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It will be the greatest voyage of exploration in human history. Fifty men and women are chosen to crew the Wotan. Their mission: to travel deep into the unknown galaxy in search of habitable worlds, to rekindle the dying human spirit. Their only contact with Earth is the telepathic link between one of the crew members and her sister back home. But when the mind-link with Earth is abruptly broken the Wotan is lost in the pearl-gray twilight of nospace. Then just as all seems lost, the Wotan encounters a massive alien presence. Suddenly the crew is forced to realise that their every assumption about life and death, humanity and the universe, may be dead wrong.
272 pages, Paperback
First published January 1, 1996
4 people are currently reading
272 people want to read
About the author
Robert Silverberg
2,365 books1,621 followersThere are many authors in the database with this name.
Robert Silverberg is a highly celebrated American science fiction author and editor known for his prolific output and literary range. Over a career spanning decades, he has won multiple Hugo and Nebula Awards and was named a Grand Master by the Science Fiction and Fantasy Writers of America in 2004. Inducted into the Science Fiction and Fantasy Hall of Fame in 1999, Silverberg is recognized for both his immense productivity and his contributions to the genre's evolution.
Born in Brooklyn, he began writing in his teens and won his first Hugo Award in 1956 as the best new writer. Throughout the 1950s, he produced vast amounts of fiction, often under pseudonyms, and was known for writing up to a million words a year. When the market declined, he diversified into other genres, including historical nonfiction and erotica.
Silverberg’s return to science fiction in the 1960s marked a shift toward deeper psychological and literary themes, contributing significantly to the New Wave movement. Acclaimed works from this period include Downward to the Earth, Dying Inside, Nightwings, and The World Inside. In the 1980s, he launched the Majipoor series with Lord Valentine’s Castle, creating one of the most imaginative planetary settings in science fiction.
Though he announced his retirement from writing in the mid-1970s, Silverberg returned with renewed vigor and continued to publish acclaimed fiction into the 1990s. He received further recognition with the Nebula-winning Sailing to Byzantium and the Hugo-winning Gilgamesh in the Outback.
Silverberg has also played a significant role as an editor and anthologist, shaping science fiction literature through both his own work and his influence on others. He lives in the San Francisco Bay Area with his wife, author Karen Haber.
Robert Silverberg is a highly celebrated American science fiction author and editor known for his prolific output and literary range. Over a career spanning decades, he has won multiple Hugo and Nebula Awards and was named a Grand Master by the Science Fiction and Fantasy Writers of America in 2004. Inducted into the Science Fiction and Fantasy Hall of Fame in 1999, Silverberg is recognized for both his immense productivity and his contributions to the genre's evolution.
Born in Brooklyn, he began writing in his teens and won his first Hugo Award in 1956 as the best new writer. Throughout the 1950s, he produced vast amounts of fiction, often under pseudonyms, and was known for writing up to a million words a year. When the market declined, he diversified into other genres, including historical nonfiction and erotica.
Silverberg’s return to science fiction in the 1960s marked a shift toward deeper psychological and literary themes, contributing significantly to the New Wave movement. Acclaimed works from this period include Downward to the Earth, Dying Inside, Nightwings, and The World Inside. In the 1980s, he launched the Majipoor series with Lord Valentine’s Castle, creating one of the most imaginative planetary settings in science fiction.
Though he announced his retirement from writing in the mid-1970s, Silverberg returned with renewed vigor and continued to publish acclaimed fiction into the 1990s. He received further recognition with the Nebula-winning Sailing to Byzantium and the Hugo-winning Gilgamesh in the Outback.
Silverberg has also played a significant role as an editor and anthologist, shaping science fiction literature through both his own work and his influence on others. He lives in the San Francisco Bay Area with his wife, author Karen Haber.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 47 reviews
July 1, 2021
This was a really interesting read. Some really creative planets and space travel stuff. The downside was that there was a bit too much fluff in between all of that. The good bits were amazing but it was a little slow overall. Still very worth reading if you enjoy sci fi.
June 21, 2024
I first read this wayback and it hasn't aged, unlike many Silverberg novels, and the reveal of the title is one of his best
March 17, 2013
3.5 stars. A slow story, almost failed the "hundred page test" but moved better near the end. Kind of predictable, but well-developed.
Quibble: "a hundred fifteen light years" does not take you to "some entirely different part of the galaxy." It's still very much in the between-arms neighborhood of our sun.
Nice cover image--the blue star.
A good read.
Quibble: "a hundred fifteen light years" does not take you to "some entirely different part of the galaxy." It's still very much in the between-arms neighborhood of our sun.
Nice cover image--the blue star.
A good read.
December 26, 2021
Ova mi se knjiga toliko svidjela, baš onako lijepo, odnosi likova, misli, lutanje Svemirom, Planete...ma Silverberg je majstor
August 29, 2020
Ok, but not as good as the original short story on which it was based, "Ship-Sister, Star-Sister". Both the story and the novel are sprinkled with references to Go.
January 7, 2015
3.5 stars.
March 12, 2019
This novel is an expansion of Silverberg's short story "Ship-Sister, Star-Sister" from the early 1970s. In the expansion, Silverberg shifts the focus of the short story from the relationship between the telepathic Noelle and her twin sister on Earth, who provide the interstellar exploration ship Wotan's only form of communication, to the journey itself and many of the other crew who were merely rough sketches of characters in the original.
This has the effect of turning the story into an old-style tale of space exploration that I found highly reminiscent of Van Vogt's The Voyage of the Space Beagle , although in the more thoughtful Silverberg style. Of course, since I'd already read the short story I knew how the novel was going to end. Maybe it would feel different to a fresh reader, but I feel the expansion to novel length actually diminished the impact of the ending, making it seem tacked-on, perfunctory, and not growing from the tension of the overall plot.
This has the effect of turning the story into an old-style tale of space exploration that I found highly reminiscent of Van Vogt's The Voyage of the Space Beagle , although in the more thoughtful Silverberg style. Of course, since I'd already read the short story I knew how the novel was going to end. Maybe it would feel different to a fresh reader, but I feel the expansion to novel length actually diminished the impact of the ending, making it seem tacked-on, perfunctory, and not growing from the tension of the overall plot.
February 28, 2024
As I understand it, this is a novelized version of a shorter work published previously (sometime in the 70’s?). It is of that classic ‘we’re all on a spaceship boldly heading into the unknown to find a new home for humanity…” It also has the trip of twins that instantaneously communicate telepathically avoiding the lag that would grow exponentially as they distance themselves from Terra (I first came across this idea in a Heinlein juvenile published during the mid-fifties). However, Silverberg typically takes on tired ideas and infuses new ideas within them. No exception here. I also noted that Silverberg expanded three Asimov stories during this time - Nightfall (1990), The Ugly Little Boy (1992) and The Positronic Man (1993), therefore, why not (I suppose he thought) expand one of my own. I imagine this could have been done successfully with several of his huge repertoire of early works.
February 12, 2019
A very different story from Robert Silverberg (although all his books are different from each other, come to think of it!). I enjoyed it very much, but was annoyed with the idiosyncracy that the main character, the "year captain" was never named. The other annoyance was the repetition of a lot of information. So four stars.
April 23, 2018
Too much flowery language, not enough substance. It's not so much that the years haven't been kind to it as it is that it just never had much to it. The personal interactions, which is all there really is to this book, are almost painful, and the ending is non-existent.
October 20, 2020
RS writes well. The scenario was good, described clearly with good characterisation.
This is definitley my first RS book, but not my last. I was not too keen on the conclusion, but the journey was worth taking. I'd give it a 3.9, rather thatn the full four.
This is definitley my first RS book, but not my last. I was not too keen on the conclusion, but the journey was worth taking. I'd give it a 3.9, rather thatn the full four.
June 12, 2019
Dull as ditchwater.
November 28, 2022
No, un libro vecchio e a mio parere invecchiato male.
Una soluzione finale troppo "easy".
Non mi è piaciuto
Una soluzione finale troppo "easy".
Non mi è piaciuto
July 21, 2023
This is a story of interstellar travel with 50 humans and no hope of ever returning to Earth. They maintain contact with Earth in real time by psychic twins, one on Earth, one on the ship. There is no real science here, although Silverberg peppers the narrative with words that sound vaguely scientific (biopsychic resonator, or incorporeal mentation) and major storyline premises such as psychic ability over millions of light years, or faster than light travel are handily taken as givens and never explained. The last pages sort of made my eyes roll: the stars are actually sentient beings billions of years old and when they link with the two psychic sisters they encapsulate all of humanity back on Earth and now everybody is enlightened - no more aggression, Peace on Earth, a New Eden, and everybody singing Kum-Ba-Yah. Not one of Silverberg’s greatest; lots of pseudo fluff and lack of real substance, though there are some memorable characters here. If you are more tolerant of the pseudoscience you may end up liking it more than I did.
October 25, 2024
Very good for a pop sci fi novel from the 20th century.
August 4, 2020
This is one of the best of over a dozen Silverberg books I read, although the ending was a bit too esoteric and not totally satisfying. Silverberg has an amazing ability to create believable, multi-dimensional characters which he interweaves well with an engrossing if not super-active plot. The year-pilot and the blind woman Nicole in this particular novel were especially engaging.
I'm surprised that Starborne did not get as good reviews as most of Silverberg's books. Maybe it was because of the focus on "angels" near the end of the book --if only he had used another word for the non-material energy of space!
I'm surprised that Starborne did not get as good reviews as most of Silverberg's books. Maybe it was because of the focus on "angels" near the end of the book --if only he had used another word for the non-material energy of space!
January 16, 2011
I was unshure whether to give it two or three stars. Maybe it deserves three and I reacted negatively because I read "Ship-Sister, Star-Sister" - the short story that was to become Starborne, and was spoiled about the ending. But then again... the book offers very little that is not found in the short story, or all the other Silverberg novels, and I didn't like the little things it adds.
I know Silverberg does not write hard SF, but still there were many things that did not make any sense.
The thing that pissed me off the most was the setting. It's on the cover, so it is not a spoiler, just a psychology fail. Poverty, disease, hunger and hardship have been eradicated. Everyone is healthy, rich civilized, cautious, content... what happened? The aliens came and lobotomized humanity?! No such thing is mentioned. Whatever utopists and anti-utopists write humanity will always be curious, and always discontent, especially the youth. No matter how good the conditions are ther will always be people with less than others, people wanting more than they have. Ambition will never die, as long as there are still humans. And while the colonisation might be a good reality show, the idea that it will be the "spark in the lives of humankind" is silly.
Besides, machines were supposed to make enough of everything for everyone by the year 2000, but they did not and will not do so in the forseeable future. And there are all the other small, but annoying details, that do not fit.
/* warning, very minor spoilers ahead */
So you build the biggest spaceship ever and you send it to find a second Earth... and you don't test it first by at least a trial run to the nearest star? How much sense would it need to send ten smaller exploration ships to find a suitable planet, instead of bringing the whole priceless colonizer ship? And if your communication with Earth fails for a few weeks you assume you'll never contant it again, even though you have the fastest ship ever and can go there and back again in a couple of years, after the colony is founded?
The science was bad, the logic was bad, the characters were kind of good (if shallow, except for two of them they were basicly two dementional), but rarely do anything smart. They are a buch of scientists, that do not act like it. They act like reality show actors.
And in the end the book does not deliver its promise. It delivers... something else. Something I already knew from the short story, it was not bad and I give it an extra star for it - but it cannot save the whole book.
I know Silverberg does not write hard SF, but still there were many things that did not make any sense.
The thing that pissed me off the most was the setting. It's on the cover, so it is not a spoiler, just a psychology fail. Poverty, disease, hunger and hardship have been eradicated. Everyone is healthy, rich civilized, cautious, content... what happened? The aliens came and lobotomized humanity?! No such thing is mentioned. Whatever utopists and anti-utopists write humanity will always be curious, and always discontent, especially the youth. No matter how good the conditions are ther will always be people with less than others, people wanting more than they have. Ambition will never die, as long as there are still humans. And while the colonisation might be a good reality show, the idea that it will be the "spark in the lives of humankind" is silly.
Besides, machines were supposed to make enough of everything for everyone by the year 2000, but they did not and will not do so in the forseeable future. And there are all the other small, but annoying details, that do not fit.
/* warning, very minor spoilers ahead */
So you build the biggest spaceship ever and you send it to find a second Earth... and you don't test it first by at least a trial run to the nearest star? How much sense would it need to send ten smaller exploration ships to find a suitable planet, instead of bringing the whole priceless colonizer ship? And if your communication with Earth fails for a few weeks you assume you'll never contant it again, even though you have the fastest ship ever and can go there and back again in a couple of years, after the colony is founded?
The science was bad, the logic was bad, the characters were kind of good (if shallow, except for two of them they were basicly two dementional), but rarely do anything smart. They are a buch of scientists, that do not act like it. They act like reality show actors.
And in the end the book does not deliver its promise. It delivers... something else. Something I already knew from the short story, it was not bad and I give it an extra star for it - but it cannot save the whole book.
June 21, 2013
This book is very plodding. Nothing happens for the first two thirds of the book more exciting than playing a game of Go (similar to Chess). Even more than this, the book is Science Fiction, and Silverberg has HUGE problems. First, his math is bad. It takes 1 year to go 40 light years in nospace. Then it takes 5 months to go 90 light years. Even worse, his science is bad. Silverberg says that no radiation gets through from normal space to nospace, but then they're able to do spectral analysis of a planet. Mr. Silverberg, I have news for you: that is radiation! Finally, the core "surprise" of the story is not even original.
Silverberg has been awarded 5 Nebulas and 4 Hugos. He also co-authored with Asimov. So, he must have written some good things. I *might* try him again. I wouldn't for any other author since this book was so bad. He was born in 1935 and this book was first published in 1996, so he would have been only 61 years old. Not old enough to have dementia.
Silverberg has been awarded 5 Nebulas and 4 Hugos. He also co-authored with Asimov. So, he must have written some good things. I *might* try him again. I wouldn't for any other author since this book was so bad. He was born in 1935 and this book was first published in 1996, so he would have been only 61 years old. Not old enough to have dementia.
March 7, 2013
Really about 3.5 stars.
This was this months free ebook at Phoenix Pick.
For the most part you have the typical story of a group of explorers who have been handpicked to find habitable planets. This has elements of SF scientific utopianism. On Earth people are living a lot longer and there are no more wars. The crew of the ship has a hookup culture and sex is purely recreational. There is no more religion other than surviving apparently as swear words.
Still despite these to me annoying aspects the day to day story of the "first captain" and the crew was interesting enough and the difficulties they came in contact with on other planets. The story gets more interesting as they investigate what is causing interference in the method they used to keep in contact with the Earth in real time.
This was this months free ebook at Phoenix Pick.
For the most part you have the typical story of a group of explorers who have been handpicked to find habitable planets. This has elements of SF scientific utopianism. On Earth people are living a lot longer and there are no more wars. The crew of the ship has a hookup culture and sex is purely recreational. There is no more religion other than surviving apparently as swear words.
Still despite these to me annoying aspects the day to day story of the "first captain" and the crew was interesting enough and the difficulties they came in contact with on other planets. The story gets more interesting as they investigate what is causing interference in the method they used to keep in contact with the Earth in real time.
May 9, 2014
The character interactions are the best part of this book. Though it is a story about exploring the universe for a planet to colonize, there is very little about the planets; so if you're looking for that kind of thing, skip this book. Most of the story takes place on the ship, and deals with the year captain's thoughts, actions, and interactions. Noelle is an awesome character who is blind, beautiful, and has a telepathic link with her sister back on Earth. This is another one that I don't really recommend, and probably won't re-read, but it was enjoyable enough.
This is the first I've read of Robert Silverberg, and look forward to reading more of his work.
This is the first I've read of Robert Silverberg, and look forward to reading more of his work.
December 15, 2016
This book took me some time to read, because the development of the story seemed so slow. I understand ater finishing it that it was done that way to get you into the mindset of the travelers. Once things start moving, the story starts to get more interesting and the characters start showing the stress they are under and that was submerged into the long voyage.
I don't think it's a book for everybody, as the start seems dulish and sort of hopeless, and by the end it gets a little more philosophical.
I don't think it's a book for everybody, as the start seems dulish and sort of hopeless, and by the end it gets a little more philosophical.
January 24, 2012
I picked up this book because I write my own stories in the present tense, and this was recommended as an example of present tense writing done really well.
It is done well. The writing is beautiful, evocative, natural, present, gripping, enchanting.
The story leaves something to be desired; I felt like nothing really happened, and the end was pretty but not terribly satisfying. But it was enjoyable anyway.
It is done well. The writing is beautiful, evocative, natural, present, gripping, enchanting.
The story leaves something to be desired; I felt like nothing really happened, and the end was pretty but not terribly satisfying. But it was enjoyable anyway.
May 31, 2013
Meh... so very little happens. Silverberg spends more time being descriptive and less time with what I'd going on. I understand that this novel comes from a short story. Save your time and just read the story.
The dialogue is not great and everyone seems to have the same voice.
The one good thing about the book is that it introduced me to Go. I am learning it now. Much more fascinating than this book.
The dialogue is not great and everyone seems to have the same voice.
The one good thing about the book is that it introduced me to Go. I am learning it now. Much more fascinating than this book.
September 9, 2016
I wish I could give this book more stars. I really enjoyed it until the very end. The depiction of space travel seemed very real to me. The group dynamics, the enclosed space, the disappointment and anxiety trying to found a new earth were well done. Unfortunately the ending turned me off. Don't want to spoil it for anyone. I'll just say that the rest of the book made me hope the ending would be equally realistic. I was disappointed.
October 2, 2015
Personally, I thought that this was a very interesting story. I enjoyed the journey of the crew, and the dynamics between the characters and the concepts that Silverberg introduced and the 'feel' of the story. The actual voyage was interesting and so were the planets that they encountered; the twist at the end for me at least, was mind blowing. It's been a while since I've read it, but I would still greatly recommend it.
June 28, 2009
very interesting book, i really enjoyed it until the end. It was very anti climatic and very "out there." I think this has been the most disappointed I've ever been with the ending of a book. Too bad, because everything else was great, although I don't particularly think that is how earth would ever be.
May 24, 2009
This book seemed a little melancholy to me and dragged quite a bit. I think it would have worked much better as a short story than a novel. After all the meandering earlier in the book, the ending was surprising but didn't really fit with the rest of the story.
August 5, 2011
I very much enjoyed this~ good build up the whole time (and a lot of it). It didn't reach the conclusion I would have liked, but took an interesting turn, nevertheless. Renders much more respect for life on Earth.
November 12, 2012
Most of the story takes place in characters' heads. That isn't always bad, but this time it was. Nothing really happened until over halfway through, then nothing more really happened until near the end, which was disappointing. Such a huge workup and the climax fizzled.
June 4, 2016
Good writing but ultimately did not like the story. Too abstract and strange. Couldn't sink my teeth into the ideas and the ending was anti-climactic and a let down. Took a total left turn that I didn't enjoy.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 47 reviews