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Probability #2
Planet Probability
The Frames were only a realization of the ultimate form of escape. Books, films, sensors, complete total experience - and finally the Frames. The saviors of civilization had shown the way: move the tribes of Americans to Europe, the tribes of the Germans to Spain, the tribes of the English to Switzerland and permutate the combinations endlessly. Use trains, then aircraft, then spaceships.
The Frames of the Thirtieth Century were a logical extension of the Mechanical Age's exploitation of the means of mass travel. Now, whole populations moved to new areas of experience. New worlds - new re-created worlds - were manufactured for them. And it had all begun on Talisker. But whatever had left the monstrous scenery on Talisker's desert had not begun anywhere in our universe.
The Frames of the Thirtieth Century were a logical extension of the Mechanical Age's exploitation of the means of mass travel. Now, whole populations moved to new areas of experience. New worlds - new re-created worlds - were manufactured for them. And it had all begun on Talisker. But whatever had left the monstrous scenery on Talisker's desert had not begun anywhere in our universe.
- GenresScience Fiction
188 pages, Paperback
First published January 16, 1973
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Displaying 1 - 5 of 5 reviews
June 6, 2020
(DAW Collectors #40
Cover Artist: Kelly Freas
Name: Ball, Brian Neville Birthplace: Cheshire, England, UK, 19 June 1932
aka Brian Kinsey-Jones
They were called "The Frames" and were a realization of the ultimate form of escape. Books, films, sensors, complete total experience - and finally "the Frames". The saviors of civilization had shown the way: move the tribes of Americans to Europe, the tribes of the Germans to Spain, the tribes of the English to Switzerland and permutate the combinations endlessly. Use trains, then aircraft, then spaceships.
"The Frames" of the Thirtieth Century were a logical extension of the Mechanical Age's exploitation of the means of mass travel. Now, whole populations moved to new areas of experience. New worlds new re-created worlds and were manufactured for them. It had all begun on Talisker. But whatever had left the monstrous scenery on Talisker's desert had not begun anywhere in our universe.
The series consists of:
Probability
The Probability Man (New York: DAW Books, 1972)
Planet Probability (New York: DAW Books, 1973)
The series follows the exploits of Frame-Director Spingarn in his heterodox construction of reality-spaces (frames) for the delectation, and voluntary destruction of billions of bored citizens.
Cover Artist: Kelly Freas
Name: Ball, Brian Neville Birthplace: Cheshire, England, UK, 19 June 1932
aka Brian Kinsey-Jones
They were called "The Frames" and were a realization of the ultimate form of escape. Books, films, sensors, complete total experience - and finally "the Frames". The saviors of civilization had shown the way: move the tribes of Americans to Europe, the tribes of the Germans to Spain, the tribes of the English to Switzerland and permutate the combinations endlessly. Use trains, then aircraft, then spaceships.
"The Frames" of the Thirtieth Century were a logical extension of the Mechanical Age's exploitation of the means of mass travel. Now, whole populations moved to new areas of experience. New worlds new re-created worlds and were manufactured for them. It had all begun on Talisker. But whatever had left the monstrous scenery on Talisker's desert had not begun anywhere in our universe.
The series consists of:
Probability
The Probability Man (New York: DAW Books, 1972)
Planet Probability (New York: DAW Books, 1973)
The series follows the exploits of Frame-Director Spingarn in his heterodox construction of reality-spaces (frames) for the delectation, and voluntary destruction of billions of bored citizens.
September 8, 2017
Sequel to "The Probability Man". Picks up 18 months after the end of the previous book.
Spingarn's robot, Horace, has returned with the alien genekey, allowing humans mutated by the Talisker experiments to return to human form. But something is still wrong with the operation of the frames. Plot director Marvell and a trainee, Liz Hassell, are ordered by the Frame Directors and the Guardians to go to Talisker, find Spingarn, and get rid of the alien interference in the frames. Upon arrival at Talisker, they unfortunately run into Spingarn's companion, Sergeant Hawk, the Jar Jar Binks of the probability series.
The book is full of repetitive and contradicting passages, almost as if it went straight to print without being read by an editor. For example, after entering the alien probability space, Marvell and Liz refer to it as a "Hell" and both seem to understand what that means. A few pages later, when Hawk refers to it as "Hell", Marvell and Liz are baffled by his "anachronistic language" and have to discuss it for a while until they figure out that "Hell" must have something to do with old Earth religious ideas. There are also frequent repetitions in the narration that will have you turning back a few pages because you're sure you just read the same sentences.
The sequel is also a bit more misogynistic than the first volume. Women are almost always referred to as "bitches" by the male characters and seem primarily concerned with their appearance, mating, and housekeeping (that's right, on a dangerous alien planet, the woman is very concerned about cleaning a house and finding new clothes while the men worry about handling the alien and saving the galaxy). Oddly the first chapter or two present Liz as a stronger character than Marvell and hint that she's going to be the main character in the story but this doesn't last long. The ending is fairly unsatisfying but at least it's the last of the series. Not recommended.
Spingarn's robot, Horace, has returned with the alien genekey, allowing humans mutated by the Talisker experiments to return to human form. But something is still wrong with the operation of the frames. Plot director Marvell and a trainee, Liz Hassell, are ordered by the Frame Directors and the Guardians to go to Talisker, find Spingarn, and get rid of the alien interference in the frames. Upon arrival at Talisker, they unfortunately run into Spingarn's companion, Sergeant Hawk, the Jar Jar Binks of the probability series.
The book is full of repetitive and contradicting passages, almost as if it went straight to print without being read by an editor. For example, after entering the alien probability space, Marvell and Liz refer to it as a "Hell" and both seem to understand what that means. A few pages later, when Hawk refers to it as "Hell", Marvell and Liz are baffled by his "anachronistic language" and have to discuss it for a while until they figure out that "Hell" must have something to do with old Earth religious ideas. There are also frequent repetitions in the narration that will have you turning back a few pages because you're sure you just read the same sentences.
The sequel is also a bit more misogynistic than the first volume. Women are almost always referred to as "bitches" by the male characters and seem primarily concerned with their appearance, mating, and housekeeping (that's right, on a dangerous alien planet, the woman is very concerned about cleaning a house and finding new clothes while the men worry about handling the alien and saving the galaxy). Oddly the first chapter or two present Liz as a stronger character than Marvell and hint that she's going to be the main character in the story but this doesn't last long. The ending is fairly unsatisfying but at least it's the last of the series. Not recommended.
August 9, 2021
I'm rating this as a complete story along with Brian Ball's 'Probability Man'. Together it makes a complete and enjoyable science fiction tale about a planet (Talisker) in which environments randomly shift and human beings transmutate into other creatures on the evolutionary ladder. A group of individuals are set upon the task of bringing order back to the planet by attempting to help an Alien being responsible for the planet's chaotic state.
August 4, 2017
My appreciation may have been hampered because I did not read Probability Man first. I found the characters flat. But the premise offed an interesting twist an the multiple worlds hypothesis.
February 28, 2011
Grade D. Book P2.
Displaying 1 - 5 of 5 reviews