Exiles of Colsec

Colsec #1

by Douglas Arthur Hill

When a space craft carrying twelve youthful offenders, who have in someway rebelled against the Earth's harshly authoritarian society, crash lands on an alien planet, the six survivors must contend with the planet's hostile life forms.

Genres: Science Fiction, Fiction, Childrens, Dystopia, Young Adult, Adventure

Mass Market Paperback

First published August 1, 1984

About the author

Douglas Arthur Hill (6 April 1935 – 21 June 2007) was a Canadian science fiction author, editor and reviewer. He was born in Brandon, Manitoba, the son of a railroad engineer, and was raised in Prince Albert, Saskatchewan. An avid science fiction reader from an early age, he studied English at the University of Saskatchewan (where he earned an Honours B.A. in 1957) and at the University of Toronto. He married fellow writer and U. of S. alumna Gail Robinson in 1958; they moved to Britain in 1959, where he worked as a freelance writer and editor for Aldus Books. In 1967–1968 he served as Assistant Editor of the controversial New Worlds science fiction magazine under Michael Moorcock.

A lifetime leftist, he served from 1971 to 1984 as the Literary Editor of the socialist weekly Tribune (a position once held by George Orwell), where he regularly reviewed science fiction despite the continued refusal of the literary world to take it seriously. Before starting to write fiction in 1978, he wrote many books on history, science and folklore. Using the pseudonym Martin Hillman, he also worked as an editor of several anthologies, among them Window on the Future (1966), The Shape of Sex to Come (1978), Out of Time (1984), and Hidden Turnings (1988). He is probably best known for The Last Legionary quartet of novels, supposedly produced as the result of a challenge by a publisher to Hill's complaints about the lack of good science fiction for younger readers.

Hill and his wife had one child, a son. They were divorced in 1978. He lived in Wood Green, London, and died in London after being struck by a bus at a zebra crossing. His death occurred one day after he completed his last trilogy, Demon Stalkers.

Reviews

[J · Rating 3 out of 5]

Short, simple in the ways that matter, and with a deep enough back story and setting to be compelling. This book has a lot of interesting elements that come together to produce what feels like a great introduction to a Swiss Family Robinson scenario.
In space.
With aliens.
And laser rifles.

Fun and exciting at times with some interesting concepts, the book never feels dull or slow. The cast of characters are incredibly human in their complexity and interactions. They often feel as if they are acting just as actual human beings would in this sort of scenario.

This is never more evident than in the "hero" of the story who I have to say is probably the most REAL protagonist I have ever experienced in any book. His thoughts and feelings are very biological and natural feeling. Not the sort of character traits an author would build into an ideal character.

Nice little journey into the unknown. Definitely feels the intro to something more to come.

[Kevin Breaux · Rating 5 out of 5]

One of my favorite sci-fi books growing up. I remember I did a book report on this in high school.

[Daniel Kukwa · Rating 4 out of 5]

I picked this up at the bookstore, as it gave me a shot of nostalgia: a reminder of elementary school library books and bi-monthly selections one could buy from the Scholastic flyer handed out in class. I didn't expect a surprisingly dark, violent, exciting adventure in a concise package. The hints about the future-Earth are a bit too "Johnny Mnemonic" for my taste (and not in a good way); thankfully we move beyond those characteristics very quickly.

[Bruce · Rating 4 out of 5]

When sixteen-year-old Cord MaCiy awakens from suspended animation, he’s surprised to find that he’s not in Antarctica. He was sentenced to transport to the prison there for anti-social behavior. Distaining the rule of the authoritarian corporate government, he preferred to wander free in the highlands of Scotland until he was captured by the Civil Defenders. As he rises from his coffin like container, he discovers he’s in a metal room with eleven other identical caskets. He learns where he is and why from a voice activated computer. “Antarctica is on Earth, the soft voice of GUIDE told him. “You are not on Earth.”

GUIDE, the computer, goes on to explain, that he is on a shuttle attached to a space freighter to be released when the ships reach the planet Klydor, to help establish a human colony there for the Colonization Section of Earth, or ColSec, as this part of Earth’s oppressive government is known. But there has been a malfunction. The shuttle is unable to disengage from the freighter.

GUIDE tells Cord it needs his decision. Should they continue into interstellar space until the ships run out of power and nutrients for their human occupants? Or should they return to Klydor, and attempt to land? Unfortunately, because the freighter was not designed to withstand the friction of a planetary atmosphere and had no landing gear, the linked crafts will most likely burn up in the atmosphere.

Hill’s adventure tale of the six teenage crash survivors is filled with action as the humans battle the dangers of an unknown world filled with giant sentient trees, giant omnivorous worms, and forest dwelling humanoids, and worst of all, one of their own who’s a psychopathic killer. The story is full of daring do and skirmishes, as the teens battle for survival on their new home world. It’s well-crafted young adult science fiction. The only odd thing about it to me is that the human characters and the author always refer to the resident forest dwelling humanoids as “aliens,” when in fact, the humans are the real aliens.

[Adam Windsor · Rating 4 out of 5]

Let's be clear: Exiles of Colsec is a long way from being high art.

On the other hand, it IS a genuinely fun YA SF romp. It has a thoroughly detestable bad guy, plenty of gonzo, imaginative world-building, and an unapologetically "from crisis to crisis" pacing. All of this makes for a thoroughly enjoyable bit of light reading.

[Derelict Space Sheep · Rating 3 out of 5]

At bit clumsy at the outset and rushed in its conclusion, but otherwise an exciting piece of middle-grade SF. Hill moves from a plausible near-future dystopia into a story of castaway survival on a new planet. Distinctive characters, decent representation, accomplished world-building.

[Brian · Rating 3 out of 5]

It's been way too long to tell you about the plot. I just remember it being the first novel I chose to read as a 12 year old and have good memories.

[G.M. · Rating 5 out of 5]

One of my all time favorite authors!

[Arska-täti · Rating 3 out of 5]

Nostalginen scifikirja vieraalle planeetalle karkotetuista nuorista.

[Blake · Rating 4 out of 5]

(FYI I tend to only review one book per series, unless I want to change my scoring by 0.50 or more of a star. -- I tend not to read reviews until after I read a book, so I go in with an open mind.)

3.75*

I'm finally going through my physical tv, film etc. tie in library owned book list, to add more older basic reviews. If I liked a book enough to keep then they are at the least a 3 star.

I'm only adding one book per author and I'm not going to re-read every book to be more accurate, not when I have 1000s of new to me authors to try (I can't say no to free books....)





First time read the author's work?: No

Will you be reading more?: Yes

Would you recommend?: Yes


------------
How I rate Stars: 5* = I loved (must read all I can find by the author)
4* = I really enjoyed (got to read all the series and try other books by the author).
3* = I enjoyed (I will continue to read the series)
or
3* = Good book just not my thing (I realised I don't like the genre or picked up a kids book to review in error.)

All of the above scores means I would recommend them!
-
2* = it was okay (I might give the next book in the series a try, to see if that was better IMHO.)
1* = Disliked

Note: adding these basic 'reviews' after finding out that some people see the stars differently than I do - hoping this clarifies how I feel about the book. :-)

[Lucinda · Rating 4 out of 5]

Very good. We have a nice cast, Cord, Samella, Jecko, Rontal, and Heleth (plus the Lamprey). Respect for other lifeforms... good story. ^_^

Book is 164 pages long if anyone can add that to the page counter thing.

[Kerrie · Rating 5 out of 5]

A childhood favourite. I still love it, unconditionally.

[Chris · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5 stars. Classic 80's YA SF

[Carlos Sousa · Rating 3 out of 5]

Some of the dialogue is about as bad as I have ever read but then again I have to remember that this is almost 40 years old and meant for kids.

[Donna · Rating 3 out of 5]

Written for young adults, this is a fast read which doesn't require any great thought but is interesting and entertaining.
Colsec, the Earth agency in charge of colonization, has decided the keep way to get colonists is to ship teenage criminals without asking their permission. The tale starts with a crash on a new planet. The 6 survivors learn they aren't in a prison in Antartica but are on a new planet that they are expected to colonize. Unfortunately, one of the survivors is a severe sociopath and he is more dangerous than the aliens.

[Christopher Gibson · Rating 4 out of 5]

I have been looking for this book for years. I remember buying a physical copy from a book sale at my local library when I was a child.
I was really happy to find it on kindle.
It did not disappoint, easy reading science fiction.
Brilliant trip down memory lane.

[Jennifer Risley · Rating 4 out of 5]

So..this was a fun book. It's a basic plot with a little twist and turns with an interesting idea of how a planet would funchion. It's easily followed and fast paced. I think the world would stick out to me more then the five characters but each was fine and a nice little escape. and if you have a few hours to kill on the subway, bus, or waiting room this is definitely a book to try.

[Owen · Rating 4 out of 5]

I loved this book growing up, I stumbled upon it in the public library. borrowed it and read it quickly I was probably in middle school. I refound it I'm college and re-read it and liked it just as much.

I just googled "psycho trees, penal colony, young adult, sci-fi." and found it again I think I'll re-read it.

[Chadwick]

I remember reading this thing a time or two in grade school. I have no idea if it was any good. I vaguely remember something about teenagers building a spaceship out of an asteroid, and some squeamish suggested hints of burgeoning sexuality.

[David]

Read as a kid and never finished.

[Ty · Rating 3 out of 5]

I loved it as a kid.
Light space plot.., a good read.