Marathon

Marathon #1

by D. Alexander Smith, Dieter Winkler (Translator)

Sieben Jahre dauerte der Flug zu den Cygnan, den ersten außerirdischen Lebewesen, mit denen die Menschen Kontakt aufgenommen hatten. Elf Menschen waren an Bord der Open Palm, sorgfältig ausgesucht für diese Mission. Aber der Erfolg hängt von Faktoren ab, die niemand voraussehen konnte. Und da ist noch eine zwölfte Persönlichkeit: der Schiffscomputer, darauf programmiert, die Reise erfolgreich zu Ende zu bringen und die Crew zu überwachen...

Genres: Science Fiction, Fiction

254 pages, Paperback

First published July 1, 1982

Reviews

[Rog Petersen · Rating 3 out of 5]

As humanity hopes to meet our first alien neighbors, the crew of the craft headed to meet them 5.5 years away find that the aliens aren't their biggest problem.
Isolation, personal conflicts and relationships, and the rigors of space travel are taking their toll on the eleven humans (and the ship's computer) sealed together in the vast emptiness of space.
The characters are well drawn, the set is well built, and the plot is well devised in this deceptively dense book that deserves to be rediscovered.

[Paul · Rating 4 out of 5]

A decently written sci-fi potboiler with some complex psychological themes; it sort of dwells in that little-explored area where great scientific advances meet mundane human realities. I read it when I was 15 and wondered why it wasn't more popular; at the time, I was too naive to realize that sci-fi fans want their characters either cardboard or mythic, there's no room for flesh and blood.

[Erik · Rating 4 out of 5]

A lot of book in a small amount of text. Kept me guessing, interesting characters. Not that predictable, kinda. Everything Made Sense.

Its kinda a fuck you to the reader in that the main plot is really just throw away to build suspense. Reminded me a lot of Under pressure by Frank Herbert.

Glad i read it.

[Laura · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was a little confusing with all of the different crew members and their drama but I enjoyed the book! It is a good study of how people behave when they are stuck together on a long journey...