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Ipomea
1st edition 1st printing Dobson hb 1972 , very nice, price clipped dw (dust jacket) In stock shipped from our UK warehouse
Hardcover
First published January 1, 1969
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Displaying 1 - 5 of 5 reviews
July 8, 2024
John Clute in the SF Encyclopedia describes the writing of John T. Phillifent — who wrote most of his SF under the John Rackham pseudonym — as “second-rank but convention-savvy fiction demanded by an entertainment genre hungry for copy,” which has got to be the most civil example of a critic utterly roasting a writer I’ve ever seen. If Ipomoea, one of many short Rackham novels released as Ace Doubles from the ’60s to early ’70s, is typical of the man’s work, then “copy” is a fair way to describe it. At first, there’s nothing all that dreadful here, nor is there anything to stand out as distinctive or memorable. It’s a cheesy little time-filler, executed with just the necessary level of competence to please Rackham’s editor that the deadlines were met. And it might have been a passably decent read even on that modest scale, if Rackham hadn’t just given up and plunged it all into utter silliness at the climax.
Our story, set in 2019, follows Sam Hutten, sociology professor at the former MIT, now part of a nationwide network of universities where most students attend lectures remotely. (As spec-fic goes, Rackham often does better at the spec than the fic.) Hutten styles himself as what social media denizens of the 2020s might call a Sigma Male, and normal people a jerk. He’s a sociologist who disdains society, who sees himself above and apart from the frivolous interests that absorb the lives of people around him. These include not just political or ideological disputes but anything at all that might give someone a personality. Observing people in a restaurant on Mars, Hutten dismisses them as an “anthill... dashing to and fro in pursuit of something they can’t define. Robots all.” We’ve probably all met someone like this at least once, and most of them could probably figure out why they have no friends anywhere but 8chan if they’d ever consider therapy.
Hutten is a joyless intellectual snob, passionate only about the authority of science. He’s estranged from his father, Rex Hutten, whose pursuit of wealth clashes with Sam’s insistence that science should be pure and altruistic. Altruism and egotism might sound like inconsistent character traits until you realize that making any idea a personal dogma will turn a person into an insufferable ass.
Hutten receives a letter from his father, an agriculture tycoon on the Tau Ceti colonies, pleading for unspecified help. Hutton, whose last contact with the man included taunting him that someday he’d see his son was right, takes the matter seriously and books passage. (Continued...)
Our story, set in 2019, follows Sam Hutten, sociology professor at the former MIT, now part of a nationwide network of universities where most students attend lectures remotely. (As spec-fic goes, Rackham often does better at the spec than the fic.) Hutten styles himself as what social media denizens of the 2020s might call a Sigma Male, and normal people a jerk. He’s a sociologist who disdains society, who sees himself above and apart from the frivolous interests that absorb the lives of people around him. These include not just political or ideological disputes but anything at all that might give someone a personality. Observing people in a restaurant on Mars, Hutten dismisses them as an “anthill... dashing to and fro in pursuit of something they can’t define. Robots all.” We’ve probably all met someone like this at least once, and most of them could probably figure out why they have no friends anywhere but 8chan if they’d ever consider therapy.
Hutten is a joyless intellectual snob, passionate only about the authority of science. He’s estranged from his father, Rex Hutten, whose pursuit of wealth clashes with Sam’s insistence that science should be pure and altruistic. Altruism and egotism might sound like inconsistent character traits until you realize that making any idea a personal dogma will turn a person into an insufferable ass.
Hutten receives a letter from his father, an agriculture tycoon on the Tau Ceti colonies, pleading for unspecified help. Hutton, whose last contact with the man included taunting him that someday he’d see his son was right, takes the matter seriously and books passage. (Continued...)
July 18, 2025
After reading and enjoying 'The Anything Tree', I wanted to dive into some more Rackham to see if his work could be worth exploring. While I enjoyed Ipomoea overall, I'm not sure that it convinced me he shouldn't be as obscure as he is today.
The book follows a sociology professor and son of an extremely successful man who owns a business empire on a distant planet. One day, he is summoned by his father with a mysterious plea for help, and he sets off on an interstellar voyage to reach him. Along the way, he is recruited by a member of the intelligence agency, who is investigating an addictive substance that is spreading throughout humanity, rendering people catatonic but also seemingly making them immortal in the process. During our main character's journey, several attempts are made on his life, adding to the intrigue.
We effectively descend into a fairly standard spy-thriller in space kind of plot, with a cartoonish villain, pulpy elements and some underexplored ideas. His treatment of the female characters is disappointing, with each of them being an attractive object of desire for our protagonist or throwing themselves at anyone who looks in their general direction. I didn't expect this from him, and it let me down, but in the end, this one is just fine, and nothing more.
The book follows a sociology professor and son of an extremely successful man who owns a business empire on a distant planet. One day, he is summoned by his father with a mysterious plea for help, and he sets off on an interstellar voyage to reach him. Along the way, he is recruited by a member of the intelligence agency, who is investigating an addictive substance that is spreading throughout humanity, rendering people catatonic but also seemingly making them immortal in the process. During our main character's journey, several attempts are made on his life, adding to the intrigue.
We effectively descend into a fairly standard spy-thriller in space kind of plot, with a cartoonish villain, pulpy elements and some underexplored ideas. His treatment of the female characters is disappointing, with each of them being an attractive object of desire for our protagonist or throwing themselves at anyone who looks in their general direction. I didn't expect this from him, and it let me down, but in the end, this one is just fine, and nothing more.
December 31, 2018
3.5, really. what an odd book. in so many ways a product of its time — weird Orientalism, a bunch of mildly self-aware misogyny that’s still misogyny even if it’s veiled behind some self-awareness, some 1960s sociology... also painfully heterosexual.
but, nonetheless, an engaging story.
but, nonetheless, an engaging story.
December 27, 2023
Ipomoea - 5.0
John Rackham's 'Ipomoea' may be unknown and disliked by many people but to me, this is one of my favorite sci-fi novels. Introduced to me by my friend, at first I didn't think much of it. My friend lent me this book in hopes of me reading it and enjoying it as much as he did. Sadly, I put off reading it for several weeks before I gave it a chance. After the first few pages, I regretted my earlier decision immediately. The story of Sam Hutten and his sudden call to space is captivating and intriguing. I enjoyed the discussions, conversations, and little debates Hutten had with other characters. If you're getting into sci-fi and want to read an underrated masterpiece. This is the book for you.
John Rackham's 'Ipomoea' may be unknown and disliked by many people but to me, this is one of my favorite sci-fi novels. Introduced to me by my friend, at first I didn't think much of it. My friend lent me this book in hopes of me reading it and enjoying it as much as he did. Sadly, I put off reading it for several weeks before I gave it a chance. After the first few pages, I regretted my earlier decision immediately. The story of Sam Hutten and his sudden call to space is captivating and intriguing. I enjoyed the discussions, conversations, and little debates Hutten had with other characters. If you're getting into sci-fi and want to read an underrated masterpiece. This is the book for you.
December 7, 2012
Ace Double Novel 020-37350-060
Brass Dragon, MZ Bradley, not read
Ipomoea, John Rackham, read twice, grade A
Brass Dragon, MZ Bradley, not read
Ipomoea, John Rackham, read twice, grade A
Displaying 1 - 5 of 5 reviews