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The Legend That Was Earth
The alien Hyadeans' high-tech gifts promised to make a paradise of planet Earth. But their price tag threatens to destroy the world, turning American against American -- and alien against alien.
512 pages, Mass Market Paperback
First published January 1, 2000
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About the author
James P. Hogan
114 books268 followersJames Patrick Hogan was a British science fiction author.
Hogan was was raised in the Portobello Road area on the west side of London. After leaving school at the age of sixteen, he worked various odd jobs until, after receiving a scholarship, he began a five-year program at the Royal Aircraft Establishment at Farnborough covering the practical and theoretical sides of electrical, electronic, and mechanical engineering. He first married at the age of twenty, and he has had three other subsequent marriages and fathered six children.
Hogan worked as a design engineer for several companies and eventually moved into sales in the 1960s, travelling around Europe as a sales engineer for Honeywell. In the 1970s he joined the Digital Equipment Corporation's Laboratory Data Processing Group and in 1977 moved to Boston, Massachusetts to run its sales training program. He published his first novel, Inherit the Stars, in the same year to win an office bet. He quit DEC in 1979 and began writing full time, moving to Orlando, Florida, for a year where he met his third wife Jackie. They then moved to Sonora, California.
Hogan's style of science fiction is usually hard science fiction. In his earlier works he conveyed a sense of what science and scientists were about. His philosophical view on how science should be done comes through in many of his novels; theories should be formulated based on empirical research, not the other way around. If a theory does not match the facts, it is theory that should be discarded, not the facts. This is very evident in the Giants series, which begins with the discovery of a 50,000 year-old human body on the Moon. This discovery leads to a series of investigations, and as facts are discovered, theories on how the astronaut's body arrived on the Moon 50,000 years ago are elaborated, discarded, and replaced.
Hogan's fiction also reflects anti-authoritarian social views. Many of his novels have strong anarchist or libertarian themes, often promoting the idea that new technological advances render certain social conventions obsolete. For example, the effectively limitless availability of energy that would result from the development of controlled nuclear fusion would make it unnecessary to limit access to energy resources. In essence, energy would become free. This melding of scientific and social speculation is clearly present in the novel Voyage from Yesteryear (strongly influenced by Eric Frank Russell's famous story "And Then There Were None"), which describes the contact between a high-tech anarchist society on a planet in the Alpha Centauri system, with a starship sent from Earth by a dictatorial government. The story uses many elements of civil disobedience.
James Hogan died unexpectedly from a heart attack at his home in Ireland.
Hogan was was raised in the Portobello Road area on the west side of London. After leaving school at the age of sixteen, he worked various odd jobs until, after receiving a scholarship, he began a five-year program at the Royal Aircraft Establishment at Farnborough covering the practical and theoretical sides of electrical, electronic, and mechanical engineering. He first married at the age of twenty, and he has had three other subsequent marriages and fathered six children.
Hogan worked as a design engineer for several companies and eventually moved into sales in the 1960s, travelling around Europe as a sales engineer for Honeywell. In the 1970s he joined the Digital Equipment Corporation's Laboratory Data Processing Group and in 1977 moved to Boston, Massachusetts to run its sales training program. He published his first novel, Inherit the Stars, in the same year to win an office bet. He quit DEC in 1979 and began writing full time, moving to Orlando, Florida, for a year where he met his third wife Jackie. They then moved to Sonora, California.
Hogan's style of science fiction is usually hard science fiction. In his earlier works he conveyed a sense of what science and scientists were about. His philosophical view on how science should be done comes through in many of his novels; theories should be formulated based on empirical research, not the other way around. If a theory does not match the facts, it is theory that should be discarded, not the facts. This is very evident in the Giants series, which begins with the discovery of a 50,000 year-old human body on the Moon. This discovery leads to a series of investigations, and as facts are discovered, theories on how the astronaut's body arrived on the Moon 50,000 years ago are elaborated, discarded, and replaced.
Hogan's fiction also reflects anti-authoritarian social views. Many of his novels have strong anarchist or libertarian themes, often promoting the idea that new technological advances render certain social conventions obsolete. For example, the effectively limitless availability of energy that would result from the development of controlled nuclear fusion would make it unnecessary to limit access to energy resources. In essence, energy would become free. This melding of scientific and social speculation is clearly present in the novel Voyage from Yesteryear (strongly influenced by Eric Frank Russell's famous story "And Then There Were None"), which describes the contact between a high-tech anarchist society on a planet in the Alpha Centauri system, with a starship sent from Earth by a dictatorial government. The story uses many elements of civil disobedience.
James Hogan died unexpectedly from a heart attack at his home in Ireland.
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Displaying 1 - 21 of 21 reviews
September 19, 2024
This is one of Hogan's least successful novels; it's a great two-hundred-and-fifty-page sf story that's unfortunately enmeshed in an equal amount of political polemic and philosophic speculation. The science gets lost, the characters are indistinctive, but the story is in there, you just kind of have to wait for it to come around. Readers who shared his extreme Libertarian views loved it; many others hated it. I thought it was good but needed a little polish and a lot of editing. The Baen edition has a very striking cover by Dru Blair.
July 6, 2022
DNF. Not enough science/science fiction, too much politics. Not what I expected based on reading of the author's previous books, unfortunately.
April 25, 2022
Thought about not finishing, but try to only do that when I really do not like a book.
Unlike Mr. Hogan's earlier works, that I think of as solid science fiction, this was more of a fictional study in political science. With some alien stuff tossed in to give it a SF veneer. Almost had an Ayn Rand vibe to it.
Mr. Hogan's characters have always been a little flat, like Arthur C. Clarke's, but I was okay because there was some solid, thought provoking science fiction baked into the narrative. Here, not so much, making this story less entertaining for me than some of the authors stuff from the 70's and 80's.
Unlike Mr. Hogan's earlier works, that I think of as solid science fiction, this was more of a fictional study in political science. With some alien stuff tossed in to give it a SF veneer. Almost had an Ayn Rand vibe to it.
Mr. Hogan's characters have always been a little flat, like Arthur C. Clarke's, but I was okay because there was some solid, thought provoking science fiction baked into the narrative. Here, not so much, making this story less entertaining for me than some of the authors stuff from the 70's and 80's.
September 19, 2008
Interesting ideas can only take you so far.
At times I felt as though the author was relating a story that was really cool that he had heard about somewhere else and I guess you had to be there. The characters were dull and even though they were dragged through the very midst of what may have been a very interesting plot, the deluge of meeting details and extraneous characters kept me from feeling that there was any connection between the characters and the story and between myself and either
At times I felt as though the author was relating a story that was really cool that he had heard about somewhere else and I guess you had to be there. The characters were dull and even though they were dragged through the very midst of what may have been a very interesting plot, the deluge of meeting details and extraneous characters kept me from feeling that there was any connection between the characters and the story and between myself and either
July 24, 2017
Well, let's see. Since I'm not excited about writing the review it pretty much means this was a ho-hum read, meaning it borders between "it was ok" and "I liked it" letting me choose which to move towards. I eventually decided "I liked it" because there was a time in the 30% area of completion that I was very excited to read it, but as it moved forward I wanted to continue, just not with the same excitement.
Realistic? Yes. I think this is a possible scenario that might go down if benevolent aliens showed but and you completely ignored how it would mess with religion. There is certainly a set of people that would be absolutely willing to take advantage and benefit themselves at the determent at others, and do so with a clear conscious thinking, "It is for the good of the people". This is how governments operate. If you are willing to use weapons to commit mass murder to maintain an advantage, solidify your position, or increase your power thinking "I'm doing this for my country", then you are in this category. For this reason I think this book seems very political. As in "liberal vs conservative" and looking over the reviews I can see they support that. In America that means "West versus East" even though Texas, an ultra-conservative state, side with California, something I doubt would ever happen. This aside, I think this is a possible outcome of what might happen if a cabal in the US government decided to use the aliens to increase their power (American power). Would this happen? Of course! If that a political statement? Only if you ignore that it is reality.
What this book points out over it's pages that government should serve the people in general not just the people running the government. That's what this book is about. An alien government and the US government gets together in a collusion to increase their own power. Imagine that? Is that sci-fi? No. And that leads to the lower rating. The need for it to be aliens behind all this isn't even necessary. It could have been written strictly as "another country" instead of "another civilization". That, in fact, would have been a better vehicle for this story. It is a story about governments, politics, and economies, not about the aliens, but how they affect society.
So a decent read that was entertaining, but the sci-fi element really isn't necessary. Maybe just speculative fiction with a country making some large advance in military technology.
Also, the legend you might be thinking about when you see the cover, read the summary but it is very different as described in Chapter 58. If you want to see the world get it's butt kicked due to its own stupidity then you'll be disappointed.
Realistic? Yes. I think this is a possible scenario that might go down if benevolent aliens showed but and you completely ignored how it would mess with religion. There is certainly a set of people that would be absolutely willing to take advantage and benefit themselves at the determent at others, and do so with a clear conscious thinking, "It is for the good of the people". This is how governments operate. If you are willing to use weapons to commit mass murder to maintain an advantage, solidify your position, or increase your power thinking "I'm doing this for my country", then you are in this category. For this reason I think this book seems very political. As in "liberal vs conservative" and looking over the reviews I can see they support that. In America that means "West versus East" even though Texas, an ultra-conservative state, side with California, something I doubt would ever happen. This aside, I think this is a possible outcome of what might happen if a cabal in the US government decided to use the aliens to increase their power (American power). Would this happen? Of course! If that a political statement? Only if you ignore that it is reality.
What this book points out over it's pages that government should serve the people in general not just the people running the government. That's what this book is about. An alien government and the US government gets together in a collusion to increase their own power. Imagine that? Is that sci-fi? No. And that leads to the lower rating. The need for it to be aliens behind all this isn't even necessary. It could have been written strictly as "another country" instead of "another civilization". That, in fact, would have been a better vehicle for this story. It is a story about governments, politics, and economies, not about the aliens, but how they affect society.
So a decent read that was entertaining, but the sci-fi element really isn't necessary. Maybe just speculative fiction with a country making some large advance in military technology.
Also, the legend you might be thinking about when you see the cover, read the summary but it is very different as described in Chapter 58. If you want to see the world get it's butt kicked due to its own stupidity then you'll be disappointed.
June 6, 2020
This had potential, but the prose was turgid, like a Niven, Pournelle and Barnes pastiche. I prefer my NPB deadpan.
August 4, 2021
Nice human/alien military story.
February 3, 2023
feels like a rewrite of some old R.Heinlein, though not as snappy, with to many by the skin of their teeth coincidences
July 10, 2015
I do not have enough space to express in fullness my vitriol towards this book. I shall, though, summarize my criticism towards this book. In short, this is one of the worst books I have ever read in my life! This is the kind of book that is so full of itself and so lacking in genuine imagination throughout the entirety of the book!
I found myself yelling at the pretentiousness found in nearly every chapter, or being angered by the predictable outcomes anyone could see coming five chapters in advance. And if that were not enough, the whole thing is so saturated in liberalism smugness that I wanted to strangle this book and carpet-bomb California into oblivion! I swear this book sounds like some egotistic UCLA student wrote this piece of shit to weave his socialist ideas into a "sci-fi" story with little to no sci-fi or even world building.
While we're on the subject of sci-fi, this book hates you so much that it even sucks the sci-fi out of a sci-fi novel. This book is both devoid of the creative world-building and science-fiction elements--so it can make way for its pretentious idealism--and has presented some of the most boring and uninspired aliens I have encountered thus far in sci-fi. These aliens are completely devoid of any uniqueness and agency that they could have easily been written out and nothing would be missing from this piece of shit. And if that weren't enough, these Hyadeans are presented as a highly advanced civilization...because fuck me. Seriously, the explanation for why this race is so advanced is so lazy that even Ed Wood would viciously demand a proper explanation. I hope that some other alien race finds these guys and annihilates their planet--and the smug separatist faction discussed in the novel--into oblivion!
And the worst part of all this: it didn't have to be so awful. There are at least a few elements that show the makings of an, at best, okay novel. If the liberalism were either cut down on--or removed entirely--and more world-building be made, "The Legend that was Earth" could have been alright. As it stands, it is atrocious and a painful read. I personally am so enraged that I will never consider reading anything from this author if that's the kind of stories he writes. I caution anyone considering "The Legend that was Earth" to reconsider and avoid this book at all costs.
I found myself yelling at the pretentiousness found in nearly every chapter, or being angered by the predictable outcomes anyone could see coming five chapters in advance. And if that were not enough, the whole thing is so saturated in liberalism smugness that I wanted to strangle this book and carpet-bomb California into oblivion! I swear this book sounds like some egotistic UCLA student wrote this piece of shit to weave his socialist ideas into a "sci-fi" story with little to no sci-fi or even world building.
While we're on the subject of sci-fi, this book hates you so much that it even sucks the sci-fi out of a sci-fi novel. This book is both devoid of the creative world-building and science-fiction elements--so it can make way for its pretentious idealism--and has presented some of the most boring and uninspired aliens I have encountered thus far in sci-fi. These aliens are completely devoid of any uniqueness and agency that they could have easily been written out and nothing would be missing from this piece of shit. And if that weren't enough, these Hyadeans are presented as a highly advanced civilization...because fuck me. Seriously, the explanation for why this race is so advanced is so lazy that even Ed Wood would viciously demand a proper explanation. I hope that some other alien race finds these guys and annihilates their planet--and the smug separatist faction discussed in the novel--into oblivion!
And the worst part of all this: it didn't have to be so awful. There are at least a few elements that show the makings of an, at best, okay novel. If the liberalism were either cut down on--or removed entirely--and more world-building be made, "The Legend that was Earth" could have been alright. As it stands, it is atrocious and a painful read. I personally am so enraged that I will never consider reading anything from this author if that's the kind of stories he writes. I caution anyone considering "The Legend that was Earth" to reconsider and avoid this book at all costs.
February 2, 2013
This one starts way better than it continues. The "technical" bits are great; in a few pages he can visibly shake the foundation of most important modern theories. Of course, he doesn't have proof, or if he does it wouldn't have been right to put it in this book, but you can't possibly prove him wrong either. Problem is, after a little while he gets caught up in the story and forgets about those parts and you can't really have good action and good ideas and ideals shown at the same time.
The action is pretty good and there are a few good ideas in the end, but the main ones bother me. One is that life's purpose is just to live it and using it to better yourself or the world around you should just be a matter of personal choice. The other, that no plans should be made, science should only look at the facts and ignore anything that it has no proof of, possibly accepting spiritual views to explain those parts until they have some facts to go on, without making theories and trying to prove them right or wrong afterwards, people shouldn't try to find ideal societies and then strive to achieve them but just let things go their own way and see where they end up and so on. Well, I have some problems with that...
The action is pretty good and there are a few good ideas in the end, but the main ones bother me. One is that life's purpose is just to live it and using it to better yourself or the world around you should just be a matter of personal choice. The other, that no plans should be made, science should only look at the facts and ignore anything that it has no proof of, possibly accepting spiritual views to explain those parts until they have some facts to go on, without making theories and trying to prove them right or wrong afterwards, people shouldn't try to find ideal societies and then strive to achieve them but just let things go their own way and see where they end up and so on. Well, I have some problems with that...
August 24, 2012
A cardboard cast of characters, most of whom you'd recognize from other Hogan books with the names changed to protect the authour, and a plot that never wanders too far from exactly what you're expecting. The one somewhat interesting idea is presented (forcefully, without any subtlety whatsoever) over and over again. Skip this one and move on.
September 21, 2010
i wish the cover had been different....cause that affected how i went into this one...the story is better than the cover. a good read....could always tear it off i guess, hey? SAY CHEESE. inside the cover....ho hum.
April 20, 2014
Interesting weaving of science and fiction, but I think it could have used a bit of edit work. Too much extraneous information in some sections and sometimes too in-depth technical discussion jarred instead of advancing the story.
January 4, 2016
Well, that was a lot more dull than expected. As others have noted, the characters don't have a lot of depth, and I at least never found myself caring much for them. The "aliens" were merely humans that had a bit of Star Trek's Vulcan philosophy pasted over them. Oh well, I've read worse.
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January 9, 2010baen ebook
November 23, 2013
If there was a 1.5 rating I'd use it. I've seen worse. and almost everything else is a better read.
September 20, 2009
I couldn't wait for this book to be over! I hated this book.
August 15, 2017
Not Hogan's best, but the story is interesting enough.
October 8, 2014
Boring, and possibly written by someone with a grudge against science.
Displaying 1 - 21 of 21 reviews