Star Web

by Joan Cox

Jade was a Linker, one of that special breed of pilots who guide starships through the treacherous lanes of the Star Web via mind-control. It was a fitting profession for a carefree drifter. Jade had and wanted very few friends: Heglit, his mind-link partner, and Borget and Lista, the sensual, golden-skinned Benjos who could pleasure a man to death.

He had no ambition greater than the cargo run, no destiny deeper than the next hallucinogenic "joyhouse."

Then came the mysterious mission when the ship's crew all died or went mad... twenty three hours inexplicably vanished... and the most powerful man in the Star Web began chasing Jade from world to world.


Fate was drawing him on an adventure linked to a planet's future, a fallen aristocracy, and his own incredible past.

Genres: Science Fiction, Fantasy

336 pages, Mass Market Paperback

First published September 1, 1980

Reviews

[Adele · Rating 2 out of 5]

I really like the relationship between Jade and Heglit in this book and there are a few great scenes. The kernels of the plot are kind of interesting, but all the good stuff gets lost in a mass of so many dreams, drug trips, metaphysical (or metaphorical) quests and adventures, other dimensions? Maybe? Too much of the "reality" seems to happen, with real consequences, inside people's heads. And I'm not talking about feelings and thoughts. More like virtual reality that requires no tech? Or programming reality with nothing but the power of the mind? Or something. Every so often I remember the gems and think I should read this again, and yeah, I find isolated lines I had forgotten about, but not nearly enough to justify the fever dream that is the majority of the book.

[Matt Sears · Rating 2 out of 5]

Somewhat entertaining pulpy sci-fi book. Heavy on the dialogue and very thin on action or discernable plot. Have fun trying to understand this one.

An example sentence: 'in the nowhere not-being place of the star web their brains created allegory to deal with unreality'.

There is a lot of that going on in Star Web, whatever it is.

[Bogus Morgus · Rating 1 out of 5]

DNF poor sci fi book. Nice cover! Difficult to put anything in context when the author uses many made up terms that are not explained. Character Jade who is the main character is the weak link for me that caused me to abandon the book coupled with the aforementioned unexplained terms. I am against homosexual stuff and while the book was hinting at it when it got into it graphically I put the book in the paper recycle bin. More waste thanks to publishers who have no scruples or discernment. At least it was only $1.25. Rewritten the story could have been interesting, alas...

[Norma Ryan · Rating 5 out of 5]

I read this book when it first came out and many, many times since. I absolutely adore this book: I have gone through SIX copies of it and I am hanging onto my two remaining battered copies very tightly. I have not found it in a used book store in a long time. **sigh** I even named my Oriental Shorthair Cattery after the book. One of my top cats was named Clate (Class A Type). Do I love this story. YEP!

[AJ]

This poor book suffered from my lack of attention. I really liked the start but as more stress got piled on I just couldn't focus to read it. Will have to reread and rate at another time.