What do you think?
Rate this book
The Grand Tour: Privateers #1
Privateers
America has ceded the heavens to the tyrants--and the renegades.
The US has abandoned its quest for the stars, and an old enemy has moved in to fill the void. The potential wealth of the universe is now in malevolent hands. Rebel billionaire Dan Randolph--possessor of the largest privately owned company in space--intends to weaken the stranglehold the new despotic masters of the solar system have on the lucrative ore industry. But when the mineral-rich asteroid he sets in orbit around the earth is commandeered by the enemy, and his unarmed workers are slaughtered in cold blood, the course of Randolph's life is changed forever. Now cataclysm is aimed at the exposed heart of America--a potential catastrophe that Randolph himself inadvertently set in motion. And the maverick entrepreneur must use his skills, cunning, and vast resources to strike out at his foes hard, fast, and with ruthless precision--and wear proudly the mantle that fate thrust upon him: space pirate!
The US has abandoned its quest for the stars, and an old enemy has moved in to fill the void. The potential wealth of the universe is now in malevolent hands. Rebel billionaire Dan Randolph--possessor of the largest privately owned company in space--intends to weaken the stranglehold the new despotic masters of the solar system have on the lucrative ore industry. But when the mineral-rich asteroid he sets in orbit around the earth is commandeered by the enemy, and his unarmed workers are slaughtered in cold blood, the course of Randolph's life is changed forever. Now cataclysm is aimed at the exposed heart of America--a potential catastrophe that Randolph himself inadvertently set in motion. And the maverick entrepreneur must use his skills, cunning, and vast resources to strike out at his foes hard, fast, and with ruthless precision--and wear proudly the mantle that fate thrust upon him: space pirate!
392 pages, Mass Market Paperback
First published January 1, 1985
70 people are currently reading
744 people want to read
About the author
Ben Bova
714 books1,036 followersBen Bova was born on November 8, 1932 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. In 1953, while attending Temple University, he married Rosa Cucinotta, they had a son and a daughter. He would later divorce Rosa in 1974. In that same year he married Barbara Berson Rose.
Bova was an avid fencer and organized Avco Everett's fencing club. He was an environmentalist, but rejected Luddism.
Bova was a technical writer for Project Vanguard and later for Avco Everett in the 1960s when they did research in lasers and fluid dynamics. It was there that he met Arthur R. Kantrowitz later of the Foresight Institute.
In 1971 he became editor of Analog Science Fiction after John W. Campbell's death. After leaving Analog, he went on to edit Omni during 1978-1982.
In 1974 he wrote the screenplay for an episode of the children's science fiction television series Land of the Lost entitled "The Search".
Bova was the science advisor for the failed television series The Starlost, leaving in disgust after the airing of the first episode. His novel The Starcrossed was loosely based on his experiences and featured a thinly veiled characterization of his friend and colleague Harlan Ellison. He dedicated the novel to "Cordwainer Bird", the pen name Harlan Ellison uses when he does not want to be associated with a television or film project.
Bova was the President Emeritus of the National Space Society and a past President of Science-fiction and Fantasy Writers of America (SFWA).
Bova went back to school in the 1980s, earning an M.A. in communications in 1987 and a Ph.D. in 1996.
Bova has drawn on these meetings and experiences to create fact and fiction writings rich with references to spaceflight, lasers, artificial hearts, nanotechnology, environmentalism, fencing and martial arts, photography and artists.
Bova was the author of over a hundred and fifteen books, non-fiction as well as science fiction. In 2000, he was the Author Guest of Honor at the 58th World Science Fiction Convention (Chicon 2000).
Hollywood has started to take an interest in Bova's works once again, in addition to his wealth of knowledge about science and what the future may look like. In 2007, he was hired as a consultant by both Stuber/Parent Productions to provide insight into what the world is to look like in the near future for their upcoming film "Repossession Mambo" (released as "Repo Men") starring Jude Law and Forest Whitaker and by Silver Pictures in which he provided consulting services on the feature adaptation of Richard Morgan's "Altered Carbon".
http://us.macmillan.com/author/benbova
Bova was an avid fencer and organized Avco Everett's fencing club. He was an environmentalist, but rejected Luddism.
Bova was a technical writer for Project Vanguard and later for Avco Everett in the 1960s when they did research in lasers and fluid dynamics. It was there that he met Arthur R. Kantrowitz later of the Foresight Institute.
In 1971 he became editor of Analog Science Fiction after John W. Campbell's death. After leaving Analog, he went on to edit Omni during 1978-1982.
In 1974 he wrote the screenplay for an episode of the children's science fiction television series Land of the Lost entitled "The Search".
Bova was the science advisor for the failed television series The Starlost, leaving in disgust after the airing of the first episode. His novel The Starcrossed was loosely based on his experiences and featured a thinly veiled characterization of his friend and colleague Harlan Ellison. He dedicated the novel to "Cordwainer Bird", the pen name Harlan Ellison uses when he does not want to be associated with a television or film project.
Bova was the President Emeritus of the National Space Society and a past President of Science-fiction and Fantasy Writers of America (SFWA).
Bova went back to school in the 1980s, earning an M.A. in communications in 1987 and a Ph.D. in 1996.
Bova has drawn on these meetings and experiences to create fact and fiction writings rich with references to spaceflight, lasers, artificial hearts, nanotechnology, environmentalism, fencing and martial arts, photography and artists.
Bova was the author of over a hundred and fifteen books, non-fiction as well as science fiction. In 2000, he was the Author Guest of Honor at the 58th World Science Fiction Convention (Chicon 2000).
Hollywood has started to take an interest in Bova's works once again, in addition to his wealth of knowledge about science and what the future may look like. In 2007, he was hired as a consultant by both Stuber/Parent Productions to provide insight into what the world is to look like in the near future for their upcoming film "Repossession Mambo" (released as "Repo Men") starring Jude Law and Forest Whitaker and by Silver Pictures in which he provided consulting services on the feature adaptation of Richard Morgan's "Altered Carbon".
http://us.macmillan.com/author/benbova
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 30 of 74 reviews
March 16, 2021
A rather hard book to get through. It's dated in all the worst ways, but perhaps not in the most atrocious. The hardest part is the plot. The worldbuilding is merely a cold-war what-if with Soviets as the winners and holding economic dominance over everyone, with our MC from the first Grand Tour book hiding out -- away from the USA, mind you -- trying to do the underdog space-flight thing.
The rest is all love interest, evil soviet dude going after his girlfriend, and some '50s era derring-do.
This might have been okay if it had been snappy and sharp and humorous, but it really wasn't. It was workmanlike and kinda dull.
I'm reconsidering my desire to go through the rest of the Grand Tour at this point if the plots are going to be this boilerplate.
The rest is all love interest, evil soviet dude going after his girlfriend, and some '50s era derring-do.
This might have been okay if it had been snappy and sharp and humorous, but it really wasn't. It was workmanlike and kinda dull.
I'm reconsidering my desire to go through the rest of the Grand Tour at this point if the plots are going to be this boilerplate.
March 13, 2014
Privateers reads like a bad 1950's science fiction book, complete with the embarrassingly backwards "rouge" hero, plastic and shallow love triangle, and jingoism. The writing I found dry. The plot is like a little boy's fantasy, but with none of the imagination a young boy could have brought to the story. Not recommended unless you are looking for annoying, unlikeable protagonists and pages of pointless dialogue.
June 17, 2020
This book was written in 1985 and its storyline is the beginning of what would later become Bova's Grand Tour series of books on planetary exploration. The book was written during the Cold War and as such, the Soviet Union is the adversary. The U.S. and its allies have lost the Cold War and the Soviets dominate space and have exclusive rights to mine the minerals on the Moon. This novel includes many of the characters from Bova's other books in the series including Dan Randolph who owns the largest privately owned company in space and is based in Venezuela because the U.S. has conceded its space exploration to the Soviets. Randolph intends to weaken the Soviets by mining mineral-rich asteroids with near-Earth orbits. But the Soviets take possession of his ship as well as the asteroid he has set his eyes on. That's when he becomes a privateer and starts hijacking the ore mined by the Russians on the Moon.
This was pretty much a typical space actioner but its dated setting is a drawback for the novel. The novel is also very sexist with women playing minor roles and used as sex objects (even though the president of the U.S. is a woman). But some of the novel could have been written today as it reflects current events now going on related to protests regarding police and the killing of George Floyd in Minnesota. When Randolph visits the White House at one point, he finds protests going on with signs which include STOP POLICE TERROR. Then to quell the protests, "riot police arrived, in squadrons of armored vehicles that were spraying streams of vile-looking greenish gas at the crowds of picketers. People were screaming, running, placards dropped to the pavement as they tried to escape the tracked vehicles lumbering down upon them. Where the gas reached them, they doubled over, fell to the ground retching, coughing, spasming..."
Of course the Cold War ended about 4 years after this novel was published. Bova went on to write the Grand Tour series including a rewrite of the first couple of novels in the series, Powersat (2005) and Empire Builders (1993). So Privateers is kind of left on its own and doesn't really fit into the revised scenarios even though some of the characters are the same. I have read a few others in the series which I have enjoyed and overall, I would still mildly recommend this one.
This was pretty much a typical space actioner but its dated setting is a drawback for the novel. The novel is also very sexist with women playing minor roles and used as sex objects (even though the president of the U.S. is a woman). But some of the novel could have been written today as it reflects current events now going on related to protests regarding police and the killing of George Floyd in Minnesota. When Randolph visits the White House at one point, he finds protests going on with signs which include STOP POLICE TERROR. Then to quell the protests, "riot police arrived, in squadrons of armored vehicles that were spraying streams of vile-looking greenish gas at the crowds of picketers. People were screaming, running, placards dropped to the pavement as they tried to escape the tracked vehicles lumbering down upon them. Where the gas reached them, they doubled over, fell to the ground retching, coughing, spasming..."
Of course the Cold War ended about 4 years after this novel was published. Bova went on to write the Grand Tour series including a rewrite of the first couple of novels in the series, Powersat (2005) and Empire Builders (1993). So Privateers is kind of left on its own and doesn't really fit into the revised scenarios even though some of the characters are the same. I have read a few others in the series which I have enjoyed and overall, I would still mildly recommend this one.
June 4, 2017
Ugh. This is another book that I've been carrying around with me for years, bought at a library book sale with no knowledge other than genre. If I hadn't been carrying it around with me so long, I probably would have put it aside after the first hundred pages, but I felt like all the muscle used carrying it around warranted at least making it to the end. I did skim the entire second half though, just so I wouldn't be wasting too much time.
So, why the 1 star? Well, the number one reason is the sexism. I can just only be slapped in the face so many times before I lose all respect for your book. The main character of this book, Dan Randalph, along with most of the other characters, view women as sex objects and little else. Arranged political marriages are still very much a thing, as is sexual repression. Considering technology has advanced enough to make lunar mining a common reality, you'd think that society might have also advanced just a wee bit. There are a few women fighters and even a woman President, but the fighters feel like nothing more than a concession, especially considering the portrayal of the woman President as incompetent and cut-off from reality. It was pretty gross.
The writing itself was fine. When I was actually fully reading, rather than skimming, it read quickly and flowed well. Bova does use some techniques that I didn't love, though. For example, the first chapter is a scene of the privateers from the title being slaughtered. The second chapter immediately flashes back to the beginning of the story, and we don't reach that slaughter until about 85% through the book. I always feel like this sort of technique takes the tension from a book.
The science was also not very good. At one point there is talk of dropping a pretty large asteroid on Earth. I'm too lazy to go and check the exact details, but this is an asteroid of several hundred tons that is intended to be used for mining of metals. One of the characters states that it won't cause any radiation, so it will not impact any country other than the one attacked. Which displays a pretty staggering lack of awareness of what the effects of hitting a planet with such a large asteroid might be. I'm not scientist, but I'm pretty sure that's a pretty big oversight.
There's also the Cold War politics. Russia is the biggest world power in this book, and the US has been pushed out of world politics entirely. China is considered to be the only possible threat to Russian dominance, and even they aren't really a threat. As you'd expect, Communism is the real enemy. It felt dated, but more importantly, it felt dismissive. The US is not the only world power that matters, and I can't imagine the entire world rolling over quite so easily. Where was the guerrilla resistance, the secret weapons development, the behind-the-scenes maneuvering? It doesn't exist. As a basic political framework, the setting works OK, but it lacks any kind of depth or interest.
And my final issue: What in the world was up with the Japanese people hissing? It's littered throughout this book - something good happens, and the Japanese hiss in approval. I've studied in Japan and visited Japan, and I'm pretty sure this is not a thing!
So, why the 1 star? Well, the number one reason is the sexism. I can just only be slapped in the face so many times before I lose all respect for your book. The main character of this book, Dan Randalph, along with most of the other characters, view women as sex objects and little else. Arranged political marriages are still very much a thing, as is sexual repression. Considering technology has advanced enough to make lunar mining a common reality, you'd think that society might have also advanced just a wee bit. There are a few women fighters and even a woman President, but the fighters feel like nothing more than a concession, especially considering the portrayal of the woman President as incompetent and cut-off from reality. It was pretty gross.
The writing itself was fine. When I was actually fully reading, rather than skimming, it read quickly and flowed well. Bova does use some techniques that I didn't love, though. For example, the first chapter is a scene of the privateers from the title being slaughtered. The second chapter immediately flashes back to the beginning of the story, and we don't reach that slaughter until about 85% through the book. I always feel like this sort of technique takes the tension from a book.
The science was also not very good. At one point there is talk of dropping a pretty large asteroid on Earth. I'm too lazy to go and check the exact details, but this is an asteroid of several hundred tons that is intended to be used for mining of metals. One of the characters states that it won't cause any radiation, so it will not impact any country other than the one attacked. Which displays a pretty staggering lack of awareness of what the effects of hitting a planet with such a large asteroid might be. I'm not scientist, but I'm pretty sure that's a pretty big oversight.
There's also the Cold War politics. Russia is the biggest world power in this book, and the US has been pushed out of world politics entirely. China is considered to be the only possible threat to Russian dominance, and even they aren't really a threat. As you'd expect, Communism is the real enemy. It felt dated, but more importantly, it felt dismissive. The US is not the only world power that matters, and I can't imagine the entire world rolling over quite so easily. Where was the guerrilla resistance, the secret weapons development, the behind-the-scenes maneuvering? It doesn't exist. As a basic political framework, the setting works OK, but it lacks any kind of depth or interest.
And my final issue: What in the world was up with the Japanese people hissing? It's littered throughout this book - something good happens, and the Japanese hiss in approval. I've studied in Japan and visited Japan, and I'm pretty sure this is not a thing!
January 20, 2025
The Grand Tour 02 Privateers by Ben Bova
challenging dark emotional hopeful mysterious reflective sad tense
Medium-paced
Plot or character-driven? A mix
Strong character development? Yes
Loveable characters? It's complicated
Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
Flaws of characters are a main focus? Yes
3.75 Stars
This is the book that I thought Powersat was going to be. This story was the start of The Grand Tour by Ben Bova, and it really doesn't hold up as well as I thought would. I still had fun in this Alternate History story within the Science Fiction Political Thriller genre.
This book was published in 1985, and it shows.
Dan and his viewpoints on women are also VERY dated. He uses them and abuses them (not respecting them, and throws them away, after he's been satisfied by them).
One issue that was glaring, was taking two teen girls away from their own country via space plane, to another country...without the permission of the parents of the two teenagers. Oops. Not politically correct, nor morally right.
Also, his conquest of one of them (YES, this does happen), should make everyone cringe. This was "acceptable" by powerful men of the past, but in today's standards, this is unacceptable.
Also, the alternate history that shows the Soviet Union in power and the United States of America the country that is spineless and a dog laying on its back...exposing their belly is laughable and not the "American Way" in any alternate history....sorry.
One portion of the story that is interesting...is how in our reality Fukushima Daiichi Nuclear Power Plant hasn't had problems with tsunamis...is interesting.
Also, Dan says the statement, "Make America Great Again" to the current president of the United States...and it made me cringe. Yuck! Would NOT want to EVER see that as a slogan in ANY history that the US is involved in. No thank you.
After all the yuck is done, this is a fun story to follow and just accept. It is like a "popcorn" film in book form. I'm not worried about the bad "cgi" in the narrative, but going with the flow...that the author wants the readers to accept.
I will be picking up Empire Builders soon...in my "trek" through The Grand Tour saga.
challenging dark emotional hopeful mysterious reflective sad tense
Medium-paced
Plot or character-driven? A mix
Strong character development? Yes
Loveable characters? It's complicated
Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
Flaws of characters are a main focus? Yes
3.75 Stars
This is the book that I thought Powersat was going to be. This story was the start of The Grand Tour by Ben Bova, and it really doesn't hold up as well as I thought would. I still had fun in this Alternate History story within the Science Fiction Political Thriller genre.
This book was published in 1985, and it shows.
Dan and his viewpoints on women are also VERY dated. He uses them and abuses them (not respecting them, and throws them away, after he's been satisfied by them).
One issue that was glaring, was taking two teen girls away from their own country via space plane, to another country...without the permission of the parents of the two teenagers. Oops. Not politically correct, nor morally right.
Also, his conquest of one of them (YES, this does happen), should make everyone cringe. This was "acceptable" by powerful men of the past, but in today's standards, this is unacceptable.
Also, the alternate history that shows the Soviet Union in power and the United States of America the country that is spineless and a dog laying on its back...exposing their belly is laughable and not the "American Way" in any alternate history....sorry.
One portion of the story that is interesting...is how in our reality Fukushima Daiichi Nuclear Power Plant hasn't had problems with tsunamis...is interesting.
Also, Dan says the statement, "Make America Great Again" to the current president of the United States...and it made me cringe. Yuck! Would NOT want to EVER see that as a slogan in ANY history that the US is involved in. No thank you.
After all the yuck is done, this is a fun story to follow and just accept. It is like a "popcorn" film in book form. I'm not worried about the bad "cgi" in the narrative, but going with the flow...that the author wants the readers to accept.
I will be picking up Empire Builders soon...in my "trek" through The Grand Tour saga.
December 8, 2019
This is kind of an alternate book set at the beginning of the Grand Tour series. In this one the Russians are the overall bad guys and that reflects the time period when this was written .i.e. Cold War 1985, seven years before the next Grand Tour book, Mars (1992). Ben Bova subsequently went back and rewrote the beginning of the series with Empire Builders (1993) and Powersat (2005). In the rewrites, The Pseudo Religious group The New Morality replace the Russians as the world threat.
It features the same heros, Dan Randolph and Saito Yamagata as the other books at the beginning of the series, but features alternative events. Not a bad read but should probably be read just as a stand alone. If you are reading the Grand Tour in chronological sequence you can probably read this one first as sort of primer, or skip it completely. I read it after all the other solar system books.
It features the same heros, Dan Randolph and Saito Yamagata as the other books at the beginning of the series, but features alternative events. Not a bad read but should probably be read just as a stand alone. If you are reading the Grand Tour in chronological sequence you can probably read this one first as sort of primer, or skip it completely. I read it after all the other solar system books.
November 30, 2023
Beginning of Dan Randolph mission to break the eastern giants to make America again (written in 1984). First half of the book is a young adult (kind of failure). I do not understand that much accusation against Ben Bova. We are living in a very sensitive world created by bastards exactly like characters actually, partly Bova predicted.
He was good at predicting such as much as science and technology in the near future. This grant tour is actually happening in the 21th century as we are witnessing its initial years (started from 2008 effectively).
The main plan regarding to what readers should expect, is in the second half. In the first half, Bova tries to introduce and develop some key characters which it could be far better, but he went to the yellow pages or 50s style. No blames. It is his book. He wanted or approached the way it came to his mind (of course we see some clues in many of his works later).
The only and little bit effective issue he had, character development, relationships and sexual issues that could be much more elegant. Despite of some people who cancel or accusing writers of bringing sex scenes and thoughts, I am not against it at all. By itself is part of the reality and fiction, if somebody have major issues by these themes.
My vote is 3.6 out of 5. Hopefully someday Goodreads executives decide to change this rating range which is awfully wrong. It changes people's opinions when they want to choose a book to read based on reviews.
He was good at predicting such as much as science and technology in the near future. This grant tour is actually happening in the 21th century as we are witnessing its initial years (started from 2008 effectively).
The main plan regarding to what readers should expect, is in the second half. In the first half, Bova tries to introduce and develop some key characters which it could be far better, but he went to the yellow pages or 50s style. No blames. It is his book. He wanted or approached the way it came to his mind (of course we see some clues in many of his works later).
The only and little bit effective issue he had, character development, relationships and sexual issues that could be much more elegant. Despite of some people who cancel or accusing writers of bringing sex scenes and thoughts, I am not against it at all. By itself is part of the reality and fiction, if somebody have major issues by these themes.
My vote is 3.6 out of 5. Hopefully someday Goodreads executives decide to change this rating range which is awfully wrong. It changes people's opinions when they want to choose a book to read based on reviews.
July 2, 2015
I'll give this four stars.
An interesting book, and a bit of an orphan when it comes to Bova's Grand Tour. Written in the 1980's and published in 1985 during the height of the cold war the book depicts a world in which the Soviet Union won the Cold War forcing the nations of earth to abandon their space faring aspirations. Only a few third world nations, Japan, and China continue to seek the economic exploitation of space in the face of the Soviet Union's determination to expunge capitalism from not just the Earth, but the solar system as well. The book has, quiet by accident, become something of an alternate history novel. Ben Bova could not have foreseen the end of the cold war just four years after the publication of this novel and the ultimate collapse of the Soviet Union in the early 1990's. The next Book in the Grand Tour "Empire Builders", was published in 1995 and not surprisingly, with the Soviet Union out of the picture Bova was forced to find a new antagonistic force with which to challenge his hero "Dan Randolf". And thus as the threat of the Cold War and Soviet domination receded from the reading public's collective consciousness, the themes of run away climate change and environmental collapse quickly come to the forefront as the factors motivating humanity to expand into the solar system in subsequent novels. It will be interesting to see what points of continuity exist between "Privateers" and "Empire Builders" given that "Privateers" was essentially left behind by history.
In regards to the story, I enjoyed it. I did find the inclusion of a romantic interest somewhat unnecessary to the overall plot. In the book the main character, Dan Randolf, competes with a Soviet Official for the love of a beautiful Venezuelan woman. The love triangle seems to exist mainly to illustrate the ruthlessness and moral bankruptcy of the Soviet regime. The female character is essentially two dimensional and only notable for her apparent beauty so other than being a point of friction between the the protagonist and antagonist she really serves no useful purpose. But other than that I enjoyed the book and look forward to the next story in Ben Bova's Grand Tour.
An interesting book, and a bit of an orphan when it comes to Bova's Grand Tour. Written in the 1980's and published in 1985 during the height of the cold war the book depicts a world in which the Soviet Union won the Cold War forcing the nations of earth to abandon their space faring aspirations. Only a few third world nations, Japan, and China continue to seek the economic exploitation of space in the face of the Soviet Union's determination to expunge capitalism from not just the Earth, but the solar system as well. The book has, quiet by accident, become something of an alternate history novel. Ben Bova could not have foreseen the end of the cold war just four years after the publication of this novel and the ultimate collapse of the Soviet Union in the early 1990's. The next Book in the Grand Tour "Empire Builders", was published in 1995 and not surprisingly, with the Soviet Union out of the picture Bova was forced to find a new antagonistic force with which to challenge his hero "Dan Randolf". And thus as the threat of the Cold War and Soviet domination receded from the reading public's collective consciousness, the themes of run away climate change and environmental collapse quickly come to the forefront as the factors motivating humanity to expand into the solar system in subsequent novels. It will be interesting to see what points of continuity exist between "Privateers" and "Empire Builders" given that "Privateers" was essentially left behind by history.
In regards to the story, I enjoyed it. I did find the inclusion of a romantic interest somewhat unnecessary to the overall plot. In the book the main character, Dan Randolf, competes with a Soviet Official for the love of a beautiful Venezuelan woman. The love triangle seems to exist mainly to illustrate the ruthlessness and moral bankruptcy of the Soviet regime. The female character is essentially two dimensional and only notable for her apparent beauty so other than being a point of friction between the the protagonist and antagonist she really serves no useful purpose. But other than that I enjoyed the book and look forward to the next story in Ben Bova's Grand Tour.
March 16, 2007
The lifespan of a Science Fiction novel is often cut short by the backdrop their author chooses. Such is the case with Ben Bova’s Privateers, where we’re shown a near future where a Communist Soviet Union dominates space and America lies in decay. If Bova had waited a year before he started writing, he might have altered his vision entirely.
As a reader, especially a reader of Science Fiction, it’s not difficult to suspend your belief enough to enjoy Privateers, but the Cold War mentality that the novel is penned around comes across slightly stunted and backwards feeling. It’s not the plot, so much as the voice and tone that leaves you feeling as though you’re reading historic, rather than futuristic, writing. Even the characters are designed in such a way that mimics all the Cold War stereotypes that seem so out of place in today’s world (not to mention our current idea of the near future).
In a way, I found the experience rather saddening, as Bova’s a decent writer with fairly interesting ideas. If he’d merely taken the time to create a more lasting (universal) projection of the future, this attempt might have been more enduring. As written, the themes are all tied to the (now) outdated struggle of capitalism and communism, and how each system might or might not fare in a future where the Western hemisphere is fairly apathetic.
Because of this stale depiction, this novel simply isn’t accessible as anything other than a “look back at what Sci-Fi was like in the 1980’s.” If you’re a fan of historic Sci-Fi, you might find it fun to read. If not, I’d recommend skipping it.
As a reader, especially a reader of Science Fiction, it’s not difficult to suspend your belief enough to enjoy Privateers, but the Cold War mentality that the novel is penned around comes across slightly stunted and backwards feeling. It’s not the plot, so much as the voice and tone that leaves you feeling as though you’re reading historic, rather than futuristic, writing. Even the characters are designed in such a way that mimics all the Cold War stereotypes that seem so out of place in today’s world (not to mention our current idea of the near future).
In a way, I found the experience rather saddening, as Bova’s a decent writer with fairly interesting ideas. If he’d merely taken the time to create a more lasting (universal) projection of the future, this attempt might have been more enduring. As written, the themes are all tied to the (now) outdated struggle of capitalism and communism, and how each system might or might not fare in a future where the Western hemisphere is fairly apathetic.
Because of this stale depiction, this novel simply isn’t accessible as anything other than a “look back at what Sci-Fi was like in the 1980’s.” If you’re a fan of historic Sci-Fi, you might find it fun to read. If not, I’d recommend skipping it.
July 17, 2015
Okay a little dated in terms of man-woman relations but otherwise a great tale. Can't wait for the next one!
August 2, 2018
Could have been better with lots less sexual innuendo and themes.
January 28, 2019
Not Ben Bovas best :(
June 18, 2022
It’s a hard book to get into as it starts out very slow. I did like the world building and found the characters interesting, many scenes just go on for too long.
September 12, 2022
This was my fifth Grand Tour novel and I think it'll be the hardest review to write out of the quintet. I generally like these books (especially the exploration ones), and even though Powersat (some sort of prequel to this book, but I read it years ago) was my least favorite, I thought this one worthy of a try. And I was right, but it only barely squeaks past Powersat (a 6) in terms of quality. I think I'll spend most of this review talking about the plot, because that's basically what this book is, although characters and the like factor into it too.
This books was written in the throes of the Cold War, and it shows. This future - which may or may not have been retconned by Bova's other Grand Tour books, as this was the first one written - shows the USSR controlling the UN and politically stoppinh the United States from pursuing space travel. Space is left to the third world countries, like Venezuela, where our American-born Elon Musk-esque hero Dan Randolph now operates as director of space... stuffs.
The story starts strangely, with a scene that won't happen for two-thirds of the book. Then there's another weird scene or two before the true narrative begins with Dan at Venezuela, meeting the Minsiter of Tech's daughter and the Evil-Russian-Space-Commander and the like... I don't like how this book started. It confused me and destabilized me a little, and while the least Bova could've done was add some timestamps, it still wouldn't have been a great start anyways.
The books proceeds to show Dan take on the Russians through a bizarre asteroid mining scheme that's so crazy it might just work. This doesn't pop up for 40/50 percent of the book, and I wish the back of the book didn't mention that... gives this book a little Invisible Man syndrome. To help in his battle, Dan enlists an old Japanese buddy of his and his son to help the mission and take space back from the Russians.
But wait, the Japanese guy's son is attracted to the Venezuelan Minister's daughter just like Dan (Japanese guy's son's new boss) is, but they're both thwarted by the Evil-Russian-Space-Commander, who the Minister promised his daughter's hand in marriage to. And if you thought that was confusing, wait, did the world go to Hell in just four years? Okay, ignoring that for a second... the personal politics in this book are complicated for this style of fiction, but make this web of kinda cardboard characters with some dated gender roles a lot more entertaining than it should be.
But all this crap where the Russians disarmed the Americans happened in the last four years? I don't buy the timeline that some of this crap went down on, but other than that, I liked the future world and the general plot. It was of its time and reeks of a certain flavor, but it's one I somewhat enjoy. Not as much as Mars or Saturn, but it still felt better to read than a lot of similarly minded stuff, and that's what reading is about, right? The enjoyment?
Doesn't mean I can overlook the cardboard characters and dialogue and cheesy ending (in relation to the Minister of tech's daughter), or the off-handed rape scene that made me really appreciate Larry McMurtry's Zeke and Ned. This book wasn't even particularly well-written form a prose standpoint (for some reason, I always want to compare Bova to Arthur C Clarke), but it was still decently compelling. I'd recommend it to fans of these backwards-looking-80s-sci-fi stories, although if you're looking to read through the Grand Tour, this may not be essential reading...
Overall, it earns a 6.5 out of 10. I enjoyed it, I feel decent calling the book good, but not much more than that. It sure hasn't shut me down from reading the Grand Tour, but they'll be a much bigger gap than there was between Mars and this. Bova is an author who doesn't seem to get much appreciation around these parts, and while it's easy to see why... what can I say, I still like his stuff. Remember, with a book like this: Your mileage may vary. We'll see if I have to say that about the other books in the series... we'll see, my friends. We'll see sooner or later.
This books was written in the throes of the Cold War, and it shows. This future - which may or may not have been retconned by Bova's other Grand Tour books, as this was the first one written - shows the USSR controlling the UN and politically stoppinh the United States from pursuing space travel. Space is left to the third world countries, like Venezuela, where our American-born Elon Musk-esque hero Dan Randolph now operates as director of space... stuffs.
The story starts strangely, with a scene that won't happen for two-thirds of the book. Then there's another weird scene or two before the true narrative begins with Dan at Venezuela, meeting the Minsiter of Tech's daughter and the Evil-Russian-Space-Commander and the like... I don't like how this book started. It confused me and destabilized me a little, and while the least Bova could've done was add some timestamps, it still wouldn't have been a great start anyways.
The books proceeds to show Dan take on the Russians through a bizarre asteroid mining scheme that's so crazy it might just work. This doesn't pop up for 40/50 percent of the book, and I wish the back of the book didn't mention that... gives this book a little Invisible Man syndrome. To help in his battle, Dan enlists an old Japanese buddy of his and his son to help the mission and take space back from the Russians.
But wait, the Japanese guy's son is attracted to the Venezuelan Minister's daughter just like Dan (Japanese guy's son's new boss) is, but they're both thwarted by the Evil-Russian-Space-Commander, who the Minister promised his daughter's hand in marriage to. And if you thought that was confusing, wait, did the world go to Hell in just four years? Okay, ignoring that for a second... the personal politics in this book are complicated for this style of fiction, but make this web of kinda cardboard characters with some dated gender roles a lot more entertaining than it should be.
But all this crap where the Russians disarmed the Americans happened in the last four years? I don't buy the timeline that some of this crap went down on, but other than that, I liked the future world and the general plot. It was of its time and reeks of a certain flavor, but it's one I somewhat enjoy. Not as much as Mars or Saturn, but it still felt better to read than a lot of similarly minded stuff, and that's what reading is about, right? The enjoyment?
Doesn't mean I can overlook the cardboard characters and dialogue and cheesy ending (in relation to the Minister of tech's daughter), or the off-handed rape scene that made me really appreciate Larry McMurtry's Zeke and Ned. This book wasn't even particularly well-written form a prose standpoint (for some reason, I always want to compare Bova to Arthur C Clarke), but it was still decently compelling. I'd recommend it to fans of these backwards-looking-80s-sci-fi stories, although if you're looking to read through the Grand Tour, this may not be essential reading...
Overall, it earns a 6.5 out of 10. I enjoyed it, I feel decent calling the book good, but not much more than that. It sure hasn't shut me down from reading the Grand Tour, but they'll be a much bigger gap than there was between Mars and this. Bova is an author who doesn't seem to get much appreciation around these parts, and while it's easy to see why... what can I say, I still like his stuff. Remember, with a book like this: Your mileage may vary. We'll see if I have to say that about the other books in the series... we'll see, my friends. We'll see sooner or later.
December 22, 2024
I have a weak spot for some gritty sci-fi, especially with geopolitical implications. This book was written at the height of the Cold War, and the reader is immediately immersed in some of the paranoia and tension present at that time. Grittiness and geopolitics are both core to this plot, and are delivered adeptly by the author. Ben Bova impressed me with the first installment of his Grand Tour series - a series title I love, since it's reminiscent of the path traveled by the Voyager space craft as humanity just began to grasp for space. The book opens on a world dominated by the Soviet Union, who has forced all the other major political powers out of space. This allows the Soviets to control the world economy by having a monopoly on lunar mining, which has become a major source of minerals across the planet.
I really like sci-fi books which imagine us in the early stages of an expansion out into space. It seems like in many cases astronauts fly by the seat of their pants and we get a less polished, more adventurous-feeling type of science fiction. I like this, at least in part because plots like this allow for more action and quicker pacing, which this book took advantage of in a way I appreciated. There is never a dull moment to be had with Privateers, and I found there were some truly forward-thinking moments where I could tell Bova was trying to predict both the direction the world and its technology might be headed. There are some moments that are almost eerily prescient of our modern-day international and domestic politics, as well as some really interesting consideration given to the knock-on effects of the discovery of a cheap source of rare materials.
I will say that parts of this book did not age well, both in tone and occasionally in treatment of some characters. I think the main character somewhat exacerbated this simply by not being a very likeable guy, at times. He has been shaped by some pretty negative experiences, and his motivations aren't always altruistic, but he seems to be genuinely trying to do the right thing. While it is hard at times to like him, I was mostly able to suspend this and go along for the ride anyway. These moments are pretty minor and spaced out, so I mostly ignored them. I had another issue with the way this book is organized.
Overall, this book was a great ride. I will be following Bova to his next stop on the Grand Tour. In the meantime, this book gave me quite a few hours of enjoyment, and I think most fans of sci-fi from the '80s will like this. The quick burn and fast pace really meld well with the atmosphere of the era, and the book captures this all in a great and believable setting.
I really like sci-fi books which imagine us in the early stages of an expansion out into space. It seems like in many cases astronauts fly by the seat of their pants and we get a less polished, more adventurous-feeling type of science fiction. I like this, at least in part because plots like this allow for more action and quicker pacing, which this book took advantage of in a way I appreciated. There is never a dull moment to be had with Privateers, and I found there were some truly forward-thinking moments where I could tell Bova was trying to predict both the direction the world and its technology might be headed. There are some moments that are almost eerily prescient of our modern-day international and domestic politics, as well as some really interesting consideration given to the knock-on effects of the discovery of a cheap source of rare materials.
I will say that parts of this book did not age well, both in tone and occasionally in treatment of some characters. I think the main character somewhat exacerbated this simply by not being a very likeable guy, at times. He has been shaped by some pretty negative experiences, and his motivations aren't always altruistic, but he seems to be genuinely trying to do the right thing. While it is hard at times to like him, I was mostly able to suspend this and go along for the ride anyway. These moments are pretty minor and spaced out, so I mostly ignored them. I had another issue with the way this book is organized.
Overall, this book was a great ride. I will be following Bova to his next stop on the Grand Tour. In the meantime, this book gave me quite a few hours of enjoyment, and I think most fans of sci-fi from the '80s will like this. The quick burn and fast pace really meld well with the atmosphere of the era, and the book captures this all in a great and believable setting.
May 2, 2019
Reading Powersat and then Privateers (the suggested chronological order given for [series:The Grand Tour|51185]) is a bit strange, given the former was first published in 2005 and the latter back in 1985.
In Powersat, the 'big bads' are informed by the political tensions of the early 2000s, with terrorism (especially Middle Eastern) driving the conflict. When Privateers was written, the Soviet Union had not yet fallen and the Cold War was still going, so it's unsurprising to find that the 'what if' this time around sees the Soviets taking a position of political power and the United States fading to isolationism.
From the perspective of someone who grew up with basically no memories of the Cold War, it feels almost like alternative history, which is fascinating in its own right, even if it wasn't intended. I really do recommend reading this book with that thought in mind: this isn't our world, it's a close cousin that diverged sometime in the late 80s. It does make the timeline a bit weird and inconsistent when combined with Powersat, but so it goes.
Characterwise, Dan Randolph is only slightly better than in Powersat and that's only because everyone else by comparison is worse, fitting more into a more 1980s mindset. He's still selfish, immoral, and does his best to sleep with ever (hot) woman he sees. There's even a comment that his secretaries only last as long The Russians are overly Russian and the Japanese characters hiss (for some reason, is that a thing). Dan and Jane's relationship is even weirder for what we saw in Powersat.
Overall... it's fine? I don't really recommend it other than as an exploration of a 'what if' science fiction where the Soviets won the Cold War and as a sort of completionism for the Grand Tour series. I remember really liking some of the later books in the series years ago (I read them out of order and I'm not sure I ever got to Privateers), so I look forward to getting to those?
In Powersat, the 'big bads' are informed by the political tensions of the early 2000s, with terrorism (especially Middle Eastern) driving the conflict. When Privateers was written, the Soviet Union had not yet fallen and the Cold War was still going, so it's unsurprising to find that the 'what if' this time around sees the Soviets taking a position of political power and the United States fading to isolationism.
From the perspective of someone who grew up with basically no memories of the Cold War, it feels almost like alternative history, which is fascinating in its own right, even if it wasn't intended. I really do recommend reading this book with that thought in mind: this isn't our world, it's a close cousin that diverged sometime in the late 80s. It does make the timeline a bit weird and inconsistent when combined with Powersat, but so it goes.
Characterwise, Dan Randolph is only slightly better than in Powersat and that's only because everyone else by comparison is worse, fitting more into a more 1980s mindset. He's still selfish, immoral, and does his best to sleep with ever (hot) woman he sees. There's even a comment that his secretaries only last as long The Russians are overly Russian and the Japanese characters hiss (for some reason, is that a thing). Dan and Jane's relationship is even weirder for what we saw in Powersat.
Overall... it's fine? I don't really recommend it other than as an exploration of a 'what if' science fiction where the Soviets won the Cold War and as a sort of completionism for the Grand Tour series. I remember really liking some of the later books in the series years ago (I read them out of order and I'm not sure I ever got to Privateers), so I look forward to getting to those?
July 2, 2023
This is true science fiction. It could have been set in the ocean or the streets of Cleveland. Space wasn't the factor that have is the moniker SF. It's the"it" factor that brings us into a great story about how in a bloodless Cold War the USSR won and America(ns) just gave up. One man didn't give up though he left the US of A behind to wallow in it's mediocrity determined to get the world collective heads out of their rear-end before the soviets dominate all that they see.
Like in any good capitalist, our hero finds a couple of loopholes to remove the soviets from the equation. They react exactly as planned and lose everything. To bad there isn't more to tell but out hero wins the battle and gets the girl, as well.
Bova, is almost prophetic in showing how defeat in the cold war has led to apathy of the populace of both countries. Today, Russians don't really care what their corrupt leaders are doing and the US has half the population encouraging the same corruption while blaming the other half for all their problems.
This started of a bit slow and I was afraid it was going to be an aberration amongst the"Grand Tour" series but it quickly reminded me that Bova has a plan and no matter what order you read these books they are going to be a great read. 4+stars not quite 5 stars but close.
Like in any good capitalist, our hero finds a couple of loopholes to remove the soviets from the equation. They react exactly as planned and lose everything. To bad there isn't more to tell but out hero wins the battle and gets the girl, as well.
Bova, is almost prophetic in showing how defeat in the cold war has led to apathy of the populace of both countries. Today, Russians don't really care what their corrupt leaders are doing and the US has half the population encouraging the same corruption while blaming the other half for all their problems.
This started of a bit slow and I was afraid it was going to be an aberration amongst the"Grand Tour" series but it quickly reminded me that Bova has a plan and no matter what order you read these books they are going to be a great read. 4+stars not quite 5 stars but close.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
dnf
September 16, 2025Dnf'ed at 30% per my standards. This was extremely dated and bad. I know it's 40 years old, but damn, is it racist. We're constantly being informed what race people are, and they're not described in the best terms at all.
"Lucita was thirteen when she realized that her father was a sexually active male. Suddenly she saw him as an attractive, vigorous man in the prime of his life, and she was terrified of the strange new feelings that surged through her. He must have known, or felt similar feelings of his own. because he suddenly decided to send his only child off to a convent school, far from Caracas." No, no, no, this is super creepy. Fuck no.
"He paraded a succession of exquisite women through his bedroom, but even sex was becoming meaningless to him; he had not bothered with the video camera above the bed for months."
"Dan touched the ON pad on the phone keyboard and Saito Yamagata’s image appeared before his desk. His round face, usually as jovial as a chubby Buddha’s, looked puffy and still half-asleep. Sitting on his heels, he was wrapped in a midnight-blue kimono decorated with white herons, the family symbol." Screaming, I am screaming.
"She was good-looking, with the typical dark coloring of the Latin woman, an inch or so taller than Lucita and noticeably rounder, the kind of woman who would be on diets all her life."
"Lucita was thirteen when she realized that her father was a sexually active male. Suddenly she saw him as an attractive, vigorous man in the prime of his life, and she was terrified of the strange new feelings that surged through her. He must have known, or felt similar feelings of his own. because he suddenly decided to send his only child off to a convent school, far from Caracas." No, no, no, this is super creepy. Fuck no.
"He paraded a succession of exquisite women through his bedroom, but even sex was becoming meaningless to him; he had not bothered with the video camera above the bed for months."
"Dan touched the ON pad on the phone keyboard and Saito Yamagata’s image appeared before his desk. His round face, usually as jovial as a chubby Buddha’s, looked puffy and still half-asleep. Sitting on his heels, he was wrapped in a midnight-blue kimono decorated with white herons, the family symbol." Screaming, I am screaming.
"She was good-looking, with the typical dark coloring of the Latin woman, an inch or so taller than Lucita and noticeably rounder, the kind of woman who would be on diets all her life."
January 12, 2025
Did Not Finish, bailing after reading 25%. I really want to read the whole Grand Tour series, but if they are all like this... I had issues with the first one (Powersat) when I read it, giving it ultimately only 2 stars due mostly to its boilerplate plot and it's horribly Marty Stu male misogynist main character who would make James Bond blush. Well this book continues to feature the same character, and while I thought I could let it slide enough to get through the book like I did the first, it just became too much. I mean, I'm a guy who has no issue with a little nooky in my books, but the way this is handled in this book makes me cringe and eye roll so much. The first quarter of the book amounts to basic world building and plot set up that could be summed up in a couple of sentences, and the rest all about the main character being a complete ass to women, showing off his wealth and power while being an arrogant ass to everyone, but its all good Bova seems to be saying, because in this world the woman wants little more to be playthings, and because our Protagonist Ass wants to save the world for 'Merica from the big bad Russians.
I MAY try and read more of the Grand Tour as I vaguely recall reading some Bova I liked in the past, but so far, no joy.
I MAY try and read more of the Grand Tour as I vaguely recall reading some Bova I liked in the past, but so far, no joy.
May 20, 2019
A dated tale of space-faring written in 1985 about the 21st century. The problem with this story is that the villains are the USSR and it's laughable from the view of 2019 because we know what happened to the USSR. That said, the story's pace is brisk and things that are supposed to happen, happen and without a lot of blah blah blah. The biggest criticism is that the women in this book are...inconsequential. I posit that the entire plot could happen without them and any decisions they make are largely because they're in love with the main characters. Not because they are competent women.
It does not inspire much confidence in future Ben Bova books.
It does not inspire much confidence in future Ben Bova books.
February 8, 2019
His spaceplane was designed to open up the solar system, but Dan Randolph didn't expect the Soviets to grasp the opportunity to seize the moon. Now with a stranglehold on the Earth and a United States in disarray, Dan's Astro Corp is seemingly safe in Venezuela. However, the Soviets cannot tolerate a menace like Randolph to continue exploiting space.
A strange alternate future history, made believable by the sad fact that although the future is in our grasp, in many ways humanity cannot change so quickly.
A strange alternate future history, made believable by the sad fact that although the future is in our grasp, in many ways humanity cannot change so quickly.
June 18, 2025
I know Bova got better in later novels, but this has more plot holes than plot. Unfortunately it was written in an era just on the cusp of major technological changes in society but he predicts few of them. It also makes no sense as a sequel to "Powersat", as few of the successes of that book survive into this one. Some how the USA has been forced to give up all nuclear technology and are back relying on coal and petroleum for power.
I'm sure there is a story behind that. I wish it were more science fiction and less action thriller. Might make a cheesy B movie. Not an enjoyable read.
I'm sure there is a story behind that. I wish it were more science fiction and less action thriller. Might make a cheesy B movie. Not an enjoyable read.
January 29, 2019
Going back more to the roots of The Grand Tour, Bova describes how Dan Randolph wrestles control of mining for certain ores in space out from the dominant Soviet empire. This is kind of the forbearance of Randolph setting up his Astro Manufacturing company where he will begin to help explore and colonize the solar system in future novels. Bova's earlier works in this series tend to be better written, so this one falls into the very good category...fun to read.
August 26, 2019
Excellent character development; a huge surprise within SciFi! A very fast read with straight forward plot that could as easily have been a mystery or thriller in real world with out the SciFi aspects.
Great 'what if' alternate reality -- Russians of USSR win Cold War & go on to control most of space. Similar concept as Dick's: The Man in the High Castle.
SciFi elements a bit outdated; ie: "I found something called a 'Soyburger'."
Great 'what if' alternate reality -- Russians of USSR win Cold War & go on to control most of space. Similar concept as Dick's: The Man in the High Castle.
SciFi elements a bit outdated; ie: "I found something called a 'Soyburger'."
July 19, 2022
What if Russia won the space race and the Cold War? Bova provides a look at a very different version of our world, with the Soviets dominating both land and space…although one American is expat plans to change all that, one way or another.
Story drags in parts when the sci-fi gets “hard,” which is not my bag, but it has an interesting premise. The narration of Stefan Rudnecki is the only reason I finished the audiobook, for sure.
Story drags in parts when the sci-fi gets “hard,” which is not my bag, but it has an interesting premise. The narration of Stefan Rudnecki is the only reason I finished the audiobook, for sure.
October 3, 2022
Pretty good story, overall entertaining. Probably a hundred pages longer than it had to be. Lots of unnecessary dialog made the story drag. Not up to what I am used to in a Bova story. Sometimes seemed the main story was just a vehicle for the sexploits of the main character, totally irrelevant to the plot. I found myself breezing through parts of the book to get through it and move on to the end. I could skip whole paragraphs and not miss anything.
October 15, 2018
It’s not a bad book but it’s not great. Gotta watch out for those Russians. Honestly Lucita kinda pissed me off. When she’s like no I won’t marry him then she agrees to for respect for her father....that’s not right at all! If you don’t want to marry someone then don’t! He can’t force you! Ugh! Stuff like that really pisses me off!
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
May 9, 2020
Good book. Great series. Great author.
Dan Randolph is back again and as fun as ever.
The themes are a little dated, but Ben Bova brings the history and the future together. This is a cross between alternate history and science fiction, with a healthy dollop of Adrenalin for space cow folk.
I am looking forward to the rest of the grand tour.
Dan Randolph is back again and as fun as ever.
The themes are a little dated, but Ben Bova brings the history and the future together. This is a cross between alternate history and science fiction, with a healthy dollop of Adrenalin for space cow folk.
I am looking forward to the rest of the grand tour.
October 6, 2020
Ben Bova is one of my favorite authors. Most of his books have gotten a 4 or 5 star rating from me. That being said, this book was just average. The plot wasn't very exciting, and didn't really "grab" me until the last 100 pages or so. It was very political, and outdated (It was written during th...
January 21, 2023
A thoroughly enjoyable book. The references to USSR are rather dated, but I guess that happens when you write a near-future book. Also, as I go through the "Grand Tour" series, it feels as if there is a disconnect. Again, it's likely because they were written over a long time period and not sequentially, so things changed as current events meant the future was different. But, if you set that aside, it's a good read.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 74 reviews