Dykstra'S War

by Jeffery D. Kooistra

ONLY DYKSTRA CAN SAVE US NOW! Humanity had thought itself alone in the Cosmos. By the end of the 21st century, it had filled the Solar System and begun warring with itself. But then the aliens came -- swift, silent, and deadly, possessing enigmatic weapons and faster-than-light technology. At 126 years of age, James Christian Dykstra had thought he'd done enough. As Einstein had been to the 20th century, he had been to the 21st. Nearly all advanced technology depended upon the foundation of his physics. But the aliens had brought something new, and nobody understood it. And nobody understood them. So the System Patrol called upon Dykstra to solve the riddle of the alien weaponry. His failure would mean the end of Humanity. His success would offer a chance at least to fight back....

Genres: Science Fiction, Military Science Fiction, Military Fiction, Space, Fiction

416 pages, Mass Market Paperback

First published December 1, 2000

Reviews

[Lindig · Rating 1 out of 5]

Basic sf-nal plot and characters. However, the reason it only got one star is the constant harping on "souls": the aliens don't have them (how they know this is unexplained). Dykstra himself admits to being a religious man, as does "Sunshine" (demeaning name for a woman scientist); of course, both have "souls." Sunshine first references bible verse John 15:13 on page 102 and it's mentioned over and over. Oh yeah, Dykstra talks somewhere about using god's help to populate the universe, or something. So, what with the pedestrian writing and the cardboard characters and the boring plot and the religious smugness, I skipped about a tad and threw the book down.

[Ronald Spitzer · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book turned out to be better than the cover implies. The main character is not a young openmouthed teen like pictured on the cover, but a 126-year-old genius, who is felling his years. There are a number of well-drawn supporting characters who handle the action scenes. I was very nice to read a book that was NOT anti-Christian and allowed characters their variety of beliefs without complaint. The enemy aliens were also well characterized in their behaviors and mystery. There is plenty of action, character growth, realistic variety of opinions of matters, etc. If you find this book in a used book store, try reading it. Recommended.

[Margaret Crosby · Rating 5 out of 5]

A frail 126 year old genius saves humanity. Very likeable character, enjoyable tale. Loved it

[Grant Hogarth · Rating 4 out of 5]

A fun romp. Very reminiscent of mid-period Heinlein or Clark. The "Great Man" school of space opera.

[Peter Tillman · Rating 3 out of 5]

James Dykstra is the greatest scientific genius of the 21st century, but at 126 years of age, he's starting to slow down. Until the mysterious Phinons attack a human ship out in the Oort. A wrecked alien ship hints at a possible FTL drive... and the Phinons seem to have some curious blind spots.

Dykstra's an engaging character, as is the gorgeous genano engineer Samantha "Sunshine" MacTavish. Kooistra's other characters, aside from an autistic idiot-savant who loves squirrels, are straight stock, but carry their spears adequately. I did wince at some of the dialogue:

"She reminds me of someone, Bob. Someone who was very special to me."

Or:

"Our duty is to survive, Luke. Not to give you a chance to be a hero."

Dykstra's War has some interesting ideas, including a new explanation for Fermi's Paradox ("where is everyone?"), inside a conventional, competently-written SF thriller. The plot moves briskly, and while there are few surprises, I had fun reading it. Recommended for fans of old-fashioned1 hard-SF space opera.

This is Kooistra's first novel. Long-time Analog readers may recognize a couple of 1993 stories incorporated into the book. Kooistra is a science columnist for Analog, and delights in stirring up trouble by advocating fringe-science ideas, some of which show up here.

The cover (by Patrick Turner) is gloriously lurid, featuring (by my count) eight exploding spaceships, a tiny sample of the half-million or so destroyed inside the book.

My 2001 review: https://www.sfsite.com/01b/dw96.htm

[Paul · Rating 5 out of 5]

If you liked science fiction from the 1950s -- Ace doubles, Heinlein's twins into space, the heady mix of innovative science and derring-do -- then Jeffery Kooistra's first novel is for you. Kooistra, who writes one of the science columns for Analog Magazine, takes his physics very seriously. When he describes new kinds of weapons and new kinds of speeds, you believe him. But he also has a human touch -- his characters are life-size, real, everyday in the best sense of the word -- even when one of them lives twice today's lifespan. Romance, space battles, intrigue -- Dykstra's War has it all. Read it and feel 13 again; wonder anew at the magic of science and the stars. Or, if you're 13 now, read Dykstra's War and feel 10 times your age...

[Camilo Emiliano Rosas Echeverria · Rating 1 out of 5]

It's a storm of stale pulp clichés (the grizzled veteran, the omnigenius, the hot scientist) that flow as slow as molasses. Most scenes are boring soap opera and inner monologues, and the few interesting aspects of the story, the very peculiar nature of the alien menace, are too much dispersed.
It's material for a nice short story, diluted into an unbearable novel.

[Bryan457 · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was such a fun read; when I finished, I had the urge to go back to the beginning and read it again.
I like the main character a lot. I love the ideas, and the science breakthroughs.

[Per Gunnar · Rating 3 out of 5]

Okay fairly basic science fiction story. Nothing that made me unable to put the book down but not really boring either.

[Bethany · Rating 2 out of 5]

I read this book simply because it has a character named Dykstra. It is supremely poorly written, yet vastly entertaining. It's true: ONLY DYKSTRA CAN SAVE US NOW!

[Lynn Calvin]

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