Starswarm

Jupiter #5

by Jerry Pournelle

Kit has never known any life but his existence at the protected laboratory compound known as Starswarm Station. And for all that time he has heard the an artificial intelligence chip implanted in his skull. It guides him and helps protect him from the planet's many dangers, including roaming bands of hostile centaurs and "haters." But the startling discovery of who put the chip in his head - and why - leads Kip to revelations that could threaten the safety of the entire compound.

Luckily, he has friends Marty and Lara to help. But are three kids enough to save an entire planet?

Genres: Science Fiction, Fiction, Young Adult, Audiobook, Science Fiction Fantasy, Space Opera, Speculative Fiction

352 pages, Mass Market Paperback

First published January 1, 1998

About the author

Dr Jerry Eugene Pournelle was an American science fiction writer, engineer, essayist, and journalist, who contributed for many years to the computer magazine Byte, and from 1998 until his death maintained his own website and blog.

From the beginning, Pournelle's work centered around strong military themes. Several books describe the fictional mercenary infantry force known as Falkenberg's Legion. There are strong parallels between these stories and the Childe Cycle mercenary stories by Gordon R. Dickson, as well as Heinlein's Starship Troopers, although Pournelle's work takes far fewer technological leaps than either of these.

Pournelle spent years working in the aerospace industry, including at Boeing, on projects including studying heat tolerance for astronauts and their spacesuits. This side of his career also found him working on projections related to military tactics and probabilities. One report in which he had a hand became a basis for the Strategic Defense Initiative, the missile defense system proposed by President Ronald Reagan. A study he edited in 1964 involved projecting Air Force missile technology needs for 1975.

Dr. Pournelle would always tell would-be writers seeking advice that the key to becoming an author was to write — a lot.

“And finish what you write,” he added in a 2003 interview. “Don’t join a writers’ club and sit around having coffee reading pieces of your manuscript to people. Write it. Finish it.”

Pournelle served as President of the Science Fiction and Fantasy Writers of America in 1973.

Reviews

[Michael · Rating 4 out of 5]

Starswarm is by Jerry Pournelle. It is the fifth book in the Jupiter Novels. It is a Young Adult Science Fiction novel.
In this one, Kip has been living with a secret all of his young life in that he has a voice in his head. The voice known as Gwen has always cautioned him to keep her voice a secret and he always has. As he grows older he begins to question Gwen and also his guardian, Uncle Mike, about what happened to his parents and why he is living at a remote research base on a planet far from Earth. As details slowly come out he will find himself and his friends in a battle to save not only himself but to save the planet he lives on. A great adventure and coming of age story in the spirit of Robert A Heinlein's juvenile novels.

[Wayne Palmer · Rating 3 out of 5]

I mostly enjoyed this book given its viewpoint is that of a young person and his involvement in an alien world and the corporations that control it. I also liked his relationship with his “voice in his head”. The various components of the story, while set in an alien world that humans have taken control over, did not did not come as much of a surprise. This was either because the revelations were telegraphed well in advance, or the story’s lack of depth did not allow the tension to build nor any surprise to be real. Regardless I enjoyed the flow of the story and there was no inconsistency in the environment, nor any tricks to bend reality to fit the story – both factors I prefer. The most disappointing part of the story was its ending. All threads were wrapped up, explained and completed. However it did so with such alacrity that it felt as if the author was in a rush to complete the book and so left a slightly disappointed feel to the end of it all.

[Robin Duncan · Rating 2 out of 5]

I enjoyed very much the author's collaborations with Larry Niven, but I don't think I've ever read a Jerry Pournelle novel. Neither did I realise that this is Book #5 of something called Jupiter? So says Goodreads. I suppose it's some sort of shared world. Still not sure I am any the wiser about that aspect. Anyway, this was an easy story, enjoyable enough. The protagonist is a youth, and I think that this would today be classed maybe as middle grade, based on writing slightly older than the intended market? That's another aspect that I did not appreciate when I picked it up. I give it three stars because I think it's solid.

I chose this book as part of a strand in my reading to revisit renowned authors of the 60/70/80s, including the likes of Niven, Silverberg, Herbert, Anderson, Vance and Dick (so far). By far the greatest of these was Jack Vance, probably still my favourite SF author, and I knew that going into the exercise. But listening to The Man in the High Castle was something of a revelation. Still, the exercise has been one of diminishing returns, probably because I am not selecting the 'big ticket' entries in the bibliographies of these authors, but looking further off the beaten track.

This story has prescient elements, but I found it slow to start. I wrestled with the tone that had me thinking of The Waltons meets Star Trek (original series), and I'm not sure I ever got beyond that. The components of the story seemed to me like a pot luck writing prompt (I mean, centaurs?). This is no doubt because of the market it's aimed at, and no doubt it would be much more enjoyable to a fourteen year-old than to me. But, perhaps not a fourteen year-old in 2022. I think we've all moved on. I'm going to put this one down to "the algorithm".

[Cheryl]

A thorough introduction 'how I came to write this' doesn't even mention Charles Sheffield, so I have absolutely no idea how it's considered a "Jupiter" novel. It's YA hard sf, and I'm enjoying the world-building but dreading the intrigue & adventure that's being telegraphed.

Oh, and when the youngster meets a girl his own age for the first time, the first thing he thinks about is how he's aware that "men like having sex with girls" and will he be expected to do so with her. In addition to the weirdness of a kid who isn't even quite in puberty thinking about that, rather than thinking about her as another young person, or maybe a sister-type or cousin-type, what's up with Pournelle's sexism? He's not being pedophiliac,* but rather using the word 'girl' as in "office girl" or "girl aviatrix" or that all crap that was supposed to disappear when we got color movies, decades before this book was written.

*I don't think he is, anyway....
............
Ok, off to try again.
............
Finished. The ending got exciting, not political. Def. written for youngsters. Too long, imo... that is to say, for the ground it covered it could have been streamlined. Which is not to say there were bad loose ends or unimportant subplots (everything did fit), but it had the potential to be a true epic, and so there was a lot there that just made it, well, long. It'd make a good first season for a TV series, next season being the adventures of these kids' offspring....

Not particularly recommended.

[Ivan · Rating 5 out of 5]

Very good science fiction with interesting alien creatures, and kids, and political intrigue, and commentary on society, and artificial intelligences... I had a lot of fun reading this book, and it gave me a thing or two to think about as well! Nice visual descriptions, action scenes etc - I bet someone could make a great movie out of it.

[Amy · Rating 5 out of 5]

I have re read this book a number of times and every time I enjoy it. I rarely skip pages (as I tend to do on re reads).

This book has a coming of age story with mystery, murder, puzzles, politics, and mind opening characters. The are a few cliche characters as well; rare not to have them.

[Roger · Rating 5 out of 5]

Pournelle admired the same "juvenile" books by Robert Heinlein that I did, and has succeeded in writing one just as satisfying. Other than a slow start and abrupt ending, it's nearly perfect.

[Emily · Rating 4 out of 5]

Really enjoyed this book, right up until the ending, which felt super abrupt and as if the author just gave up and moved on to another project. Or maybe had to get the book in the mail to the publisher and didn't have time for another word. :(

Still, it's a really interesting world with cool alien life forms and interesting characters. The main character is "Kip", an orphan living on a colonized world with his Uncle Mike. The most interesting alien life form on this new world is the starswarm, some kind of complex aquatic plant that can be seen making lights blink under the water of the lake near Kip's outpost. There are other starswarms elsewhere too, both fresh water and salt, but the outpost is studying this one as it appears to be one of the oldest. The colonists in Kip's outpost are interested in research as well as just surviving, but most of the world is owned by a large multinational corporation focused on profit, and as the company's desire to exploit the planet for profit conflicts with the researchers' concerns to study the native ecology, politics ramp up, and before you know it Kip and his friends are accused of sabotage. I won't get into more details in case of spoilers, but it's an interesting adventure centering around Kip and his immediate friends that reminded me a bit of the spirit of early Heinlein but with somewhat more sophisticated writing and ecological ideas.

[Allyn Voorhees · Rating 4 out of 5]

Like this author's collaborations with Larry Niven, so I picked this up.

Story has two plot-lines going for it:
-A research outpost on a world with native life on it. Is there intelligence behind the mysterious goings-on of the inhabitants?
-A kid growing up at this outpost under unusual circumstances. Who is his special friend only he can hear?

Pretty good build up of the story threads, with a mostly satisfying conclusion, although the ending is unconventional with a somewhat abrupt ending. But it does get you to fill in the blank of how things play out afterwards, so it works.

[Stuart Dean · Rating 4 out of 5]

Kip lives in an outback research settlement on a frontier planet. All his life he's had a voice in his head and has told no one. The scientists are studying a weird plant in a nearby lake, but corporate interests are more interested in the mining potential of the place. This upsets the scientists, and the plant. Things spiral quickly and Kip finds that things are not what they seem, and neither is he. Now he and some friends are on the run and all he has for help is some dogs, another voice in his head, and some centaurs.

A very good YA story. Well-paced with a good plot and interesting aliens. To be expected from Jerry Pournelle.

[Read Ng · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a Jupiter Novel, the fifth one. Reads as a stand alone. Jupiter novels can be read in any order.

I simply like reading Pournelle. He tends to mostly stick to hard science. His stories make sense and come to logical resolution. It is an older style of writing, but I enjoy having a story without a lot of loose threads at the end, but still leaving the opening to possible future adventures.

This is grouped in the Young Adult books, but it does not play down to an age group, but rather is very adult. I need to read more of Pournelle.

Have a GoodReads.

[Jo Daneman · Rating 5 out of 5]

Definitely a Heinlein style juvenile. Nice adventure suspense mystery but not hard to stay ahead of the reveals. Kip is befriended by a voice in his head, an orphan raised by his uncle on Paradise aka Purgatory. The planet is interesting but dangerous. More dangerous, however, is the huge corporation that owns the planet and wants to exploit it. Kip and his friends run afoul of the corporate goons and the adventure heats up. Good solid sci fi. Classic.

[Soo · Rating 3 out of 5]

Notes:

Currently on Audible Plus

I did not know that this book was a part of a series until I looked it up on GR. It looks like they can be read as standalones? That's a guess.

I had fun listening to the story. It's a solid, YA adventure story. I had no problem following the story without reading the other books in the series. The ending is abrupt & I want to know what happens after, but I will never find out because the next book is a different MC & the setting is on Earth.

[Kathleen · Rating 3 out of 5]

Good futuristic sci-fi featuring brave youths, wise adults, protective dogs, artificial intelligence, and interesting species on a distant planet.

Fairly predictable as I guessed where it was going. Fairly abrupt conclusion.

Yet interesting and entertaining. I liked the two different types of artificial intelligence. And maybe the premise holds water.

[Nicole · Rating 3 out of 5]

After having just listened to several pretty deep books, this was a nice light 60's style sci-fi (but written more recently so it wasn't as misogynistic as, say, Heinlein). However, after a lot of build up, suddenly it comes to an abrupt end. And, as far as I can tell, there is no next book?

I was going to give it 4 stars for enjoyment factor, but that end lost it at least one star.

[Stephanie · Rating 5 out of 5]

I totally loved this story. Young boy is orphaned on another planet that has only a few scientists. He lives with his Uncle Mike. Unknown to all, including Uncle Mike, the boy hears a voice who helps him.

[Karina · Rating 3 out of 5]

A nice surprise, this freebie from audible. Made me realise I like children’s books much more than YA. Much more straightforward.

Then ending was perhaps a bit too straightforward. I almost missed it, it was so sudden.

[Christopher · Rating 5 out of 5]

Really enjoyed this - besides a few more recent references (the book was published in the late 90s), this could very well be a lost Heinlein juvenile - or certainly the late Dr. Pournelle's tribute to same. A very fun read.

[Phillip Stern · Rating 5 out of 5]

I don’t remember when I read this book but it was a long time ago. I liked it so much I kept it for ~40 years. I’m decluttering and was about to throw it away but this book isn’t online at either Boston Public Library the Minuteman Library Network.

[Clyde · Rating 3 out of 5]

Listened to this Audibe on my kindle....appropriate for Middle school.

[John · Rating 3 out of 5]

Simple story, juvenile. Storytelling is fine but some complexity would have made the book more interesting.

[Ralph · Rating 4 out of 5]

Good story. Relateable characters . An alien world and first contact adventure by Jerry Pournelle, who never disappoints.

[david crawford · Rating 4 out of 5]

I enjoyed the journey to the end far more than the end, which wrapped the plot up far too neatly. Great protagonist, though. Great world to be discovered.

[Whizilliam · Rating 4 out of 5]

The story and characters are really good, fully entertaining to read, but the writing is workmen like in some areas.

[Linda Lamon · Rating 4 out of 5]

Great read

Jerry's aliens are always believable and often great fun. Good guys win, too. I miss that in most modern sci-fi

[Hannah Katakam · Rating 5 out of 5]

A good old fashioned sci fi

[Cynthia · Rating 5 out of 5]

Phenomenal!! Keeps you guessing until the end.

[Alistair · Rating 3 out of 5]

better than expected

[Damien · Rating 3 out of 5]

Okay but does end abruptly.

[Max · Rating 4 out of 5]

I would have rated this five stars if not for the ending. It feels completely rushed and performs the bare minimum to tie everything together. There is little meat offered for readers who grew to love the characters or world to sink their teeth into. Apart from that punch in the gut, the worldbuilding was solid and the novel met the expectations I had for a legendary sci-fi author like Pournelle.