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Mutiny in Space
When the radical revolutionaries of the Social Party prevent his attendance at university and make his life on New Chicago impossible, Nikolai Rovio has no choice but to accept his starship-bound uncle's offer to take refuge in space and sign on as a technical apprentice with Starways. But space, he quickly learns, is full of dangers that can kill a young man just as dead as even the most bloodthirsty revolutionary.
And no place that Man can travel can ever truly serve as a safe refuge from ambitious and evil-minded men.
Rod Walker is the New New Heinlein, and Mutiny in Space marks a first step in the return of science fiction to its classical form and historical heights. Written in the style and tradition of Robert Heinlein's 12 classic juvenile novels published by Scribner, Mutiny in Space is an exciting tale of space, technology, courage, independence, and the indomitable spirit of Man.
And no place that Man can travel can ever truly serve as a safe refuge from ambitious and evil-minded men.
Rod Walker is the New New Heinlein, and Mutiny in Space marks a first step in the return of science fiction to its classical form and historical heights. Written in the style and tradition of Robert Heinlein's 12 classic juvenile novels published by Scribner, Mutiny in Space is an exciting tale of space, technology, courage, independence, and the indomitable spirit of Man.
- GenresScience Fiction
182 pages, Paperback
Published May 5, 2020
8 people are currently reading
20 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 9 of 9 reviews
May 11, 2016
"Mutiny in Space" is less science fiction than a space-thriller; specifically, there are no real science elements which are key to the plot. More or less the same story could have been set any time in the last 50 years on the oceans, save for .
It doesn't matter. It's a fast, fun read with political elements you'll understand instantly because they are ubiquitous (). The details of the ship, dealing with vacuum and the other elements of the environment are just the terrain through which the story moves. Once the background exposition is done to set the scene, it never stops.
The most refreshing thing about MiS is perhaps the complete absence of any social-justice agenda. There are no token characters to represent various races, genders, or orientations. If you wrinkle your nose when an author takes time away from story-telling to wield the diversity hammer to let you know what Goodthink is and is not, you will be pleased not to have to think about such nonsense for the duration.
Rod Walker is being touted as the New New Heinlein. I'm not ready to agree; he doesn't show the signs of the breadth of education and experience displayed by the greats. "Have Spacesuit Will Travel" is a worthwhile comparison to show just how far Walker needs to go to do SCIENCE fiction on that level. However, the guy shows promise. MiS is obviously setting up for sequels. We're going to see what this guy can do, and I don't think we'll have to wait very long.
My (high) standards rate this one a 3; a notch below Seveneves, but definitely worth your time. If you want something to read on the plane, you couldn't do much better.
It doesn't matter. It's a fast, fun read with political elements you'll understand instantly because they are ubiquitous (). The details of the ship, dealing with vacuum and the other elements of the environment are just the terrain through which the story moves. Once the background exposition is done to set the scene, it never stops.
The most refreshing thing about MiS is perhaps the complete absence of any social-justice agenda. There are no token characters to represent various races, genders, or orientations. If you wrinkle your nose when an author takes time away from story-telling to wield the diversity hammer to let you know what Goodthink is and is not, you will be pleased not to have to think about such nonsense for the duration.
Rod Walker is being touted as the New New Heinlein. I'm not ready to agree; he doesn't show the signs of the breadth of education and experience displayed by the greats. "Have Spacesuit Will Travel" is a worthwhile comparison to show just how far Walker needs to go to do SCIENCE fiction on that level. However, the guy shows promise. MiS is obviously setting up for sequels. We're going to see what this guy can do, and I don't think we'll have to wait very long.
My (high) standards rate this one a 3; a notch below Seveneves, but definitely worth your time. If you want something to read on the plane, you couldn't do much better.
June 30, 2021
Review to come but its a fast paced novel. Pretty against communist idiology but not far right. Its just against the problems with far left communism of soviet era. Overall a bit juvenile action story. I will make a bigger review
Well I made a video review but I am going to do it here since it's easier to write it here instead of talking. Well, first of all, I don't agree with the reviewers saying that this is a right wing propaganda novel. Nope. This is a anti-communist propaganda but in no way saying that he endorses or views right wing as better.
I believe the problem here is that in USA you've got the Democratic and Republican party. Nothing else. There are other but sincerely they don't even matter. In Europe or most world that is not the case. Per example in portugal you've got PS (left-center) PSD (right-center) - these are the most popular parties. Then you've got CDS (Right); Bloco Esquerda & PCP (both are left wing to far left) and we now have CHEGA which is (Far Right). So, following this, you can be a PS and critical of PCP (both left wing).
So, portuguese story aside - this novel is basically the following. The Social Party (Aka communist party) is setting their sights in a world and our main protagonist family adheres to it. One of the first things the book tries to tell you or ask you is Why some people fell victim of propaganda and others don't.
Well, after the initial confrontation that leads him escape the world where he live he goes to work in a spaceship. There his problems come back to bite him the ass.
There are several things that made me not enjoy this novel as much - first of all the kid as around 18 and he outsmarts all other people including knowing everything on a ship, even people who are working there for decades. Then there is the all plot. The code within the grain it's rather absurd. He even tries to explain but it's idiotic. To be quite honest the novel is very straightforward and simple. But I am going to read the next two.
These kind of novels are good to read in-between bigger novels.
Well I made a video review but I am going to do it here since it's easier to write it here instead of talking. Well, first of all, I don't agree with the reviewers saying that this is a right wing propaganda novel. Nope. This is a anti-communist propaganda but in no way saying that he endorses or views right wing as better.
I believe the problem here is that in USA you've got the Democratic and Republican party. Nothing else. There are other but sincerely they don't even matter. In Europe or most world that is not the case. Per example in portugal you've got PS (left-center) PSD (right-center) - these are the most popular parties. Then you've got CDS (Right); Bloco Esquerda & PCP (both are left wing to far left) and we now have CHEGA which is (Far Right). So, following this, you can be a PS and critical of PCP (both left wing).
So, portuguese story aside - this novel is basically the following. The Social Party (Aka communist party) is setting their sights in a world and our main protagonist family adheres to it. One of the first things the book tries to tell you or ask you is Why some people fell victim of propaganda and others don't.
Well, after the initial confrontation that leads him escape the world where he live he goes to work in a spaceship. There his problems come back to bite him the ass.
There are several things that made me not enjoy this novel as much - first of all the kid as around 18 and he outsmarts all other people including knowing everything on a ship, even people who are working there for decades. Then there is the all plot. The code within the grain it's rather absurd. He even tries to explain but it's idiotic. To be quite honest the novel is very straightforward and simple. But I am going to read the next two.
These kind of novels are good to read in-between bigger novels.
October 26, 2016
A guilty pleasure
A book reminiscent of R.A. Heinlein's Juvenal's, but a bit less structured. The book had some somewhat flat writing, and maybe a bit too breezy at times, but it moved along quickly. It very much felt like 1950's SF, except for a few contemporary computer terms and techniques. The guilty pleasure parts were reading about buckets of Space Marxists getting killed, and collectivist philosophy being called stupid by a smart kid. This was very much the opposite of poorly researched, but smoothly written PC pablum passing for Great SF literature, these days. Not great, but a competent novel.
A book reminiscent of R.A. Heinlein's Juvenal's, but a bit less structured. The book had some somewhat flat writing, and maybe a bit too breezy at times, but it moved along quickly. It very much felt like 1950's SF, except for a few contemporary computer terms and techniques. The guilty pleasure parts were reading about buckets of Space Marxists getting killed, and collectivist philosophy being called stupid by a smart kid. This was very much the opposite of poorly researched, but smoothly written PC pablum passing for Great SF literature, these days. Not great, but a competent novel.
May 13, 2016
Heinlein-esque adventure romp. . .
New author, and some good old nuts and bolts SF. Our hero is good, but not perfect, and the head Bad Guy is a textbook Evil Villain. Relatively standard plotline, almost Horatio Alger style, but Our Hero shows perseverance and skill beat smugly evil elitism.
The politics are pretty much black and white, although we see far more of the Bad Guys than the Good Guy's culture. This also looks to be the start of a series: definitely planning to buy book 2, if and when.....
New author, and some good old nuts and bolts SF. Our hero is good, but not perfect, and the head Bad Guy is a textbook Evil Villain. Relatively standard plotline, almost Horatio Alger style, but Our Hero shows perseverance and skill beat smugly evil elitism.
The politics are pretty much black and white, although we see far more of the Bad Guys than the Good Guy's culture. This also looks to be the start of a series: definitely planning to buy book 2, if and when.....
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May 27, 2016New New Heinlein - please!
The cover boast that the author is the New New Heinlein who will return the genre to former literary heights unfortunately fall way short of reality. The book is ok but it's not brilliant. It's mostly action, more or less one sequence that takes of the last half of the too short book. Too much boasting and too little writing...
The cover boast that the author is the New New Heinlein who will return the genre to former literary heights unfortunately fall way short of reality. The book is ok but it's not brilliant. It's mostly action, more or less one sequence that takes of the last half of the too short book. Too much boasting and too little writing...
June 8, 2016
A coming of age story that avoids the dystopia and love triangle cliches that seem so prevalent in the YA genre. Well-written and with interesting characters. I'm curious to see where this series goes next.
August 19, 2016
Good old fashioned Sci-Fi fun!
Robert A Heinlein would be delighted at this rollicking adventure featuring a smart, competent, and brave young protagonist. If you're a fan of RAH's work, you'll love Mutiny in Space!
Robert A Heinlein would be delighted at this rollicking adventure featuring a smart, competent, and brave young protagonist. If you're a fan of RAH's work, you'll love Mutiny in Space!
May 29, 2016
Trying to be a "new Heinlein" juvie novel. It's not.
October 10, 2016
Enjoyable, quick read.
Displaying 1 - 9 of 9 reviews