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Enemy Mine #1
ENEMY MINE
ENEMY MINE-The Nebula and Hugo Award winner that inspired the 20th Century Fox motion picture starring Dennis Quaid and Lou Gossett, Jr.
The story of a man, incomplete in himself, taught to be a human by his sworn enemy, an alien being who leaves with the human its most important possession: its future.
The story of a man, incomplete in himself, taught to be a human by his sworn enemy, an alien being who leaves with the human its most important possession: its future.
120 pages, Paperback
First published September 1, 1979
53 people are currently reading
1654 people want to read
About the author
Barry B. Longyear
121 books77 followersBarry Brookes Longyear was an American science fiction author who resided in New Sharon, Maine.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 172 reviews
June 26, 2024
Longyear's first novella Enemy Mine won a ton of awards back in 1979, and I can see why. While a rather simple story, Longyear manages to pack in quite a bit of social commentary and critique regarding war, which must have appealed post Vietnam, and still does today.
Humanity discovered FTL travel and immediately began colonizing new worlds; quickly, they ran into another race, the Drac, doing the same and sure enough, war broke out between them. Willis Davidge and Jeriba Shigan, managed to shoot each other down over a harsh planet and both awoke on the same beach on a small island there. Of course they were supposed to hate each other, and did at first, but soon they had to struggle together to survive. Turns out they have a lot more in common that they thought...
The alien Drac religion, something a bit akin to Tao Buddhism, features in the story as Davidge and 'Jerry', stranded and alone in the world, engage in increasingly meaningful conversations about life and meaning. Enjoyable, quick read for those who like a little religious philosophy with their science fiction. 3.5 mystical stars, rounding up!
Humanity discovered FTL travel and immediately began colonizing new worlds; quickly, they ran into another race, the Drac, doing the same and sure enough, war broke out between them. Willis Davidge and Jeriba Shigan, managed to shoot each other down over a harsh planet and both awoke on the same beach on a small island there. Of course they were supposed to hate each other, and did at first, but soon they had to struggle together to survive. Turns out they have a lot more in common that they thought...
The alien Drac religion, something a bit akin to Tao Buddhism, features in the story as Davidge and 'Jerry', stranded and alone in the world, engage in increasingly meaningful conversations about life and meaning. Enjoyable, quick read for those who like a little religious philosophy with their science fiction. 3.5 mystical stars, rounding up!
September 5, 2016
I read 0595309763, an "authors Guild backinprint.com edition." Iow, the original novelette, not Gerrold's novel created from the movie. I wanted to read it because I remember loving the movie. I had only a vague memory of it, mainly just the attempt, over a campfire, to move from trying to kill each other to communicating. The short book is so much more than that. I loved it. And now I definitely want to see the movie again. I don't have anything specific or useful to say to convince you to read it, but I do highly recommend it to anyone, not just SF fans. Teens and even tweens would probably appreciate it, too.
January 23, 2015
We should teach this in schools. I'm serious. Everybody needs to read this, like, right now.
Why?
1. It's short (100 pages) and the prose is simple but efficient, so everybody has time to finish it. It reads fast and it bridges that gap between fun and literary/deep/philosophical beautifully.
2. It's very moving. I almost cried twice in the first 40 pages (and I'm not really a crier).
3. It encourages acceptance of other and genders without being preachy. It shows the reader through the main character's experiences why it is rewarding and worthwhile to try to understand other cultures. Getting to follow Davidge as he exchanges language and culture with a former enemy is an awesome and moving experience.
4. It's really dense and covers a lot of deep topics -- war, racism, family, pride, connection, isolation, violence, mental health, society... the list goes on... you could get a good discussion going easy. I have eight post-its in the book and that's kind of a lot considering how short it is.
I would much rather have read this than Hatchet, The Great Gatsby, even Great Expectations. I love every part of this book -- my only reservation is that the hermaphroditic character is called "it". It makes me acutely aware of how badly English needs a standard third-person non-gendered pronoun, because after finishing this book, you won't want to call Jeribah Shigan an "it". Using the same pronoun we use for toasters and jelly beans to refer to a living, intelligent creature is not okay and the fact that Longyear uses it all the way through to the end kinda pisses me off.
But besides that one thing, the three main characters, their dialogue, and relationships are very well-constructed and feel real and visceral.
I realize that there are two editions, one written after the movie came out with a co-author (200 pages), and one written by Longyear alone (100 pages). I read the original 100-page version. I'm not sure if there's much difference between them, but I LOVE this book, and would recommend it to anyone, fan or not of science fiction (I was really expecting it to be more space-battle-y from the title, but was pleasantly surprised. I prefer science fiction with a human side, though space battles can be fun too). Anyway, read it... *poke*
Why?
1. It's short (100 pages) and the prose is simple but efficient, so everybody has time to finish it. It reads fast and it bridges that gap between fun and literary/deep/philosophical beautifully.
2. It's very moving. I almost cried twice in the first 40 pages (and I'm not really a crier).
3. It encourages acceptance of other and genders without being preachy. It shows the reader through the main character's experiences why it is rewarding and worthwhile to try to understand other cultures. Getting to follow Davidge as he exchanges language and culture with a former enemy is an awesome and moving experience.
4. It's really dense and covers a lot of deep topics -- war, racism, family, pride, connection, isolation, violence, mental health, society... the list goes on... you could get a good discussion going easy. I have eight post-its in the book and that's kind of a lot considering how short it is.
I would much rather have read this than Hatchet, The Great Gatsby, even Great Expectations. I love every part of this book -- my only reservation is that the hermaphroditic character is called "it". It makes me acutely aware of how badly English needs a standard third-person non-gendered pronoun, because after finishing this book, you won't want to call Jeribah Shigan an "it". Using the same pronoun we use for toasters and jelly beans to refer to a living, intelligent creature is not okay and the fact that Longyear uses it all the way through to the end kinda pisses me off.
But besides that one thing, the three main characters, their dialogue, and relationships are very well-constructed and feel real and visceral.
I realize that there are two editions, one written after the movie came out with a co-author (200 pages), and one written by Longyear alone (100 pages). I read the original 100-page version. I'm not sure if there's much difference between them, but I LOVE this book, and would recommend it to anyone, fan or not of science fiction (I was really expecting it to be more space-battle-y from the title, but was pleasantly surprised. I prefer science fiction with a human side, though space battles can be fun too). Anyway, read it... *poke*
May 14, 2016
Me ha encantado, es una historia maravillosa y aunque más o menos sabía lo que me iba a encontrar (hace poco me he leído la mano izquierda de la oscuridad de Le Guin, y más o menos sabía por donde iban a ir los tiros...) pero a pesar de eso me ha sorprendido y muy gratamente.
Me ha conmovido mucho la amistad que se forja en el planteta hostil entre el Drac y el Humano y el compromiso que adquiere el humano Davidge y el cariño con que lleva a cabo su promesa.
Parece mentira como en tan pocas páginas se puede decir tanto.
Muy recomendable :)
Me ha conmovido mucho la amistad que se forja en el planteta hostil entre el Drac y el Humano y el compromiso que adquiere el humano Davidge y el cariño con que lleva a cabo su promesa.
Parece mentira como en tan pocas páginas se puede decir tanto.
Muy recomendable :)
January 20, 2024
Titulo: Enemigo mio
Autor: Barry B. Longyear
Motivo de lectura: #RetoDePremios2024
Lectura / Relectura: Lectura
Mi edicion: Electronico
Puntuacion: 4.5/5
Sinceramente esta hitoria me gusto muchisimo.
Es increible como Barry B. Longyear logra en tan pocas paginar entregar una historia tan atrapante.
Considrero que es una lectura donde entre lineas se explora la tolerancia con el otro, y lo que ocurre cuando finalmente se logra dejar de lado las diferencias en aras del amor y la amistad. El intento de superviviencia y el entendimiento mutuo se apoderan de gran parte de la trama. A su vez es innegable la critica hacia la guerra y el racismo. Es que sinceramente este libro tiene tantos niveles de interpretacion!
La construccion de los personajes no es profunda (ya que estamos hablando de una novela muy corta), pero sin lugar a dudas lo que entregan los personajes es mas que satisfactorio, por momentos enemigos, por momentos calidos, es como adentrarse en la esencia humana, donde los mood cambian como las estaciones.
Esa clase de historias que no pasa desapercibida.
Lectura altamente recomendable, y si despues pueden ver la adaptacion no lo duden!
Autor: Barry B. Longyear
Motivo de lectura: #RetoDePremios2024
Lectura / Relectura: Lectura
Mi edicion: Electronico
Puntuacion: 4.5/5
Sinceramente esta hitoria me gusto muchisimo.
Es increible como Barry B. Longyear logra en tan pocas paginar entregar una historia tan atrapante.
Considrero que es una lectura donde entre lineas se explora la tolerancia con el otro, y lo que ocurre cuando finalmente se logra dejar de lado las diferencias en aras del amor y la amistad. El intento de superviviencia y el entendimiento mutuo se apoderan de gran parte de la trama. A su vez es innegable la critica hacia la guerra y el racismo. Es que sinceramente este libro tiene tantos niveles de interpretacion!
La construccion de los personajes no es profunda (ya que estamos hablando de una novela muy corta), pero sin lugar a dudas lo que entregan los personajes es mas que satisfactorio, por momentos enemigos, por momentos calidos, es como adentrarse en la esencia humana, donde los mood cambian como las estaciones.
Esa clase de historias que no pasa desapercibida.
Lectura altamente recomendable, y si despues pueden ver la adaptacion no lo duden!
November 9, 2012
If you've seen the movie, you do not know the real story, you have not read the book. This book is wonderful. Two enemies crash land on a meteor-ish small planet. They almost kill each other, but need each other to survive. They learn to understand each other. And then...so much more happens, that would spoil it to learn ahead of time. This is a book I've read, reread ,remember, and have thoroughly enjoyed.
April 9, 2019
Muy emotivo.
November 24, 2023
Un plantejament molt interessant. Potser una mica innocent en alguns moments, però una lectura recomanable. Dubtant si buscar les continuacions.
https://dreamsofelvex.blogspot.com/20...
https://dreamsofelvex.blogspot.com/20...
June 23, 2019
A meaningful story, whose impact must have been much greater when it first appeared. I'm trying to think which books deal with the same subject more effectively, but my brain is too fried by the Plovdiv summer.
Two favorite moments:
~ Oh this starts good:
~ Hehe:
Reminds me of the beginning of my own "Instructive" tale from the Heroes and Villains cycle:
"Big sister Yin! Big sister Yin!"
"Yes, little Sasha?"
"How are children made?"
O.o
Two favorite moments:
~ Oh this starts good:
The Drac just stood there and I went over the phrase taught us in training—a phrase calculated to drive any Drac into a frenzy. “Kiz da yuomeen Shizumaat!” Meaning: Shizumaat, the most revered Drac philosopher, eats kiz excrement. Some thing on the level of stuffing a Moslem full of pork.
The Drac opened its mouth in horror, then closed it as anger literally changed its color from yellow to reddish-brown. “Irkmaan, yaa stupid Mickey Mouse is!”
~ Hehe:
As Zammis and I prepared to enjoy our first hot bath, I removed my snakeskins, tested the water with my toe, then stepped in. “Great!” I turned to Zammis, the child still half dressed. “Come on in, Zammis. The water’s fine.”
Zammis was staring at me, its mouth hanging open.
“What’s the matter?”
The child stared wide-eyed, then pointed at me with a three-fingered hand. “Uncle … what’s that?”
I looked down. “Oh.” I shook my head, then looked up at the child. “Zammis, I explained all that, remember? I’m a human.”
“But what’s it for?”
I sat down in the warm water, removing the object of discussion from sight. “It’s for the elimination of liquid wastes … among other things. Now, hop in and get washed.”
Zammis shucked its snakeskins, looked down at its own smooth-surfaced, combined system, then climbed into the tube. The child settled into the water up to its neck, its yellow eyes studying me.
“Uncle?”
“Yes?”
“What other things?”
Reminds me of the beginning of my own "Instructive" tale from the Heroes and Villains cycle:
"Big sister Yin! Big sister Yin!"
"Yes, little Sasha?"
"How are children made?"
O.o
November 18, 2017
Me gustó la película pero la novela corta todavía me ha gustado más. Enfrenta la visión del individuo capaz de empatizar frente a la especie y su anhelo expansionista. Muy recomendable.
October 23, 2014
I have the original paperback which is a novelization by Gerrold of the movie that was made of the short story by Longyear. I read it years ago when it first came out & still have it. When a group read came up, I pulled it off the shelves, but decided to read the short story instead. Glad I did.
It was very tight & fast. I read it over my lunch hour. For the most part, it was a lot like the novel, I think. The end differs quite a bit, if I recall correctly. I'll have to skim the book to make sure, though.
It was a great story of breaking prejudices, though.
I skimmed the novelization tonight. The end is somewhat different & doesn't go as far into the future, but makes a similar point. It was well done. Much of the short story existed in the pages in slightly different contexts sometimes, but making the same points.
It was very tight & fast. I read it over my lunch hour. For the most part, it was a lot like the novel, I think. The end differs quite a bit, if I recall correctly. I'll have to skim the book to make sure, though.
It was a great story of breaking prejudices, though.
I skimmed the novelization tonight. The end is somewhat different & doesn't go as far into the future, but makes a similar point. It was well done. Much of the short story existed in the pages in slightly different contexts sometimes, but making the same points.
December 8, 2024
Barry B. Longyear’s Enemy Mine is a masterful blend of science fiction, survival drama, and a profound study of what it means to connect beyond differences. The story begins with a human, Davidge, and a Drac, Jeriba Shigan, stranded together on a hostile alien world. From enemies driven by interstellar war to unlikely allies, their shared struggle forces them to confront their deep-seated prejudices and see each other as individuals rather than stereotypes.
The narrative is deeply character-driven, with moments of tension, humor, and heartfelt emotion. Longyear’s exploration of themes like friendship, cultural identity, and humanity’s capacity for growth is both thought-provoking and deeply touching. The survival challenges add an extra layer of urgency, keeping readers engaged while the characters’ relationship evolves.
The book’s conclusion is poignant and impactful, leaving readers with a sense of hope and a reminder of the power of understanding. Enemy Mine is a timeless sci-fi classic, blending gripping storytelling with a message that resonates across generations.
The narrative is deeply character-driven, with moments of tension, humor, and heartfelt emotion. Longyear’s exploration of themes like friendship, cultural identity, and humanity’s capacity for growth is both thought-provoking and deeply touching. The survival challenges add an extra layer of urgency, keeping readers engaged while the characters’ relationship evolves.
The book’s conclusion is poignant and impactful, leaving readers with a sense of hope and a reminder of the power of understanding. Enemy Mine is a timeless sci-fi classic, blending gripping storytelling with a message that resonates across generations.
June 23, 2019
Попадна ми в едно малко сборниче с фантастични разкази и повести преди години, филма не бях гледала. В началото си казах - а, класическа фантастика малко в стил Робинзон и Петкан. После - хм, какви шашави идеи са му хрумнали пък на тоя, откъде изобщо е успял да си съчини толкова детайлно една напълно измислена извънземна раса. Накрая подсмърчах, и хич не ми пукаше колко различни бяха расите на героите, беше без значение. Беше толкова истинско - от враждата, през предрасъдъците, до взаимното разбиране и топлота.
October 19, 2019
8/10, leída en 2006.
Un poco sensiblera y tópica (ahí pierde la quinta estrella) relación inter especies que sin embargo me gustó bastante. Ambos guerreros de especies distintas y que están en guerra el acercamiento personal y cultural es difícil pero…
Pues eso, que leéis el libro o veis la peli (bastante buena).
Un poco sensiblera y tópica (ahí pierde la quinta estrella) relación inter especies que sin embargo me gustó bastante. Ambos guerreros de especies distintas y que están en guerra el acercamiento personal y cultural es difícil pero…
Pues eso, que leéis el libro o veis la peli (bastante buena).
March 1, 2023
This is one of the many forms of this incredible tale. It started out as a short tales, then became a novella, then became a movie and this is the novelization ? Regardless this might be the best version or is close to it - great tale.
May 4, 2014
Like some of the other entries in this anthology, Enemy Mine feels like a prototype that defines the mould for an entire subgenre of science fiction. In this case, Barry Longyear uses the plight of two individuals to highlight the folly of the blind hatred taught to them by their respective species. With a human and a Drac soldier stranded together on an inhospitable world in the middle of a war, they must work together to survive. When the Drac reproduces (asexually) and then soon dies, Davidge is left to care for its offspring and raise it into the Drac culture, which he has come to respect and appreciate in a way no other human has.
There’s a lot to like about Enemy Mine. It moves at a good pace. And it’s a textbook case of character development, as Davidge goes from being a good Drac-hating soldier to a thoughtful, introspective student of Drac culture and history. (I loved the bit at the beginning when Jeriba attempts to enrage Davidge by insulting Mickey Mouse.) The conflict within the story works on two levels, with both the visceral, environmental dangers of trying to survive on the planet as well as the higher, emotional dangers of Davidge’s attempts to raise Zammis.
I’d argue, however, that it’s Longyear’s depiction of the inevitable close-mindedness of both cultures after Davidge and Zammis get off the planet that makes Enemy Mine truly great. This isn’t just a story about two enemy soldiers surviving together and coming to respect one another as people rather than monsters from the other side. Instead, Davidge and Zammis attempt to build a bridge between their two peoples—dragging both, kicking and screaming, towards mutual respect. It’s so chilling to watch both humans and Drac obstruct Davidge’s quest to find Zammis again and present him for his recitation of the Jeriba line.
Enemy Mine, therefore, does exactly what a great science-fiction story should do: it uses strange settings to explore a potent idea that is nevertheless relevant to the time in which it was written. It’s often said that the ability to wage war is an attribute unique to humans, a defining characteristic of our species. Yet our effectiveness in war tends to be proportional to the amount to which we can dehumanize ourselves and our enemy: we switch off those emotions that complicate the act of killing, and we build up this idea in our minds of an implacable foe who is somehow less than human. These phenomena repeat throughout history in every war.
It is difficult to deal with how this happens on the scale of entire societies, though. In restricting himself to an individual, Longyear is able to explore how propaganda and misunderstanding allows one person to develop such a distorted view of the enemy. It’s easier for Davidge to kill Dracs when he believes they are terrible monsters. When he actually gets to know one, the thought of going back to the war and killing more Dracs sickens him.
In war, empathy for one’s enemy is a weakness. It was true then, and it is true now. Propaganda of the kind the human authorities spread about Drac for purposes of imperialist expansion is still in use today, making Enemy Mine no less relevant, or less interesting, for another generation.
Read as part of The Mammoth Book of Short Science Fiction Novels .
There’s a lot to like about Enemy Mine. It moves at a good pace. And it’s a textbook case of character development, as Davidge goes from being a good Drac-hating soldier to a thoughtful, introspective student of Drac culture and history. (I loved the bit at the beginning when Jeriba attempts to enrage Davidge by insulting Mickey Mouse.) The conflict within the story works on two levels, with both the visceral, environmental dangers of trying to survive on the planet as well as the higher, emotional dangers of Davidge’s attempts to raise Zammis.
I’d argue, however, that it’s Longyear’s depiction of the inevitable close-mindedness of both cultures after Davidge and Zammis get off the planet that makes Enemy Mine truly great. This isn’t just a story about two enemy soldiers surviving together and coming to respect one another as people rather than monsters from the other side. Instead, Davidge and Zammis attempt to build a bridge between their two peoples—dragging both, kicking and screaming, towards mutual respect. It’s so chilling to watch both humans and Drac obstruct Davidge’s quest to find Zammis again and present him for his recitation of the Jeriba line.
Enemy Mine, therefore, does exactly what a great science-fiction story should do: it uses strange settings to explore a potent idea that is nevertheless relevant to the time in which it was written. It’s often said that the ability to wage war is an attribute unique to humans, a defining characteristic of our species. Yet our effectiveness in war tends to be proportional to the amount to which we can dehumanize ourselves and our enemy: we switch off those emotions that complicate the act of killing, and we build up this idea in our minds of an implacable foe who is somehow less than human. These phenomena repeat throughout history in every war.
It is difficult to deal with how this happens on the scale of entire societies, though. In restricting himself to an individual, Longyear is able to explore how propaganda and misunderstanding allows one person to develop such a distorted view of the enemy. It’s easier for Davidge to kill Dracs when he believes they are terrible monsters. When he actually gets to know one, the thought of going back to the war and killing more Dracs sickens him.
In war, empathy for one’s enemy is a weakness. It was true then, and it is true now. Propaganda of the kind the human authorities spread about Drac for purposes of imperialist expansion is still in use today, making Enemy Mine no less relevant, or less interesting, for another generation.
Read as part of The Mammoth Book of Short Science Fiction Novels .
June 7, 2022
4,5/5
He gaudit moltíssim de la novel·la, m'ha encantat. La pel·lícula ja és una de les meves preferides, però el llibre fins i tot és millor. Senzill, directe i sense gaires artificis. Una història breu i contundent sobre la guerra, els odis infundats i la capacitat de col·laborar i arribar a entendre's malgrat les barreres de comunicació. I amb una sorpresa per entremig d'aquelles que no t'esperes a no ser que hagis vist la pel·li ;)
Hi he sabut reconèixer la mà de l'Edgar, cosa que intueixo és bona, i he entrat dins de la història amb una gran facilitat. Es llegeix rapidíssim i flueix molt i molt bé. Tant de bo més clàssics com aquests recuperats. I la coberta… Absolutament brillant. No li poso el 5 per les raons de sempre, perquè la qualitat de l'edició —res a veure amb la traducció ni la maquetació en aquest cas— la trobo justeta. Soc d'aquells a qui no importa pagar una mica més per tenir un llibre que saps que et durarà molts anys, però això ja són manies meves d'editor.
He gaudit moltíssim de la novel·la, m'ha encantat. La pel·lícula ja és una de les meves preferides, però el llibre fins i tot és millor. Senzill, directe i sense gaires artificis. Una història breu i contundent sobre la guerra, els odis infundats i la capacitat de col·laborar i arribar a entendre's malgrat les barreres de comunicació. I amb una sorpresa per entremig d'aquelles que no t'esperes a no ser que hagis vist la pel·li ;)
Hi he sabut reconèixer la mà de l'Edgar, cosa que intueixo és bona, i he entrat dins de la història amb una gran facilitat. Es llegeix rapidíssim i flueix molt i molt bé. Tant de bo més clàssics com aquests recuperats. I la coberta… Absolutament brillant. No li poso el 5 per les raons de sempre, perquè la qualitat de l'edició —res a veure amb la traducció ni la maquetació en aquest cas— la trobo justeta. Soc d'aquells a qui no importa pagar una mica més per tenir un llibre que saps que et durarà molts anys, però això ja són manies meves d'editor.
November 30, 2018
Whether friendship born of loneliness can trump learned hatred is a question at the heart of this wise, exciting and often very funny science fiction story.
“I was a stranger among my own kind because of a hate I didn’t share, and a love that, to them, seemed alien, impossible, perverse.”
Our main character sees himself as about the last guy to change or even consider changing how he sees things. He gets thrown into a situation that forces him to take a fresh look at himself, who he is, which brings up the question who he might want to be.
This rich underlying drama is expertly weaved into a setting worlds away yet undeniably familiar.
This is my first Barry Longyear book, if anyone has a favorite to recommend I’m up for reading more.
“I was a stranger among my own kind because of a hate I didn’t share, and a love that, to them, seemed alien, impossible, perverse.”
Our main character sees himself as about the last guy to change or even consider changing how he sees things. He gets thrown into a situation that forces him to take a fresh look at himself, who he is, which brings up the question who he might want to be.
This rich underlying drama is expertly weaved into a setting worlds away yet undeniably familiar.
This is my first Barry Longyear book, if anyone has a favorite to recommend I’m up for reading more.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
July 19, 2021
This is a good novelization by David Gerrold of a screenplay by Edward Khmara that was based on a novella by Barry B. Longyear. I loved the novella and enjoyed the movie.... I never understood the need for this novelization, but it's fun and perfectly fine...
May 23, 2025
5 Stars! Maybe the best book I’ve read this year? Loved it. Pretty non-stop excitement. Loved the short chapters. Didn’t care for the MC at first but he really grows throughout. Such great messages and just overall a positive book that everyone should read. It’s not a long book, but I read it in about 24 hours which is crazy fast for me. I couldn’t stop. Now I’m ordering a copy of The Enemy Papers which has the whole trilogy in one. Can’t wait! (This is definitely a standalone though). If you liked Remnant Population by Moon, or Speaker for the Dead by Card, or Becky Chambers’ books, I think you’ll enjoy this one too!
P.S. - Don’t read all the quotes. Just read the book. They’re more for me to remember anyway.
Quotes:
“Could a species be honorable without being able to envision honor?.. What was their honor like anyway?.. ‘Is no bad. Is no good. Bad-good is only life-opinion. Universe not care if bad-good. Only life care. Honor come when life look beyond itself. Beyond—survival.’” (p50-51)
“You are my brother-in-life. There should be nothing between us that needs forgiveness. But whatever forgiveness must be given, I give it to you freely.” (p70)
“You sing the words because it's not the word that's important. It's the inner meaning, right? And if you don't know the meanings of the letters, you can't hear the inner meaning, right?” (p74-75)
“…they liked to see his dances not just because they were happy and funny, but because they reminded them of love and enthusiasm and not giving up. And that's how Mickey Mouse taught people about life and what it could be like—but he never said it should be. The choice was always up to the viewer. The student.” (p76-77)
“If a rock falls—I used to see just a rock falling. Now I see gravity. If you yell at me—I used to see just your anger. Now, I see your caring. You cannot be angry with someone unless you care.” (p78-79)
“If one receives evil at the hands of another, let one not do evil in return. Rather, let him extend 'love' to the enemy, so that love might unite them.” (p79-80)
“I am sorry to tell you that there is such a thing as deliberate pain in this universe, but you must know that there is evil and that it is a seductive emotion. It will tempt you and if you give in, you will belong to it. Return love for evil—it is the harder path, but you will never be enslaved to the animal feelings within.” (p80-81)
“You are not evil. Actions are evil, sometimes, but you are not, so I can only return love for love with you.” (p87)
“He lay wondering where he was and why he was alone. Why bother to exist, he wondered, if this is all that existence can be?” (p92)
“The path of the wanderer has only one end—for there is really only one journey; it is both common and unique. Every journey is both same and different, and every journey ends where it began: in everything and nothing. The only choice is what we see along the way, what we learn from it, and who we teach it to.” (p97)
“The student does the work. The teacher merely sets the table.” (p97)
“If you do not believe in miracles, you will not recognize them when they happen around you. If you do believe in miracles, you will see them everywhere, every day.. Therefore, the person who is able to see the bountifulness of the universe cannot only expect a miracle; that person can depend on them.” (p101)
“Aelova is any happening that makes your life work better. It is not event as much as it is ... opportunity. It is up to observer to turn opportunity into event. Miracles happen to those who are willing to create them.” (p102)
“This is how you know if your job is done. If you're still alive, it isn't.. Come. There is still work to do.” (p113)
“The names mean nothing! It is the deeds that must be remembered…” (p115)
“What a pair we are! We deserve each other! We're each too fucking mean to let the other one die!” (p115)
“The secret to finding the answer lies in asking the right question. If you ask the right question, the answer takes care of itself.” (p120)
“They had the opportunity to learn. Every human has the opportunity to learn better… It's about knowing how to choose. You have to choose to be good. You can't just be good automatically, or just because somebody else says you're good. You have to choose to do good things and avoid doing bad things. And if you don't choose to be good, then that's just the same as choosing to be bad.” (p151)
“Shall I tell you about love?.. It means gift. The gift of never-ending gifts. 'I love you' means I give to you because I like giving to you, not because I have to, or even need to, but simply because I choose to. Because it makes my life better as well as yours.. And the way you use the word is like this: I love you.” (p153)
“No one is ever threatened by the truth—Except those who invest in lies.” (p189)
“Grief is the most inevitable of all emotions, is it not?. And as such, grief is a natural part of living. It is neither bad nor good. Do you know that too?. Then you must also know that grief is a finite emotion. It cleanses and it heals and then it departs; do you see that as well?. But despair.. Despair is not finite. Despair is grief without cleansing, without healing. It is grief that does not end; grief that does not see an end.” (p193)
“When you came into my house, you brought me anger. And hope. Then you brought me despair. And then hope again. Now, there is only pain and still you offer me hope. No wonder your race is so evil. You will not stop while there is pain left to bring.” (p199)
“It's like jazz. If you have to have it explained to you, then you don't understand it.” (p210)
“You have triggered an avalanche. Now you must ride it. We all must ride it, or be crushed before it. There is no force as powerful as a promise that insists on being kept.” (p212)
“Is yesterday's pain a valid reason for creating more pain today? It is time the war was truly ended, my lords. It is not enough to end the war in our skies, we must end it in our hearts as well.” (p215)
P.S. - Don’t read all the quotes. Just read the book. They’re more for me to remember anyway.
Quotes:
“Could a species be honorable without being able to envision honor?.. What was their honor like anyway?.. ‘Is no bad. Is no good. Bad-good is only life-opinion. Universe not care if bad-good. Only life care. Honor come when life look beyond itself. Beyond—survival.’” (p50-51)
“You are my brother-in-life. There should be nothing between us that needs forgiveness. But whatever forgiveness must be given, I give it to you freely.” (p70)
“You sing the words because it's not the word that's important. It's the inner meaning, right? And if you don't know the meanings of the letters, you can't hear the inner meaning, right?” (p74-75)
“…they liked to see his dances not just because they were happy and funny, but because they reminded them of love and enthusiasm and not giving up. And that's how Mickey Mouse taught people about life and what it could be like—but he never said it should be. The choice was always up to the viewer. The student.” (p76-77)
“If a rock falls—I used to see just a rock falling. Now I see gravity. If you yell at me—I used to see just your anger. Now, I see your caring. You cannot be angry with someone unless you care.” (p78-79)
“If one receives evil at the hands of another, let one not do evil in return. Rather, let him extend 'love' to the enemy, so that love might unite them.” (p79-80)
“I am sorry to tell you that there is such a thing as deliberate pain in this universe, but you must know that there is evil and that it is a seductive emotion. It will tempt you and if you give in, you will belong to it. Return love for evil—it is the harder path, but you will never be enslaved to the animal feelings within.” (p80-81)
“You are not evil. Actions are evil, sometimes, but you are not, so I can only return love for love with you.” (p87)
“He lay wondering where he was and why he was alone. Why bother to exist, he wondered, if this is all that existence can be?” (p92)
“The path of the wanderer has only one end—for there is really only one journey; it is both common and unique. Every journey is both same and different, and every journey ends where it began: in everything and nothing. The only choice is what we see along the way, what we learn from it, and who we teach it to.” (p97)
“The student does the work. The teacher merely sets the table.” (p97)
“If you do not believe in miracles, you will not recognize them when they happen around you. If you do believe in miracles, you will see them everywhere, every day.. Therefore, the person who is able to see the bountifulness of the universe cannot only expect a miracle; that person can depend on them.” (p101)
“Aelova is any happening that makes your life work better. It is not event as much as it is ... opportunity. It is up to observer to turn opportunity into event. Miracles happen to those who are willing to create them.” (p102)
“This is how you know if your job is done. If you're still alive, it isn't.. Come. There is still work to do.” (p113)
“The names mean nothing! It is the deeds that must be remembered…” (p115)
“What a pair we are! We deserve each other! We're each too fucking mean to let the other one die!” (p115)
“The secret to finding the answer lies in asking the right question. If you ask the right question, the answer takes care of itself.” (p120)
“They had the opportunity to learn. Every human has the opportunity to learn better… It's about knowing how to choose. You have to choose to be good. You can't just be good automatically, or just because somebody else says you're good. You have to choose to do good things and avoid doing bad things. And if you don't choose to be good, then that's just the same as choosing to be bad.” (p151)
“Shall I tell you about love?.. It means gift. The gift of never-ending gifts. 'I love you' means I give to you because I like giving to you, not because I have to, or even need to, but simply because I choose to. Because it makes my life better as well as yours.. And the way you use the word is like this: I love you.” (p153)
“No one is ever threatened by the truth—Except those who invest in lies.” (p189)
“Grief is the most inevitable of all emotions, is it not?. And as such, grief is a natural part of living. It is neither bad nor good. Do you know that too?. Then you must also know that grief is a finite emotion. It cleanses and it heals and then it departs; do you see that as well?. But despair.. Despair is not finite. Despair is grief without cleansing, without healing. It is grief that does not end; grief that does not see an end.” (p193)
“When you came into my house, you brought me anger. And hope. Then you brought me despair. And then hope again. Now, there is only pain and still you offer me hope. No wonder your race is so evil. You will not stop while there is pain left to bring.” (p199)
“It's like jazz. If you have to have it explained to you, then you don't understand it.” (p210)
“You have triggered an avalanche. Now you must ride it. We all must ride it, or be crushed before it. There is no force as powerful as a promise that insists on being kept.” (p212)
“Is yesterday's pain a valid reason for creating more pain today? It is time the war was truly ended, my lords. It is not enough to end the war in our skies, we must end it in our hearts as well.” (p215)
November 4, 2012
I enjoyed the story way more than the ending. One of those old school scifi's where it is all about the story and the ending is just something that is used in two pages to give you posture, regardless of how unlikely it is.
December 30, 2021
I’ve been aware of this story for most of my life, but had no idea this was a piece of prose until recently. I watched the movie when I was a kid, I remember I liked it at the time, and that it mostly took place in a cave. Oh, and in my head, it was set in the same universe as The Last Starfighter. I don’t know why, I know they have nothing to do with one another, but maybe the aliens looked similar to me?
Anyway, I was listening to an episode of The Geeks Guide to the Galaxy where they were discussing 80’s sci-if movies and the host went on and on about how the short story the movie was based on was so amazing. He built it up so much that I impulse purchased it right in the middle of the episode.
Then, a few minutes later he mentioned that he hadn’t read it since he was a little kid and that it might actually be lame if read by an adult.
Well, too late, I already bought the damn thing. Dammit.
I shouldn’t have worried though, I loved it. It wasn’t filled with any great twists or stunning prose, but it was an extremely well-crafted novella about a man learning to overcome his prejudices and ended up changing his whole outlook on the world.
It’s the sort of experience I wish everyone could have in life. I thought it was beautiful and touching and shockingly short for how much it feels like such an epic journey. And without knowing anything, and I mean anything, about the author or his biography, seems a pretty obvious metaphor for a real-world wartime experience. That didn’t lessen the story for me, Slaughterhouse Five and The Forever War were also pretty obvious in a similar manner and are probably the better for it. This was fantastic
Anyway, I was listening to an episode of The Geeks Guide to the Galaxy where they were discussing 80’s sci-if movies and the host went on and on about how the short story the movie was based on was so amazing. He built it up so much that I impulse purchased it right in the middle of the episode.
Then, a few minutes later he mentioned that he hadn’t read it since he was a little kid and that it might actually be lame if read by an adult.
Well, too late, I already bought the damn thing. Dammit.
I shouldn’t have worried though, I loved it. It wasn’t filled with any great twists or stunning prose, but it was an extremely well-crafted novella about a man learning to overcome his prejudices and ended up changing his whole outlook on the world.
It’s the sort of experience I wish everyone could have in life. I thought it was beautiful and touching and shockingly short for how much it feels like such an epic journey. And without knowing anything, and I mean anything, about the author or his biography, seems a pretty obvious metaphor for a real-world wartime experience. That didn’t lessen the story for me, Slaughterhouse Five and The Forever War were also pretty obvious in a similar manner and are probably the better for it. This was fantastic
November 27, 2021
10. nejlepší povídka podle žebříčku (sci-fi a fantasy povídek) na Legii nemůže být špatná. A dostala i mě.
"Jak může válka skončit, když lidé a Dráčové spolu nehovoří?"
"Jak může válka skončit, když lidé a Dráčové spolu nehovoří?"
December 14, 2023
How is there still war after this book so clearly explained why there shouldn't be? We need to drop crates of this bitch into the Middle East and Russia so they get the memo.
March 11, 2024
Just wow, the elusive 5-star for me. A tale of friendship, responsibility, and respect for family.
January 28, 2025
When my step-dad put this book in my hand I was a bit skeptical. The dated, campy sci-fi film staring Dennis Quaid and Lou Gossett Jr poisoned my expectations. That said, in a way, I had handed this book to Joe to begin with. A month or so back, I mentioned a Wikipedia page that compiled a list of all the Hugo and Nebula award winning sci-fi books and suggest reading my way through it. Joe beat me to the punch and as it turns out, this book was on that list.
Long story short, the book is damn good. I’m not sure to what degree it is a talent and to what degree it is luck that keeps a sci-fi from showing its age, but this book has aged reasonably well. As a social commentary, some of the cold war era subtext is a bit anachronistic but the theme of befriending one’s enemy and the absurdity of war are pretty timeless.
I give bonus points for brevity. A lot of writers (and readers) feel the gravity of a story is a measure of its physical mass. This book needn’t be any longer to say what it had to say. Shorter may have been possible, but I never found the story to meander to far into the weeds.
Long story short, the book is damn good. I’m not sure to what degree it is a talent and to what degree it is luck that keeps a sci-fi from showing its age, but this book has aged reasonably well. As a social commentary, some of the cold war era subtext is a bit anachronistic but the theme of befriending one’s enemy and the absurdity of war are pretty timeless.
I give bonus points for brevity. A lot of writers (and readers) feel the gravity of a story is a measure of its physical mass. This book needn’t be any longer to say what it had to say. Shorter may have been possible, but I never found the story to meander to far into the weeds.
December 29, 2008
This was good. Universal issues/ideas surrounding war, and racism involved in a beautifully told story about hate and friendship.
March 25, 2018
Read for the 12 in 12 Challenge and the Big Fun in a Little Package Novella Challenge.
This book won the 1979 Nebula and 1980 Hugo and Locus Awards for Best Novella.
I saw the movie many years ago. In the days of VHS, I got a copy and watched it over and over again until the tape was stretched and there were lines of colourful static running through parts of it.
This is a story of how two sworn enemies are forced to work together to survive, and thus, become the best of friends, even family. It's powerful, and we still need it now every bit as much as we needed it in 1980.
I have read the original award-winning novella as presented in the book The Super Hugos, not the adaptation from the screenplay adapted from the novella, and it's even more beautiful and powerful than the movie, perhaps. In part, I think it's because it was portrayed in such plain language. Longyear's POV character, Willis Davidge, is a soldier. He's very plain-spoken. There's no flowery language involved in his journey; just the facts, presented as he sees it, and it's amazing.
This story (from its movie format) almost certainly has influenced my writing and my love of sci-fi. I think you'll see elements of it in the work I'm currently doing.
Please do yourself a favour and find this original novella, and read it.
This book won the 1979 Nebula and 1980 Hugo and Locus Awards for Best Novella.
I saw the movie many years ago. In the days of VHS, I got a copy and watched it over and over again until the tape was stretched and there were lines of colourful static running through parts of it.
This is a story of how two sworn enemies are forced to work together to survive, and thus, become the best of friends, even family. It's powerful, and we still need it now every bit as much as we needed it in 1980.
I have read the original award-winning novella as presented in the book The Super Hugos, not the adaptation from the screenplay adapted from the novella, and it's even more beautiful and powerful than the movie, perhaps. In part, I think it's because it was portrayed in such plain language. Longyear's POV character, Willis Davidge, is a soldier. He's very plain-spoken. There's no flowery language involved in his journey; just the facts, presented as he sees it, and it's amazing.
This story (from its movie format) almost certainly has influenced my writing and my love of sci-fi. I think you'll see elements of it in the work I'm currently doing.
Please do yourself a favour and find this original novella, and read it.
October 23, 2022
Hi ha novel·les que transcendeixen el gènere en el qual se les vol encabir i van més enllà dels tòpics. Aquesta és una d'elles.
La història de dues persones a la que els han dit que s'han d'odiar per les seves diferències, estan obligades a conviure per sobreviure en un món inhòspit.
Així de simple i així de complex.
Longyear aconsegueix aprofundir en els personatges en molt poques pàgines, fent que oblidem que estem davant d'una novel·la de ciència-ficció guanyadora dels premis Locus, Hugo, Nebula i John W. Campbell. Pels amants del gènere, trobareu tot allò que ens agrada d'aquest. Pels que no llegiu ciència-ficció (però vau xalar amb Flors per al'Algernon), aquí teniu un bon motiu per fer-ho.
I un darrer apunt: si sou dels que gaudiu plorant d'emoció, el final d'aquesta ús farà agafar el mocador.
La història de dues persones a la que els han dit que s'han d'odiar per les seves diferències, estan obligades a conviure per sobreviure en un món inhòspit.
Així de simple i així de complex.
Longyear aconsegueix aprofundir en els personatges en molt poques pàgines, fent que oblidem que estem davant d'una novel·la de ciència-ficció guanyadora dels premis Locus, Hugo, Nebula i John W. Campbell. Pels amants del gènere, trobareu tot allò que ens agrada d'aquest. Pels que no llegiu ciència-ficció (però vau xalar amb Flors per al'Algernon), aquí teniu un bon motiu per fer-ho.
I un darrer apunt: si sou dels que gaudiu plorant d'emoció, el final d'aquesta ús farà agafar el mocador.
January 28, 2025
Dos pilots de bàndols contraris i de races diferents s'estavellen en el mateix planeta i es veuen obligats a col·laborar per a sobreviure.
Una novel·leta curta, amb idees molt originals per a reflexionar sobre la diferencia, la convivència i la tolerància.
Escrit amb un estil directe, dinàmic, ple de diàlegs, és fàcil i entretingut de llegir. Però no us deixeu enganyar per la seua aparent simplicitat formal, ja que va guanyar el triplet de premis icònics de la ciència ficció.
Premi Nebula 1979
Premi Hugo 1980
Premi Locus 1980
Una novel·leta curta, amb idees molt originals per a reflexionar sobre la diferencia, la convivència i la tolerància.
Escrit amb un estil directe, dinàmic, ple de diàlegs, és fàcil i entretingut de llegir. Però no us deixeu enganyar per la seua aparent simplicitat formal, ja que va guanyar el triplet de premis icònics de la ciència ficció.
Premi Nebula 1979
Premi Hugo 1980
Premi Locus 1980
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