Down to Earth

by Louis Charbonneau, Paul Lehr (Illustrator)

From the back "THE EARTH was little more than a memory for them - a memory stretching over time and the black abyss of space, a memory kept alive by the huge, three-dimensional images sent up to save them from the madness of their isolation. Everything had been arranged to protect their bodies and their minds, this family of four, alone on a tiny planet in the outer galaxy. But one day, first insignificantly, then ever more unmistakably, the elaborate machinery began to show flaws. And what had at first seemed inexplicable accident, inexorably began to reveal itself in all its grotesque, horrifying truth..."

Genres: Science Fiction, Science Fiction Fantasy

188 pages, Mass Market Paperback

First published January 1, 1967

Reviews

[Frank Davis · Rating 3 out of 5]

This wasn't bad enough to suggest that you skip it, but you wouldn't be missing very much if you did. There are a few scifi-highlights (eg. space faring society, magicky-futurish-tech, laser guns) but this story is more like a cheesy horror flick, one where the Boogeyman is already in the house, everyone knows it but denies it just long enough to stretch out the plot. Scifi-horror isn't exactly my jam and it's pretty clear by the end of the blurb that is the genre blend we'll be getting here.

The first part of the blurb though, is Frankly lying. We're told that Earth is a distant memory for this family, then we open the book and find out almost immediately that:
1.) They have been living and working away from Earth for a little over two years.
2.) The place that they live and work is surrounded with 3D images (holographic video) of people and places on Earth (to keep them from becoming homesick).
3.) They've had twice yearly deliveries which included who's who and what's what magazines from Earth.
4.) Their whole job is to monitor Earth and the travellers going to and from Earth, acting as a communication relay and an emergency landing planet.
Thus, I call bullshot and conclude that Earth is a very tangible memory for this crew.

I have some nicer things to say but I better get my rant out while I'm at it. The biggest problem with the story was inconsistency, as in the above example and that some of the techno-babble seemed entirely unthought through, like it was described in a way designed to bamboozle rather than explain or even suggest what this future technology might do.

Alicia's reaction to the dress maker malfunction seemed overly dramatic. Especially next to Dave's experience of the magic floating chair malfunction. The colour of her new summer dress comes out wrong and Alicia is in tears, meanwhile Dave gets thrown around in his seat suspended high above the surface and "he felt no harm". Ok, alright, in the 60s men were tough and women hysterical, and I'd have overlooked it as era-folly if it didn't seem to run against the impression that tech in 2135 never failed. Whatevs, end rant.

Ok, the good stuff. The robot is, as usual, the best character in the book. The decision to show some key moments from the robot's perspective was a good one. We also get some perspective from the boy, Jackie, exactly as he imagines up the scene. It reminded me of when South Park shows what the kids think they are doing then also shows what it looks like to the adults around. I love this type of perspective shift and it worked extremely well in this story.

There were also some times when I liked the phrasing very much, I loved a paragraph which pointed out that we could be wading through water and while we are able to see it, smell it, feel it... we still might not even notice it at all.

In summary, read it or don't. Whatevs.

[Fastidiously Facetious · Rating 5 out of 5]

I loved this book. The author did an excellent job getting into the heads of all the characters and describing them realistically with all of their hopes, fears, failures, and successes. What initially began as a seemingly psychological or paranormal drama quickly became a riveting game of cat and mouse between an isolated family of four on a remote planet outpost, and an arrogant sadist bent on tormenting and destroying them. The author did a great job creating a believable (and loathsome) villain whom you could understand but still wanted to see die. The dad in the family was probably the best written and underwent the most change, but I liked how all the characters grew and changed in their own way.

[Diane · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5

[Ensign Nemo · Rating 1 out of 5]

I don't normally leave reviews after reading a book, but after reading Down to Earth, I really needed a good rant. This book actually has an interesting premise, but is plagued by poor writing, and completely asinine plotting. The story describes a small family living in an isolated space station that is only used for emergency landings. Seeing that the family is so isolated, the space station is equipped with holograms that display a virtual world at all times. This allows a psychopath to enter the station undetected, and allows him to hide among the holograms, as he attempts to kidnap one member of the family, and kill the others.

Now for my rant...

The first thought that comes to mind would be to simply shut off the holograms, but the station was designed to prohibit that. I found that hard to believe, but could ignore in order to allow for a good story. However, the entire plot seemed implausible and was setup only to create action. For example, the station is equipped with a chair that is extended on a column of air, allowing the person in the chair to view a series of video screens located in the top of a tower. This allowed the psychopath to shut off the air column in an attempt to kill the character in the chair at that time. Why on earth would you locate the video screens in the top of the tower? If they're just showing videos, just stick them on the ground floor. Also, I didn't believe the explanation that a column of air would be safer than something actually connected to the chair. Later on in the book, after the family realizes that there is a killer onboard, the father attempts to fight him with a variety of weapons, including a flamethrower. Why on earth would an emergency space station need that much firepower? And a flamethrower of all things?

The author could also have benefited from a elementary physics lesson. He actually writes that the planet has less gravity due to having less atmosphere. Also, the planet is covered by strong duststorms, yet one of the characters was able to see stars while outside during a storm. This was during the day nonetheless!

[Joachim Boaz · Rating 2 out of 5]

Full review: https://sciencefictionruminations.com...

"The seductive combination of a beautiful cover by Paul Lehr, a seldom read author, a fascinating premise (well, at least from the back cover) appeared at first glance a glorious chance for the pen to wax delightfully on the glories everyone else missed out on.

As much as the esotericist delights [...]"

[James · Rating 4 out of 5]

4⭐️ Literary Gem/Bookshelf Quality

It's a fast-paced, action-packed, drama-filled, planet space station lite horror that refreshes the mind like food does to the tongue. It is a one-and-done read but worth it.

Favorite Quote: "Ugliness of torn foam, ripped plastic, broken wires and metal bones." - Down to Earth

[Joseph · Rating 2 out of 5]

Some of the most addled-headed and cliche-ridden characters I’ve ever seen in science fiction. It’s not a good sign when all your characters are morons who spend page after page denying that there’s a problem.

[Melissa Kibler · Rating 2 out of 5]

It would have been a decent sci-fi thriller if it wasn't for the gross outdated sexism, and the fact that every character was stupid.

[Steven T. · Rating 3 out of 5]

This was really more of a mystery/suspense novel. As such, I'd give it four stars. But, I wanted to read a sci-fi novel. I don't generally read mystery/suspense novels. So, for me, it was kind of disappointing and the synopsis on the back cover was somewhat misleading.

I find this to often be the case with so-called sci-fi novels, they are really adventure stories, suspense, horror, etc. that just use the ambiance of sci-fi to tell their stories.

[Stefano · Rating 2 out of 5]

Come nei suoi altri romanzi, l'autore si diletta nell'usare la fantascienza come pretesto per scavare nella psiche umana. I suoi personaggi sono sempre o insicuri, o paranoici, o emotivamente compromessi. In questo romanzo però lo scopo viene solo sfiorato e non raggiunto: i protagonisti dubitano troppo, anche dinanzi all'evidenza, e si intuisce che cio' serve solo affinche' la storia prosegua come da programma. I cattivi odiano troppo e male, in modo insulso e poco efficiente...

La parte piu' interessante del romanzo e' l'ambiente simulato realizzato all'interno dell'asteroide, che emula un'ambientazione terrestre per rendere la vita piu' sopportabile ai "guardiani del radiofaro."

Poco credibili invece le scelte dei personaggi. In particolare quella del protagonista, che "spegne tutto" in virtu' di un piano tanto astrusto quanto inutile...

[Tentatively, Convenience · Rating 3 out of 5]

In keeping w/ my ongoing project of showing uses of "anarchy" in the bks I read, I refer the reader to page 186 of this. On it, the space colonists, after having been attacked by government forces from Earth, are informed that 'civilization' on Earth has been destroyed by a nuclear disaster, & are asked to accept this new government that's just attacked them as governing them too. The patriarch of the family accepts their authority, informing his family: "That's the way it has to be. Otherwise, there'd be anarchy." Right. There'd be anarchy, there might not be any more nuclear disasters or government forces attacking them. Heaven forbid.

[D. Colwell · Rating 5 out of 5]

Very enjoyable. I read it first in 1967 and a couple times since. Recommended.

Just finished reading it again, for, I think, the third time. Still a good story. Imaginative and exciting.