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After Doomsday
Earth has been destroyed.
Which alien race had committed genocide, killing a planet in the process?
The Kandemir were interested in salvage rights.
The Xo had provided two Earth nations with weapons that could do the job.
The Vorlak, an essentially peaceful race, nevertheless had made a firm treaty with the Russians.
The only surviving humans were the astronauts aboard the spaceships Benjamin Franklin and Europa. Men and women together, they would re-establish mankind - but first they must unmask their enemies and defeat them.
Which alien race had committed genocide, killing a planet in the process?
The Kandemir were interested in salvage rights.
The Xo had provided two Earth nations with weapons that could do the job.
The Vorlak, an essentially peaceful race, nevertheless had made a firm treaty with the Russians.
The only surviving humans were the astronauts aboard the spaceships Benjamin Franklin and Europa. Men and women together, they would re-establish mankind - but first they must unmask their enemies and defeat them.
209 pages, Paperback
First published January 1, 1962
65 people are currently reading
436 people want to read
About the author
Poul Anderson
1,621 books1,105 followersPseudonym A. A. Craig, Michael Karageorge, Winston P. Sanders, P. A. Kingsley.
Poul William Anderson was an American science fiction author who began his career during one of the Golden Ages of the genre and continued to write and remain popular into the 21st century. Anderson also authored several works of fantasy, historical novels, and a prodigious number of short stories. He received numerous awards for his writing, including seven Hugo Awards and three Nebula Awards.
Anderson received a degree in physics from the University of Minnesota in 1948. He married Karen Kruse in 1953. They had one daughter, Astrid, who is married to science fiction author Greg Bear. Anderson was the sixth President of Science Fiction and Fantasy Writers of America, taking office in 1972. He was a member of the Swordsmen and Sorcerers' Guild of America, a loose-knit group of Heroic Fantasy authors founded in the 1960s, some of whose works were anthologized in Lin Carter's Flashing Swords! anthologies. He was a founding member of the Society for Creative Anachronism. Robert A. Heinlein dedicated his 1985 novel The Cat Who Walks Through Walls to Anderson and eight of the other members of the Citizens' Advisory Council on National Space Policy.[2][3]
Poul Anderson died of cancer on July 31, 2001, after a month in the hospital. Several of his novels were published posthumously.
Series:
* Time Patrol
* Psychotechnic League
* Trygve Yamamura
* Harvest of Stars
* King of Ys
* Last Viking
* Hoka
* Future history of the Polesotechnic League
* Flandry
Poul William Anderson was an American science fiction author who began his career during one of the Golden Ages of the genre and continued to write and remain popular into the 21st century. Anderson also authored several works of fantasy, historical novels, and a prodigious number of short stories. He received numerous awards for his writing, including seven Hugo Awards and three Nebula Awards.
Anderson received a degree in physics from the University of Minnesota in 1948. He married Karen Kruse in 1953. They had one daughter, Astrid, who is married to science fiction author Greg Bear. Anderson was the sixth President of Science Fiction and Fantasy Writers of America, taking office in 1972. He was a member of the Swordsmen and Sorcerers' Guild of America, a loose-knit group of Heroic Fantasy authors founded in the 1960s, some of whose works were anthologized in Lin Carter's Flashing Swords! anthologies. He was a founding member of the Society for Creative Anachronism. Robert A. Heinlein dedicated his 1985 novel The Cat Who Walks Through Walls to Anderson and eight of the other members of the Citizens' Advisory Council on National Space Policy.[2][3]
Poul Anderson died of cancer on July 31, 2001, after a month in the hospital. Several of his novels were published posthumously.
Series:
* Time Patrol
* Psychotechnic League
* Trygve Yamamura
* Harvest of Stars
* King of Ys
* Last Viking
* Hoka
* Future history of the Polesotechnic League
* Flandry
Ratings & Reviews
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 38 reviews
March 26, 2020
I really enjoyed Anderson's Tau Zero, but this book was pretty mediocre. He's such a good writer that at times throughout this book my rating went as high as 3.5 or even four stars, but there were too many problems in this book to land on such a high final rating. He introduced too many worlds, species, and cultures, and far too briefly. One such planet and species he quickly introduced and then dropped out of the story for so long that when he started talking about them again later I couldn't even remember if they were friend or foe, or what their people looked like. It was also hard to tell in some cases which civilizations lived on which worlds; there were simply too many.
The middle of the book also contains a lot of filler. There are interesting events, and the story moves along, but it felt really empty and at times pointless. That being said, some of the characters like Donnan and Ramri were well-developed, and I found myself caught up in their journey. If you come across this one on the cheap in a used book bin, or see it at your local library (doubtful; this is an obscure book), there are a lot worse things you can read. Otherwise I recommend checking out some of Anderson's better works, like Tau Zero; he's a great sci-fi writer, and my opinion of him isn't diminished in any way by After Doomsday.
The middle of the book also contains a lot of filler. There are interesting events, and the story moves along, but it felt really empty and at times pointless. That being said, some of the characters like Donnan and Ramri were well-developed, and I found myself caught up in their journey. If you come across this one on the cheap in a used book bin, or see it at your local library (doubtful; this is an obscure book), there are a lot worse things you can read. Otherwise I recommend checking out some of Anderson's better works, like Tau Zero; he's a great sci-fi writer, and my opinion of him isn't diminished in any way by After Doomsday.
February 25, 2019
I expected a short throwaway novel out of this when I picked it up at half price books, but I should have known better from Poul Anderson. The blurb which makes it sound like a pretty simple easy plot of "humanity's fall" and post-apocalypse is anything but, as there's a ton of adventuring in the stars, mystery, cool tech, and awesome adventure. I read it all in one sitting because it's a fairly short book, high recommend.
January 21, 2023
Hatred of the murderers crowded out fear and grief alike. Hatred focused so sharply on the thing which pursued her ship that it seemed the steel must melt.
Writing in the early 1960s, Anderson develops a more engaging, plausible tale than current SF authors. Two challenges interweave. His failure to anticipate the coming digital and solid-state revolution dates the book but doesn’t make him unusual.
They could be anywhere among a couple hundred billion stars. How can we get word to them?
Simultaneously I was reading Stars and Bones. a contemporary post-Apocalyptic novel with a similar approach. Anderson wins. The story and storytelling are direct and well-paced. In retrospect humorous that so many characters smoke on space craft.
‘In the Seven Classics of Voyen, one may read, “Many desperations do not equal one hope.”’
Writing in the early 1960s, Anderson develops a more engaging, plausible tale than current SF authors. Two challenges interweave. His failure to anticipate the coming digital and solid-state revolution dates the book but doesn’t make him unusual.
They could be anywhere among a couple hundred billion stars. How can we get word to them?
Simultaneously I was reading Stars and Bones. a contemporary post-Apocalyptic novel with a similar approach. Anderson wins. The story and storytelling are direct and well-paced. In retrospect humorous that so many characters smoke on space craft.
‘In the Seven Classics of Voyen, one may read, “Many desperations do not equal one hope.”’
January 24, 2022
Very outdated and often kitsch sci-fi, but not un-entertaining in its own way. Highlights include the smoking of a pipe aboard a spaceship, a Russian character speaking like ‘ve must do zis’ and the leaders of a supposedly advanced spacefaring race being blockheaded viking-type characters. Worth noting that I have previously read ‘The Boat of a Million Years’ and ‘Tau Zero’ by this author and really enjoyed them.
February 8, 2015
At my science fiction book club Christmas grabbag someone gave me a “Vintage” paperback. That means the used book store takes a very old paperback that hasn’t fallen apart yet, puts it in a plastic bag, and charges 5-10 times the original price, instead of half price like other books. Of course the original price of the book, “After Doomsday” by Poul Anderson, when published in 1962 was 35 cents so half price would barely cover the price of the plastic bag.
The book was a quick read, slowed a bit by the need to handle it pretty gingerly. No acid free paper or library binding in this 50 year old paperback. It was okay but not something I‘d recommend seeking out. But it was still an enjoyable gift because of the historic/sociological aspects of the book. So I thought I’d share a few - some reflective of the times, other flashes of what made Poul Anderson a SF Grand Master.
Basic plot: Earth is destroyed by sneak attack. The only survivors are those who were outside the solar system at the time. The all male crew of the American starship have to somehow find the all female crew of the European starship so the human race can continue. And they have to figure out who destroyed Earth and exact their vengeance.
Some signs of the times: smoking tobacco is prevalent on both starships, the tall Swede female protagonist wears less clothing than the rest of the female crew (when on a ship with all women) because her form is handsomer than most, and on the home world of the alien race that introduced humans to FTL drive an alien uses a film strip and projector to show something to the humans (couldn’t Poul at least imagined an advanced race having something like television?)
As typical of SF back then (and bad SF now) there is lots of bald exposition. At one point two characters take a hike during which one spends two pages explaining the physics of the faster than light drive. His final comment leads the other character into a two page internal musing about the expansion of intelligent life in the galaxy. That ends with Anderson’s dig at his contemporaries when the character thinks about the SF he read as teenager and how those writers had misunderstood their own assumptions because the universe was too big. Couple nice twists on the long expositions: In the middle of one an alien crew member is described as bristling with indignation and complaining about the hero’s “insulting resume of what everyone knew”, but he is told that he better start acting like he understands it. In middle of another exposition, this one by an alien, the alien observes that the human hero still needs to be soothed so the alien continues “reciting the banal and obvious”. So Poul seems aware of the problems with long expositions, even if he felt the need to include them. It been a while since I have read any of his later works but I don’t remember those having big issue with expositions.
The book was a quick read, slowed a bit by the need to handle it pretty gingerly. No acid free paper or library binding in this 50 year old paperback. It was okay but not something I‘d recommend seeking out. But it was still an enjoyable gift because of the historic/sociological aspects of the book. So I thought I’d share a few - some reflective of the times, other flashes of what made Poul Anderson a SF Grand Master.
Basic plot: Earth is destroyed by sneak attack. The only survivors are those who were outside the solar system at the time. The all male crew of the American starship have to somehow find the all female crew of the European starship so the human race can continue. And they have to figure out who destroyed Earth and exact their vengeance.
Some signs of the times: smoking tobacco is prevalent on both starships, the tall Swede female protagonist wears less clothing than the rest of the female crew (when on a ship with all women) because her form is handsomer than most, and on the home world of the alien race that introduced humans to FTL drive an alien uses a film strip and projector to show something to the humans (couldn’t Poul at least imagined an advanced race having something like television?)
As typical of SF back then (and bad SF now) there is lots of bald exposition. At one point two characters take a hike during which one spends two pages explaining the physics of the faster than light drive. His final comment leads the other character into a two page internal musing about the expansion of intelligent life in the galaxy. That ends with Anderson’s dig at his contemporaries when the character thinks about the SF he read as teenager and how those writers had misunderstood their own assumptions because the universe was too big. Couple nice twists on the long expositions: In the middle of one an alien crew member is described as bristling with indignation and complaining about the hero’s “insulting resume of what everyone knew”, but he is told that he better start acting like he understands it. In middle of another exposition, this one by an alien, the alien observes that the human hero still needs to be soothed so the alien continues “reciting the banal and obvious”. So Poul seems aware of the problems with long expositions, even if he felt the need to include them. It been a while since I have read any of his later works but I don’t remember those having big issue with expositions.
June 12, 2018
The main action of the story and the mystery underlying it was fairly enjoyable. However I felt that the characters in this one were a little lacking, with only one person who really got any development and even he seemed a little bit like a caricature. I didn't mind the use of the breakthrough as a plot device, desperation and new information make it seem like a plausible thing. Overall I liked the story and conclusion, but didn't love it. Probably a 3.25 for me.
May 16, 2019
After Doomsday by Poul Anderson
This is a book I read so many times I wore the glue off the back and had a copy with a rubber band holding it together for a number of years; until I finally replaced it with a used copy. I've read this at least half a dozen times maybe more. If there are any books that stand the test of time it is those by Poul Anderson. Sometimes the secret is to keep the description of some devices vague while injecting good science to back up what they are supposed to do.
Carl Donnan is one of several hundreds of men aboard the starship Franklin when they return to Earth to find it has been decimated of all life. Carl doesn't consider himself a leader; but finds himself in an awkward position when Captain Strathey seems too shocked to maintain control of the ship. There are anti-ship missiles hunting them down; weapons they assume were left by whoever of the advanced races did this. The missiles are Kandamirian; so it's not much thought to placing blame. Even so with the tension abounding it is difficult for Carl to keep the alien adviser aboard safe from harm though he is a Monwaing. The Monwaing are the ones who helped bring Earth into space. With tension high, though, every other space faring race is under a cloud of suspicion. Eventually Carl will reluctantly have to take charge of all the humans.
After escaping they seek sanctuary while waiting to find out if there were other ships with more humans out in space. There are, and right from the beginning we get a dual story told from the POV of the Franklin and crew and then the Europa and crew. Europa, thankfully, is a ship with a hundred females. Though neither knows of the other, the reader knows; so the story seems mostly to be about searching for clues to who murdered Earth. Even as the case becomes stronger against the Kandamirian and the men of Franklin begin to seek revenge; there is enough doubt that Donnan continues to search, because he wants to be certain he gets revenge on the correct aliens.
The task is difficult and things are never that clear and with Poul Anderson there is often a bit of a twist at the end: this one is no exception to that rule.
If I had one caveat in this all: I would say that it was pertaining to the bit of conceit in having the Franklin crew come up with such unique ideas to alter alien technology that help them develop some new and highly effective war hardware. Yes they do think differently, so perhaps there is that. Yet there are so many races already out in space using this technology that they’ve improve, you would think that one or more might just think close enough to have developed these seeming remarkable advancements.
Still all the raw emotion and the mystery and intrigue carry this story to keep it at a satisfying level that the suspension of disbelief remains intact despite the age of the novel.
This is an excellent Classic by one of the best in his field. I recommend this for all SFF fans.
J.L. Dobias
This is a book I read so many times I wore the glue off the back and had a copy with a rubber band holding it together for a number of years; until I finally replaced it with a used copy. I've read this at least half a dozen times maybe more. If there are any books that stand the test of time it is those by Poul Anderson. Sometimes the secret is to keep the description of some devices vague while injecting good science to back up what they are supposed to do.
Carl Donnan is one of several hundreds of men aboard the starship Franklin when they return to Earth to find it has been decimated of all life. Carl doesn't consider himself a leader; but finds himself in an awkward position when Captain Strathey seems too shocked to maintain control of the ship. There are anti-ship missiles hunting them down; weapons they assume were left by whoever of the advanced races did this. The missiles are Kandamirian; so it's not much thought to placing blame. Even so with the tension abounding it is difficult for Carl to keep the alien adviser aboard safe from harm though he is a Monwaing. The Monwaing are the ones who helped bring Earth into space. With tension high, though, every other space faring race is under a cloud of suspicion. Eventually Carl will reluctantly have to take charge of all the humans.
After escaping they seek sanctuary while waiting to find out if there were other ships with more humans out in space. There are, and right from the beginning we get a dual story told from the POV of the Franklin and crew and then the Europa and crew. Europa, thankfully, is a ship with a hundred females. Though neither knows of the other, the reader knows; so the story seems mostly to be about searching for clues to who murdered Earth. Even as the case becomes stronger against the Kandamirian and the men of Franklin begin to seek revenge; there is enough doubt that Donnan continues to search, because he wants to be certain he gets revenge on the correct aliens.
The task is difficult and things are never that clear and with Poul Anderson there is often a bit of a twist at the end: this one is no exception to that rule.
If I had one caveat in this all: I would say that it was pertaining to the bit of conceit in having the Franklin crew come up with such unique ideas to alter alien technology that help them develop some new and highly effective war hardware. Yes they do think differently, so perhaps there is that. Yet there are so many races already out in space using this technology that they’ve improve, you would think that one or more might just think close enough to have developed these seeming remarkable advancements.
Still all the raw emotion and the mystery and intrigue carry this story to keep it at a satisfying level that the suspension of disbelief remains intact despite the age of the novel.
This is an excellent Classic by one of the best in his field. I recommend this for all SFF fans.
J.L. Dobias
November 26, 2019
Still a good read
I read this originally 40 years ago and thought it was great. Just re-read it and although the basic storyline is still sound, some of the cultural norms of the time on show in the book have become sufficiently old fashioned that they take some of the edge off an enjoyable yarn.
This is increasingly the case with older sf; as a genre it can date faster than others.
I read this originally 40 years ago and thought it was great. Just re-read it and although the basic storyline is still sound, some of the cultural norms of the time on show in the book have become sufficiently old fashioned that they take some of the edge off an enjoyable yarn.
This is increasingly the case with older sf; as a genre it can date faster than others.
April 9, 2023
The story here is pretty basic. A ship full of human space Explorers return to Earth after a 3 year mission to find the planet destroyed and missiles guarding it. They decide to figure out what happened, and to find other survivors.
The neat thing about this book is Anderson's takedown of the usual Alien societies in Sci fi. He talks about how any sort of Galactic Federation would be ridiculous, because space is so large, how would they meet up? He envisions infinite galactic neighborhoods that have little or no contact. So intelligent societies abound, but don't interact much.
The book focuses on a few near Earth.. the bad guys of the talk are a nomadic people that were about to apply their military system to the stars and set up a loose empire of sorts.
It was very different from your standard fare, which is always good. He even manage to get a shocking bit of equality in, as the plot demanded an all-female crewed ship.
There are plenty of plot flaws...the main character decides the best way to make other humans find them (there is no faster than light communication here) is to be so legendary they must hear about them. No searching, no messages, no asking for help (they consider and quickly disregard each). While the all-female ship leaves completely and sets up a trading business.. which was a bit odd.
Since this was a book about what to do when the planet dies, there isn't any space battles, and only a bit of tech. It's 60s sci fi, so of course we clever humans outthink and out innovate everyone else.
It defnitely had some bits to make me think though, so worth the read.
The neat thing about this book is Anderson's takedown of the usual Alien societies in Sci fi. He talks about how any sort of Galactic Federation would be ridiculous, because space is so large, how would they meet up? He envisions infinite galactic neighborhoods that have little or no contact. So intelligent societies abound, but don't interact much.
The book focuses on a few near Earth.. the bad guys of the talk are a nomadic people that were about to apply their military system to the stars and set up a loose empire of sorts.
It was very different from your standard fare, which is always good. He even manage to get a shocking bit of equality in, as the plot demanded an all-female crewed ship.
There are plenty of plot flaws...the main character decides the best way to make other humans find them (there is no faster than light communication here) is to be so legendary they must hear about them. No searching, no messages, no asking for help (they consider and quickly disregard each). While the all-female ship leaves completely and sets up a trading business.. which was a bit odd.
Since this was a book about what to do when the planet dies, there isn't any space battles, and only a bit of tech. It's 60s sci fi, so of course we clever humans outthink and out innovate everyone else.
It defnitely had some bits to make me think though, so worth the read.
February 18, 2019
The late Poul Anderson was always one of my favourite sf writers, and this is an absolutely vintage specimen.
Perhaps one very minor gripe. I always preferred the title used for the magazine version in Galaxy - "The Day After Doomsday". Somehow the shorter title loses some of the oomph - but it's not important.
Human explorers come back to find the Earth destroyed, and badly need to find out whodunit, if only to assure that the killers aren't also a danger to them. While doing so, they also have to find ways to go on living in a not particularly human-friendly galaxy. It's beautifully done, the alien races are well drawn as only Anderson could, and problem is ingeniously solved. Don't miss it.
Perhaps one very minor gripe. I always preferred the title used for the magazine version in Galaxy - "The Day After Doomsday". Somehow the shorter title loses some of the oomph - but it's not important.
Human explorers come back to find the Earth destroyed, and badly need to find out whodunit, if only to assure that the killers aren't also a danger to them. While doing so, they also have to find ways to go on living in a not particularly human-friendly galaxy. It's beautifully done, the alien races are well drawn as only Anderson could, and problem is ingeniously solved. Don't miss it.
January 5, 2020
I have a soft spot in my heart for these older SF novels. This was pretty fun. Somewhat one-dimensional. Almost a juvenile.
All life on earth has been wiped out by a super-weapon. There's only a handful of human survivors who were in space when the disaster occurred. One of three alien races must have done it. There is sort of a twist, but I saw it coming a long way off.
Humanity has FTL travel but the entire human race still inhabits only Earth. Cold war politics is alive and well although it is on the wane.
All life on earth has been wiped out by a super-weapon. There's only a handful of human survivors who were in space when the disaster occurred. One of three alien races must have done it. There is sort of a twist, but I saw it coming a long way off.
Humanity has FTL travel but the entire human race still inhabits only Earth. Cold war politics is alive and well although it is on the wane.
May 26, 2020
Published in 1970, I suppose I shouldn’t be surprised when women are cast as male dependents. It’s interesting how the book reflects upon the Cold War fears of nuclear Armageddon, when the protagonists are left adrift when Earth goes KABLOOWIE! The survivors put their ingenuity into action and aliens concede to our “superiority”. I found this book hard to finish, even with a few interesting plot twists.
August 2, 2025
Disappointing.
It’s such a predictable story, the plot twist at the end could be seen from way back. The author relies on using a bunch of weirdly spelled words to convey a sense of “alienness” but only manages to make reading this even more annoying.
I finished the book expecting to find redeeming qualities and only found two: it’s not too long and helped me decide not to read another book from the same author.
It’s such a predictable story, the plot twist at the end could be seen from way back. The author relies on using a bunch of weirdly spelled words to convey a sense of “alienness” but only manages to make reading this even more annoying.
I finished the book expecting to find redeeming qualities and only found two: it’s not too long and helped me decide not to read another book from the same author.
June 15, 2018
I'm a newbie but intense fan of Anderson after reading his great Orion Shall Rise. Though this feels a bit like it would have benefitted more from being a full novel, the way the two human ships tore the galaxy apart was pretty exciting. Very golden age scifi. The ending revelation felt a bit hollow. It's a nice twist, but left me wanting more - again, another bit where I think this might have been better as a full novel.
October 24, 2025
Probably not essential reading from Anderson. It tells of a ship returning to Earth and finding it a charred mess. They go on a journey to deduce who committed the crime. A war begins as a result, but who actually did it comes as a surprise to them.
It's a fine sci-fi, but not essential reading.
It's a fine sci-fi, but not essential reading.
April 7, 2018
Disappointing..not much pith
May 14, 2021
I struggled to get through this book. Not one of Poul Anderson's better works IMO.
December 13, 2021
129/209
Read
May 16, 2024Entertaining.
August 12, 2024
Really not very good. A trip down memory lane that proved to be a bit of a cul de sac.
January 3, 2025
Such an excellent book, honestly can't really fault it. I am only holding back the 5 star as it's a whodunnit and I unfortunately guessed very early.
October 2, 2019
3/5 for 'After Doomsday' by Poul Anderson
Very much a product of its time, this post-apocalyptic sci-fi (reasonably short) novel packs in way more content than I was expecting.
There's a fair amount of intergalactic travel, some interesting aliens, enjoyable encounters of the positive and negative kind, and the main protagonist becomes pretty likeable, even though he appears to have been written as pretty much a pipe-smoking, tough-talking, 1960s man's man.
I can't help but feel that the book would have worked better if it had been fleshed out by an extra 100 pages or so....in it's condensed 160 page format, I occasionally found myself wondering if I'd missed a few pages when the story jumps forward....at one point by 5 years.
I also feel it's narrative format is somewhat stilted - perhaps that's just how Anderson wrote this one, as I don't recall Tau Zero feeling quite as jumpy and jerky to read as this. Only a couple of the very main characters have bits and pieces of backstory, whilst the rest of the cast doesn't really get much characterisation at all, so it's sometimes difficult to empathize or care very much for many members of the cast.
Also, the science bits are sometimes a bit of an info dump, and the men are written as 1960s men, whilst the women are written as 1960s women, despite the 2 groups differing story arcs....but as I said, this novel is pretty much what you'd expect from a 1960s sci-fi novel.
Despite the above negatives, this book did entertain me - I liked Donnan, Ramri and Sigrid, and I enjoyed following their developing plotlines and seeing how it all turned out. The plot flowed logically, there were some exciting sections and the science made sense.
A reasonably enjoyable slice of 60s sci-fi, if a little short and stilted.
Very much a product of its time, this post-apocalyptic sci-fi (reasonably short) novel packs in way more content than I was expecting.
There's a fair amount of intergalactic travel, some interesting aliens, enjoyable encounters of the positive and negative kind, and the main protagonist becomes pretty likeable, even though he appears to have been written as pretty much a pipe-smoking, tough-talking, 1960s man's man.
I can't help but feel that the book would have worked better if it had been fleshed out by an extra 100 pages or so....in it's condensed 160 page format, I occasionally found myself wondering if I'd missed a few pages when the story jumps forward....at one point by 5 years.
I also feel it's narrative format is somewhat stilted - perhaps that's just how Anderson wrote this one, as I don't recall Tau Zero feeling quite as jumpy and jerky to read as this. Only a couple of the very main characters have bits and pieces of backstory, whilst the rest of the cast doesn't really get much characterisation at all, so it's sometimes difficult to empathize or care very much for many members of the cast.
Also, the science bits are sometimes a bit of an info dump, and the men are written as 1960s men, whilst the women are written as 1960s women, despite the 2 groups differing story arcs....but as I said, this novel is pretty much what you'd expect from a 1960s sci-fi novel.
Despite the above negatives, this book did entertain me - I liked Donnan, Ramri and Sigrid, and I enjoyed following their developing plotlines and seeing how it all turned out. The plot flowed logically, there were some exciting sections and the science made sense.
A reasonably enjoyable slice of 60s sci-fi, if a little short and stilted.
February 17, 2017
1960's space opera. A ship returns from its 3 year mission to find the Earth a burning cinder. What follows is a search for the culprits among a galaxy of thousands of aliens while also trying to reach any other Earth ships complicated by a lack of interstellar communications. Run-ins with aliens both friendly and hostile show the galaxy that Earth people won't go down easily.
After a very short initial period of shock, the Terrans set forth on a plan that will both reveal the guilty and announce their presence to any other Earth ships out there. Interesting characterizations of differing aliens, more so than the characterizations of the humans who too easily overcome the loss of the entire human race. They are really sad, then they go on about their business. The story is all about meeting and dealing with aliens, very little time spent on the psychological shock of the death of an entire species. "I'm almost out of tobacco, that's not good. Now to deal with this Lizardman Overlord."
After a very short initial period of shock, the Terrans set forth on a plan that will both reveal the guilty and announce their presence to any other Earth ships out there. Interesting characterizations of differing aliens, more so than the characterizations of the humans who too easily overcome the loss of the entire human race. They are really sad, then they go on about their business. The story is all about meeting and dealing with aliens, very little time spent on the psychological shock of the death of an entire species. "I'm almost out of tobacco, that's not good. Now to deal with this Lizardman Overlord."
June 26, 2016
The first line in this book is someone announcing that Earth is dead.
The star ship, an American one, all men, is held together when Donnan, the engineer, starts to order the captain about, rousing him from stupor, and goes about the ship getting those men who can to act. He speaks with Ramri, their alien pilot, and then they find that the solar system has been loaded with missles, which give them some evidence about possible culprits, and reason to mistrust it, and reason to flee. Though they have reason anyway. They head out into the cluster to find a place where they can work, and possibly find some way to contact the other ships -- some of which have women on board, which would be necessary for humanity to go on.
On a nearby planet, the crew slowly disintegrates, until the captain and first officer die. Then Donnan's speaking of what should be done puts him in command, to take charge of the question of what they are to do, how are they to find other survivors, and who is responsible. They join into the local war in hopes of finding out.
Another star ship, European, all women, finds Earth the same, and also heads out to the stars -- another cluster, and they miss the messages left in nearby star systems. They hold together better, partly because the captain orders everyone to take a tranquillizer that keeps them calm until the first shock has worn off, and find more clues in the solar system about the cause. Sigrid has an idea about how to find other humans, which is a subplot throughout the book.
The story weaves on through several worlds and alien cultures, a kidnapping, prisoners of war, a carefully wrought prop, new discoveries, and twists on who is responsible and why, and questions about humanity.
The star ship, an American one, all men, is held together when Donnan, the engineer, starts to order the captain about, rousing him from stupor, and goes about the ship getting those men who can to act. He speaks with Ramri, their alien pilot, and then they find that the solar system has been loaded with missles, which give them some evidence about possible culprits, and reason to mistrust it, and reason to flee. Though they have reason anyway. They head out into the cluster to find a place where they can work, and possibly find some way to contact the other ships -- some of which have women on board, which would be necessary for humanity to go on.
On a nearby planet, the crew slowly disintegrates, until the captain and first officer die. Then Donnan's speaking of what should be done puts him in command, to take charge of the question of what they are to do, how are they to find other survivors, and who is responsible. They join into the local war in hopes of finding out.
Another star ship, European, all women, finds Earth the same, and also heads out to the stars -- another cluster, and they miss the messages left in nearby star systems. They hold together better, partly because the captain orders everyone to take a tranquillizer that keeps them calm until the first shock has worn off, and find more clues in the solar system about the cause. Sigrid has an idea about how to find other humans, which is a subplot throughout the book.
The story weaves on through several worlds and alien cultures, a kidnapping, prisoners of war, a carefully wrought prop, new discoveries, and twists on who is responsible and why, and questions about humanity.
December 28, 2014
Molta brava gente non si stanca di chiedere la riduzione dei programmi spaziali (americani o russi che siano) in nome degli scopi umanitari - case, scuole, ospedali, eccetera - che si potrebbero realizzare con i soldi così risparmiati. Ma questa brava gente non considera che le case le scuole gli ospedali eccetera non servirebbero a molto nel caso non impossibile che qualcuno (o qualcosa) distruggesse di colpo la Terra. Mentre i soli a salvarsi sarebbero proprio gli astronauti, come dimostra questa odissea di trecento spaziali che tornando a casa da un lungo viaggio trovano il pianeta ridotto in cenere e vanno peregrinando per la Galassia in cerca dell'ignoto « distruttore " , profughi malvisti e turbolenti, soldati di ventura al soldo di altre razze, eppure disperatamente decisi a ricostruire un nucleo di umanità, e a ricominciare...
July 5, 2019
A whodunnit in space. The victim: Earth. The detectives: a bunch of guys in one space ship and a bunch of girls in another space ship. The suspects: lots of different aliens!
I would have liked a story centered on rebuilding Earth or establishing New Earth, but all we really got was short introductions to each alien race with the constant question of who destroyed Earth. I couldn't really bring myself to care.
I would have liked a story centered on rebuilding Earth or establishing New Earth, but all we really got was short introductions to each alien race with the constant question of who destroyed Earth. I couldn't really bring myself to care.
February 16, 2016
Poul Anderson was one of my favorite authors as a teen. So when I saw a post apocolyptic book that I had never read before I was excited. Sadly the book met none of my expectations. Shallow characters and a boring shallow world build is not a good combination. The only good news is that the book was short.
July 10, 2013
Brief and somewhat satisfying. Would have been much better if fleshed out into a 300-400 page novel rather than crunched into this shorter form, which lacked the room for the background necessary to have much empathy for the characters.
January 17, 2011
Grade A
May 2, 2011
Who destroyed Earth?
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