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To the Stars #1-3
To the Stars
The epic science fiction trilogy--Homeworld, Wheelworld, and Starworld--from the author of West of Eden and Winter in Eden is now available in one volume.
Homeworld introduces us to Jan Kulozik, an upper-class engineer who has taken his privileges for granted. While vacationing at a luxurious resort in the Middle East, he nearly drowns in a sailboat accident, but an illegal Israeli submarine saves him. Kulozik's rescuers make him unwillingly recognize the suffering of most of the planet's inhabitants, and the Israelis reveal the existence of an underground movement, which is struggling to topple society's current balance of power. Jan must choose between the comfort and safety of his former life and the dangers towards which his conscience is urging him.
Ten years later, in Wheelworld, Jan has been banished from Earth, exiled to the inflexible tribal society of Halvmork, which helps supply Earth's agricultural needs. Unhappy with his lot, Jan is nonetheless resigned, until the crucial cargo ships fail to arrive from Earth. Then, Halvmork's only hope for survival is Jan's organization of a daring, grueling mass exodus against incredible odds. . .
In Starworld, Jan returns to Earth and finds himself caught between the underground and Earth's government. The Earth colonies have rebelled, and Earth is desperately struggling to retain its tyrannical hold over them. Jan is caught in a series of fast-paced espionage and counter-espionage episodes. His goal, to destroy the vestiges of power among what were once Earth's reigning elite. And he is the one person who can save the planet.
Homeworld introduces us to Jan Kulozik, an upper-class engineer who has taken his privileges for granted. While vacationing at a luxurious resort in the Middle East, he nearly drowns in a sailboat accident, but an illegal Israeli submarine saves him. Kulozik's rescuers make him unwillingly recognize the suffering of most of the planet's inhabitants, and the Israelis reveal the existence of an underground movement, which is struggling to topple society's current balance of power. Jan must choose between the comfort and safety of his former life and the dangers towards which his conscience is urging him.
Ten years later, in Wheelworld, Jan has been banished from Earth, exiled to the inflexible tribal society of Halvmork, which helps supply Earth's agricultural needs. Unhappy with his lot, Jan is nonetheless resigned, until the crucial cargo ships fail to arrive from Earth. Then, Halvmork's only hope for survival is Jan's organization of a daring, grueling mass exodus against incredible odds. . .
In Starworld, Jan returns to Earth and finds himself caught between the underground and Earth's government. The Earth colonies have rebelled, and Earth is desperately struggling to retain its tyrannical hold over them. Jan is caught in a series of fast-paced espionage and counter-espionage episodes. His goal, to destroy the vestiges of power among what were once Earth's reigning elite. And he is the one person who can save the planet.
472 pages, Paperback
First published January 1, 1981
5 people are currently reading
224 people want to read
About the author
Harry Harrison
1,271 books1,041 followersLibrarian Note: There is more than one author in the Goodreads database with this name.
Harry Harrison (born Henry Maxwell Dempsey) was an American science fiction author best known for his character the The Stainless Steel Rat and the novel Make Room! Make Room! (1966), the basis for the film Soylent Green (1973). He was also (with Brian W. Aldiss) co-president of the Birmingham Science Fiction Group.
Excerpted from Wikipedia.
Harry Harrison (born Henry Maxwell Dempsey) was an American science fiction author best known for his character the The Stainless Steel Rat and the novel Make Room! Make Room! (1966), the basis for the film Soylent Green (1973). He was also (with Brian W. Aldiss) co-president of the Birmingham Science Fiction Group.
Excerpted from Wikipedia.
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Displaying 1 - 11 of 11 reviews
May 17, 2020
Ever think about how, instead of the existence of extraterrestrial beings out in space, it was actually humans? Though not written to be a heartwarming story, that is how Harry Harrison wrote To The Stars Trilogy.
Hundreds of years to the future, the dystopian world--including the space, apparently--are now only governed by one group of people. These people are only powerful because they are rich. As Earth’s natural resources depleted, humankind decided to colonize other planets. The resources, however, are hogged by the rich; the poor have to either live from the scraps or survive through the harsh conditions of the newly-inhabited planets.
We follow the story from the protagonist Jan Kulozik, an engineer, so he is one of the privileged elites that gets to live comfortably. Unfortunately, after his run-in with a group of spies which made him caught by the authorities, he is exiled to another planet. This planet is built around agriculturally. They are to produce crops to supply food for Earth and the other planets. Not long after that, the people fight back the government, but without future plans. Apparently, they were too used to living in their own colony, that they cannot stand with each other. So, in the end, to each their own, which means each colony will have their own government body.
The takeaway from this is that, while it is better for society to live within their own kind, it is important to know that when there is a threat that affects the world, humankind will always thrive together.
Hundreds of years to the future, the dystopian world--including the space, apparently--are now only governed by one group of people. These people are only powerful because they are rich. As Earth’s natural resources depleted, humankind decided to colonize other planets. The resources, however, are hogged by the rich; the poor have to either live from the scraps or survive through the harsh conditions of the newly-inhabited planets.
We follow the story from the protagonist Jan Kulozik, an engineer, so he is one of the privileged elites that gets to live comfortably. Unfortunately, after his run-in with a group of spies which made him caught by the authorities, he is exiled to another planet. This planet is built around agriculturally. They are to produce crops to supply food for Earth and the other planets. Not long after that, the people fight back the government, but without future plans. Apparently, they were too used to living in their own colony, that they cannot stand with each other. So, in the end, to each their own, which means each colony will have their own government body.
The takeaway from this is that, while it is better for society to live within their own kind, it is important to know that when there is a threat that affects the world, humankind will always thrive together.
July 11, 2012
White boy saves the universe, and has sex with the best of the available women all at the same time. Yeah no.
July 28, 2019
A trio of stories which carries the protagonist from wealth in a socialist world of oligarchs and peasants, to slavery on a world controlled by Earth and in revolt, ending in the freeing of the galaxy. Anti-communist, -socialist story which has many surprising parallels to today. Gov't storage of all conversations, secret wiretaps, driverless cars, etc. Interesting read. Recommended.
February 11, 2019
Dated and uneven, but compelling at times.
July 18, 2019
4 plus all in all. Consists of:
Homeworld - 4 1/2 stars
Wheelworld - 4 pluss stars
Starworld - 4 stars
Very good, quite political, fast moving and entertaining.
Homeworld - 4 1/2 stars
Wheelworld - 4 pluss stars
Starworld - 4 stars
Very good, quite political, fast moving and entertaining.
September 1, 2019
Pretty classic Harrison.
February 9, 2011
I really enjoyed this three part story about Jan Kulozik who finds his way from Earth to across the galaxy and back. It was fun, it was adventurous, it had action, it had espionage but the final battle for it all just left me feeling a bit hollow. The book leads to this epic confrontation but in the end it's a bit of the red ink being spilled and all too convenient things. I don't wish to go into detail as I do not want to spoil anything for anyone. It's a good series of books just felt a bit let down by the ending but not enough that I hated it.
September 13, 2010
This longish, but unmemorable, science fiction trilogy was read during a school break during the winter of 1983/84.
September 6, 2011
First part (Homeworld) is really great. The second two books are solid, but not as good as the first.
September 12, 2015
Est read in 1989 - Library Omnibus edition
November 1, 2013
Seems I'd read the first two books of the volume separately in years past. The third was not quite so good as it predecessors.
Displaying 1 - 11 of 11 reviews