Flying to Valhalla

by Charles Pellegrino

From the Flyleaf:

Acclaimed scientist and author of numerous works of nonfiction, Dr. Charles Pellegrino makes a brilliant foray into the realm of speculative fiction with FLYING TO VALHALLA -- a disturbing yet ultimately transcendent tale of space exploration that combines cutting-edge science with breathtaking storytelling artistry.

Having harnessed the power of anti-matter, a devastating force capable of obliterating galaxies, humankind sets out for the stars -- in search of unknown life forms... and possible competitors. But at the midpoint of the 21st century, as the relativistic spacecraft Valkyrie approaches the inhabited forth world of Alpha Centauri A, the masters on Earth harbor grave fears about the mission's outcome. Transmissions from Chris Wayville, the male half of the husband and wife team manning Valkyrie, have revealed a mind seriously unbalanced by an earlier death/rebirth experience on Earth's moon. The man who may control the destiny of an alien planet, and perhaps his homeworld's as well, is possibly insane.

On A-4, Chris and Clarice Wayville are welcomed by a benign and intelligent marsupial race whose ancient past is linked to man's in bizarre and sinister ways. Here where the smallest mistake can have species-threatening consequences, the visitors struggle in vain to preserve the integrity of the intruded-upon civilization. But through it all, Chris Wayville's dark visions persist -- horrifying premonitions of death and destruction shared by a renegade Alphan astronomer. And in a moment of weakness, the Wayvilles will bring crisis to their adopted world -- by inadvertently introducing their gentle, unsuspecting hosts to the most terrible of Earthborn concepts: war.

Described by colleagues as "the world's first paleontologist," Dr. Charles Pellegrino worked with the deep sea robots that probed the wreckage of the Titanic. He is a co-designer of the Valkyrie anti-matter rocket, and predicted (along with Dr. Jesse Stoff) the discover of oceans inside certain icy moons of the outer Solar System. His speculative piece in OMNI magazine on the possible cloning of dinosaurs was the basis for the bestselling Michael Chrichton novel Jurassic Park . The author of eight non-fiction books, including the bestselling Her Name, Titanic, and Unearthing Atlantis: An Archaeological Odyssey, Dr. Pellegrino is the holder of numerous scientific patents -- and spends his spare time building sand cities, speaking at science fiction conventions... and scaring the hell out of Stephen King.

Jacket illustration by Vincent DiFate
Jacket design by Stephen Bell

Genres: Science Fiction, Science Fiction Fantasy

338 pages, Hardcover

First published June 1, 1993

About the author

Charles Pellegrino is a scientist working in paleobiology, astronomy, and various other areas; a designer for projects including rockets and nuclear devices (non-military propulsion systems), composite construction materials, and magnetically levitated transportation systems; and a writer. He has been affiliated with Victoria University of Wellington, New Zealand National Observatory, Brookhaven National Laboratory, Long Island, NY; taught at institutions including Hofstra University and Adelphi University Center for Creative Arts; a member of Princeton Space Studies Institute. Cradle of Aviation Museum, space flight consultant; Challenger Center, founding member. After sailing with Robert Ballard to the Galapagos Rift in the immediate aftermath of the discovery of the Titanic (in 1985), Pellegrino expanded from the field of paleontology “into the shallows of archaeological time.”

Reviews

[Peter Tillman · Rating 3 out of 5]

Per my 1994 booklog: First novel. A+/A, remarkably original.

2020 reread. A confusing story, that didn't stand up well to rereading. The takeaway is that developing relativistic starships maybe isn't a good idea, as they would make remarkably destructive weapons. Another possible explanation for the Fermi Paradox. Here's a good review at Amazon (a bit spoilery): https://www.amazon.com/gp/customer-re...

This was Pellegrino's first novel. I'm still thinking about it, but it's a pretty depressing read, with disturbing Cold War & Mutual Assured Destruction echoes. "Paranoia strikes deep". Likely headed for the recycle pile.

[Dane Mech · Rating 1 out of 5]

The Book's story structure is incomplete, weak and in shambles. It lacks any sort of conclusion. Instead, once the "idea" of the book has been entirely transmitted to the readers, the book ends. The characters in the book are not respected by the author. He abandons them, their plot holes, their circumstances and futures without saying another word.

He slowly builds up to his climax, and then says, "and that's when the really bad crap happened! The end!" If you, despite the odds, had any investment in the characters of the book, you are left out cold.

The "idea" itself, is some what interesting. But I just felt like the narrative left me hanging.

If you're looking for a book that's focused on exploring an idea more so than anything else then you'll probably be okay with this book.

[Mikael · Rating 5 out of 5]

Flying to Valhalla is such an amazing book and one of my absolute top favorites.
The concept of discovering another civilization and travelling there, and the consequences, the possibility of relativistic war, resulting from this are neatly lined out in the story, though I must confess some of the time travelling effects are still confusing even after having read this at least some 10 times since my original purchase of it back in the 90's.
I will most certainly return to this book a few times more, even though I may have to get hold of a new copy since my edition has been read so many times it's starting to fall apart.

[Dave · Rating 2 out of 5]

Great premise and lots of science facts, but story line was too complicated for me.

[R. · Rating 3 out of 5]

I liked the Killing Star better, but I enjoyed the ideas in this book. Pellegrino's not the best writer, but he has some cool thoughts about what might be possible.

[Jeffrey Portouw · Rating 3 out of 5]

What a hard book to rate. I loved every minute of this read, right up until the end. Or should I say, where an end should have been? Because it doesn't have one. It just stops. Completely unresolved. Everything else is quite fascinating. I get the other reviews complaining that the characters are wooden. But they're just lenses through which the book preaches a philosophy about mutually assured destruction at a planetary (interplanetary?) scale. It is a hard sci-fi that examines the idea and implications behind the fact that any relativistic interstellar space craft is also a weapon of mass destruction. It also explores a bit of speculative cosmology along the way, and ends with a whole chapter about the physics of the spacecraft design. Super cool if you're into that kind of stuff. But the story is really only the first 2/3 of a story. It's rising, rising, rising toward a crescendo and then just

[Jaide Swarthout · Rating 5 out of 5]

Received this book as a kid from my best friend’s mother, apparently she knew a lot about me. Have severe ADHD and this is the only book I’ve ever been able to read from start to finish without stopping. Very engaging for this science minded youth. I liked that it flips back and forth from fiction to nonfiction. I think if I find it I will read it again.

[Dustin · Rating 1 out of 5]

Didn't make it past the first 50 pages. Almost no dialogue and prose that made my eyes glaze over. I would read pages upon pages without a single word sinking in

[Mark Palmer · Rating 3 out of 5]

This story had some interesting elements, but I was fooled by the description on the back of the book - it was not quite what I was expecting.

[Chris Stutts · Rating 3 out of 5]

Prequel to "Killing Star", which is has a stronger more linear story.

[Petros · Rating 5 out of 5]

One of the best speculative fiction out there, hurry up and read Flying to Valhalla!!!

[Wendy]

(found read date in diary)