3.0 out of 5 stars Jumping Sharks in the Asteroid Belt -- and Beyond!, August 17, 2004

By	Ron N. Butler (Powder Springs, GA USA) - See all my reviews (REAL NAME)

The second in the "Win Bear" detective / alternate history / political lecture series -- and right about where they jumped the shark. Lots of gadgetry and bizarre settings. Plenty of outlandish characters -- human and otherwise. Entirely too much eye-rolling Libertarian college sophomore bull session philosophizing.

What should not be missed is the most viciously funny caricature of pompous ol' Walter Cronkite in all of literature. (Easy to spot if you know what the German homonym of his last name means. And think "Jimmy Carter.")

3 of 6 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Crime wasn't much of a problem., February 4, 2004

By	Michael Valdivielso (Alexandria, VA) - See all my reviews (TOP 500 REVIEWER)

Amazon Verified Purchase

Not in the North American Confederacy. Not until people start disappearing left and right. And Detective Win Bear's close friends start to vanish also.
At first he figures that some Hamiltonians might still be running about, but as the clues (or clews) start to pile up everything starts to point to the other side of the Probability Broach. But right when you'ld think things might start to clear up the Bear Curse kicks in and makes everything even worse- there seems to be TWO plots going on at the same time.
If Win Bear doesn't figure out what's happening, and fast, both universes might end up under the Iron Heel of a Totalitarian State!