Terminal Velocity

by Bob Shaw

The invention of a cheap and easy to use anti-gravity harness revolutionises society. Humanity takes to the skies in its millions, with huge resultant problems for governments and police. Virtually all aircraft are grounded, because of the risk of collision with a stray flyer. Airborne delinquents and criminals are practically impossible to control and can be lethal. Robert Hasson is a good policeman. But a near-fatal airborne confrontation with a psychopath has left him shattered, both physically and mentally. Sent to Canada to recuperate (and to escape the attentions of a local businessman whose son he has put away), Hasson is a broken man, unable to face human company, haunted by nightmares and certain that he will never again put on an anti-gravity harness. But his Canadian host, police chief Al Werry, has a major problem on his hands in the shape of a towering unfinished hotel, the Chinook, whose upper levels are inaccessible from the ground, and are used as an illegal meeting place by local gangs of flyers. Worse, the hotel's owner, Buck Morlacher, intends to take the law into his own hands to deal with them. The violence that has been simmering in the town threatens to erupt and Werry seems powerless to stop it. Unwillingly, Hasson finds himself drawn into the conflict and forced to face his own problems. "Vertigo" is vintage Bob Shaw, fast-moving, intelligent and immenselyreadable.

Genres: Science Fiction, Fiction

192 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 1978

About the author

Bob Shaw was born in Northern Ireland. After working in structural engineering, industrial public relations, and journalism he became a full time science fiction writer in 1975.

Shaw was noted for his originality and wit. He was two-time recipient (in 1979 and 1980) of the Hugo Award for Best Fan Writer. His short story Light of Other Days was a Hugo Award nominee in 1967, as was his novel The Ragged Astronauts in 1987.

Reviews

[Andrew Nind · Rating 3 out of 5]

I love this book so much, I've read it over and over since I was a kid but ultimately it's really not very good.

[Stephen West · Rating 5 out of 5]

In Vertigo (also known as Terminal Velocity) Bob Shaw creates an intriguing vision of a society transformed by the advent of personal counter-gravity devices that allow people to fly like birds. Aeroplane flight is largely abandoned due to the dangers posed by hordes of flyers, hundreds of people are killed every year by falling objects dropped (accidentally or deliberately) by the flyers, and teenagers play deadly games of chicken with unsuspecting commuters.

But to create a good novel, you need more than a well-worked-out idea. The protagonist is a policeman, mentally and physically damaged in an encounter with a nihilistic criminal, who travels to Canada to recuperate. His emotional state is acutely observed as he tries to deal with his fragile condition, culture shock, and rise to the challenges posed by the machinations of a powerful businessman and the feeble response of his host, the local Mountie.

Although this book is sadly out of print, it has been released on the Kindle platform. It is a little gem from a master storyteller.

[Brittany · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5/5. An interesting and unique story.

[Nicola Strangis · Rating 1 out of 5]

Il libro racconta una storia diversa da quanto descritto in abstract, diciamo che è una confusionaria storia di una persona stressata da alcuni eventi della vita, in un contesto di elementi fantascientifici descritto con un linguaggio scarso e con evidenti problemi nella descrizione degli eventi, spesso tirata per le lunghe.

[Yuri Lytovchenko · Rating 5 out of 5]

A story about a man recovering from injury and also trying regain self-esteem... SciFi is just a decor, however, quite attractive

[Hugh · Rating 3 out of 5]

Bit of a slow start, but interesting enough and still worth a read.

[Stephen Rowland · Rating 2 out of 5]

The weakest thing I've yet read from Shaw.

[Larry · Rating 4 out of 5]

A neat little story centred around the idea of personal flight and its implications (also complications!), as well as one man's battle with his own psyche.
http://sfaddict.blogspot.com/2010/12/...

[Zantaeus Glom · Rating 4 out of 5]

Another cracking read by the talented Bob Shaw.

[SciFiOne · Rating 4 out of 5]

1983 grade A-
2005 grade B-