The Fall of Winter

by Jack C. Haldeman

Someone on Frost wanted Trent dead. Or was is something? Neither possibility seemed to make sense. Terraforming expert Roger Trent was only doing his job: finding out what was preventing a skilled engineering team from turning Frost into an Earth-like world. It was almost as if the planet were resisting their efforts. And their failure left an entire space program in jeopardy.

Trent thought he had some answers. But somebody didn't want him to pass them along... enough to go after Trent with murder in mind.

Genres: Science Fiction, Fiction

284 pages, Mass Market Paperback

First published January 1, 1985

Reviews

[G.A. · Rating 3 out of 5]

Bella storia di fantascienza con qualche spunto interessante per un seguito. Rompe gli schemi ma risulta un po' troppo discorsivo e la trama ne risente.

[Kevin Phyland · Rating 3 out of 5]

The planet called Frost is conveniently located near a wormhole nexus and as such is valuable property. But the planet is bitterly cold and unless it can be moderated enough for genetically modified human chimeras to live on it, the planet may be worthless. To this end a terraforming project and an acclimatization process is proceeding but has been having difficulties. Some think the native fluffers are sentient while others do not. Sinister forces have enlisted acolytes of a radical religion, The Church of The One True Way, who abhor chimeras, to sabotage efforts on Frost. Several attempts are made on Roger Trent’s life. Roger is a modified hunman troubleshooter who has been sent to Frost to try to figure out what’s going on, and he finds that the native ecosystem is far more integrated than ever suspected. It’s almost like the whole planet is an empath. Jack C. Haldeman has given us a pretty easy-to-read adventure story that won’t impart any undying truths but will entertain you for a few hours. I must say this though: The blurb writers gave away a major plot point on the covers! :)

[Richp · Rating 4 out of 5]

This SF novel is not bad, in the English sense. It is not the best thriller, but it does have some substance to it.

The author is the late brother of the far better known Joe Haldeman. This does not rate up there with Joe's classic bests, bet definitely outdoes some of Joe's later outputs.

According to wiki as of today (24 July 2015) there is a tapeworm, Hymenolepis haldemani, named after him (he was a biologist by profession). How many of us can claim that!

[Dad Bowers]

not bad tale, tho a bit dated in techno ideas. The author made a good attempt to help teach on respect of ecology and the possibilities of different beneficial alien creatures and cultures. I was confused on characters; it seems the main protagonist, Roger, was not well developed early and I expected another, Sam to have the main theme and action!

[Alicebv · Rating 4 out of 5]

Originale romanzo di fantascienza..
..non un capolavoro, ma comunque un gradevole esponente del genere..

[Mark Isaak · Rating 3 out of 5]

An average book. The characters and style were good, but the plot and science fiction aspects were on the unimaginative side. Decent entertainment, but nothing special.