Sold - For a Spaceship

by Philip E. High

They had slept in safety while destruction raged above them. When they awoke and emerged from their places of refuge, the world had changed - totally. For man soon discovered that he was no longer the dominant species on Earth. Now there were other creatures, not only ready to dispute the point but well prepared to prove it. It was later, much later, that the bulk of mankind discovered they had forfeited their birthright, traded their home, the planet Earth - for a spaceship.

Genres: Science Fiction, Fiction

170 pages, Kindle Edition

First published January 1, 1973

Reviews

[Christian Thorpe · Rating 5 out of 5]

At only 49 ratings and 3 reviews, this is by far the most under the radar sci-fi book I've read. It's plausible that just the sheer shock at the quality of such an uncelebrated work contributed to giving it 5 stars, but I'm confident it would have landed there regardless.

It's the story of a doomed Earth and the need for mankind to put their technology to the test and hibernate until it's safe to come out again. When they do wake up, the world is more alien than even the most distant planet. The story does get a bit fantastical around the halfway point, but as things progress, it all becomes a matter of course.

This book is a gem. Even prior to finishing it, I'd already snagged several other Philip E. High books so I could experience more of this author's creative imagination when it was over. If the Kindle samples are any indication, I'm in for a few good reads.

[Derelict Space Sheep · Rating 3 out of 5]

High deploys his customary optimism in having the remnants of the human race awake from suspended animation to reclaim their much-changed planet. An enjoyable helter-skelter hodgepodge of pulp SF ideas, characters and landscapes, marred by male-female interactions that are early Hollywood cringeworthy.

[Simon Boettcher · Rating 2 out of 5]

The sort of writing you'd expect to find in a 90's monthly Sci-Fi magazine. Short and something to pickup with no intention more than filling the time. Having said this, if you start it - finish it. The beginning is slow and bogged down, no plot hooks leaves you with little other than amateurish imagery to keep you entertained. The latter half of the novel, however, becomes much more interesting - still with gaping plot holes mind you - but discusses themes of politics, development and alien intrigue.

[Matthew Custer · Rating 3 out of 5]

Light reading, only vaguely Science much more fiction. Enjoyable but simple.