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Star Bridge
Book by Gunn, James
213 pages, Mass Market Paperback
First published January 1, 1955
17 people are currently reading
239 people want to read
About the author
Jack Williamson
541 books166 followersJohn Stewart Williamson who wrote as Jack Williamson (and occasionally under the pseudonym Will Stewart) was a U.S. writer often referred to as the "Dean of Science Fiction".
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 34 reviews
May 10, 2020
La novela comienza con Horn, el protagonista, cruzando el desierto para asesinar a Kohlnar, Director de Eron, el planeta del que surgen los tubos que recorren la galaxia y permiten el viaje entre los mundos del Imperio salvando la barrera de la velocidad de la luz.
Tras varias dificultades Horn logra su objetivo pero su huída lo lleva a Eron, centro del Imperio, donde se ve envuelto en la revuelta que está a punto de gestarse.
Escrita a cuatro manos, la novela parece a menudo improvisada, escrita sobre la marcha, sin un plan previo que permita un arco argumental coherente. Las escenas parecen sucederse sin orden, buscando una espectacularidad inmediata con la esperanza de que las páginas siguientes la resuelvan.
Esto no es lo peor de la novela. En realidad, la novela tiene poco de bueno: La acción es chapucera, la trama desordenada, las situaciones se salvan con deus ex machina, las descripciones se alargan en párrafos superfluos de lenguaje pretencioso, los personajes son estereotipos planos y sin desarrollo, casi insultantes en su simpleza, las mujeres casi inexistentes (y vistas desde un punto de vista tan machista que, desde la perspectiva del tiempo, resulta vergonzoso)...
En resumen, un ejemplo de lo mucho que la ciencia ficción tenía aún que mejorar en los '50.
[+] Reseña de "Puente entre estrellas]] en Alt+64 wiki: http://alt64.org/wiki/index.php?title...
Tras varias dificultades Horn logra su objetivo pero su huída lo lleva a Eron, centro del Imperio, donde se ve envuelto en la revuelta que está a punto de gestarse.
Escrita a cuatro manos, la novela parece a menudo improvisada, escrita sobre la marcha, sin un plan previo que permita un arco argumental coherente. Las escenas parecen sucederse sin orden, buscando una espectacularidad inmediata con la esperanza de que las páginas siguientes la resuelvan.
Esto no es lo peor de la novela. En realidad, la novela tiene poco de bueno: La acción es chapucera, la trama desordenada, las situaciones se salvan con deus ex machina, las descripciones se alargan en párrafos superfluos de lenguaje pretencioso, los personajes son estereotipos planos y sin desarrollo, casi insultantes en su simpleza, las mujeres casi inexistentes (y vistas desde un punto de vista tan machista que, desde la perspectiva del tiempo, resulta vergonzoso)...
En resumen, un ejemplo de lo mucho que la ciencia ficción tenía aún que mejorar en los '50.
[+] Reseña de "Puente entre estrellas]] en Alt+64 wiki: http://alt64.org/wiki/index.php?title...
May 24, 2015
Nothing quite sells a book to me like 'a woman wants a man that makes her feel like a woman'.
November 19, 2013
Star Bridge, by Jack Williamson and James E. Gunn (1955), is a solid, entertaining and well written vintage space opera. Of course the book shows its age, but like old wine, not like an old gadget. Highly recommended. This book is a great classic of science fiction, with galactic empires, super science, future societies, intrigue and mystery, and cosmic vistas full of stars.
See full review:
http://skefia.com/2013/11/17/star-bri...
See full review:
http://skefia.com/2013/11/17/star-bri...
December 29, 2020
I would rate it higher but for the prose. It was published in 1955, so the writing fits the time, but the jumbled nature of the description of some events, as well as the character's introspection made for several points along the way where I considered not going on. But the story was interesting enough that I opted for skimming and continuing.
July 28, 2017
with James E Gunn
1978 no grade
2017 grade C+/B-
An odd book in a couple of ways. But it was good enough that I wanted to finish it. I won't read it again though.
First it is a bit overwritten but that is mainly because of its age. There is quite a bit of dissertation on made up science and quite a lot of descriptive material. Both sections are discrete enough that they are easy to spot and speed through. But they do need to be read for continuity.
Second, the story and the characters are much bigger than life making them unreal. The protagonist is basically a barbarian soldier hired to do a hit. The reader finds out later the hit is more than simple. The vast majority of people in this empire of many planets are slaves or barbarians at one level or another. The hit is on one of the tiny minority who control the empire via the faster than light tube travel.
To sum it up, it reminded me of an elite barbarian gladiator (and the rest of the oppressed people) taking on the royalty despite being killed off in droves. As I said, it was interesting enough that I wanted to find out what happens. And what happens turns out to be rather complex.
1978 no grade
2017 grade C+/B-
An odd book in a couple of ways. But it was good enough that I wanted to finish it. I won't read it again though.
First it is a bit overwritten but that is mainly because of its age. There is quite a bit of dissertation on made up science and quite a lot of descriptive material. Both sections are discrete enough that they are easy to spot and speed through. But they do need to be read for continuity.
Second, the story and the characters are much bigger than life making them unreal. The protagonist is basically a barbarian soldier hired to do a hit. The reader finds out later the hit is more than simple. The vast majority of people in this empire of many planets are slaves or barbarians at one level or another. The hit is on one of the tiny minority who control the empire via the faster than light tube travel.
To sum it up, it reminded me of an elite barbarian gladiator (and the rest of the oppressed people) taking on the royalty despite being killed off in droves. As I said, it was interesting enough that I wanted to find out what happens. And what happens turns out to be rather complex.
June 30, 2022
This is a science fiction short from the 50’s that felt very pulpy at its core. There were some interesting concepts in the story but a good portion of the book was either focused on action that was a bit hard to follow, dialogue that meandered on that didn’t seem quite realistic, or coincidences that happened in the plot that seemed to occur just to push the story forward quickly. And the way the story dealt with women was laughingly VERY 50’s. But it was a short and entertaining read. Not mind blowing. But fun.
April 5, 2010
Horn goes to Sunport to assassinate Garth Kohlnar, meets Wu and Lil and Kohlnar's daughter, Wendre. A simple soldier of fortune plot on the boy loses girl model, but a strong read, hard to put down. The characters Wu, an old fat Chinese, and Lil, a shapeshifting Martian mathematician masquerading as Wu's parrot, stand out as two of the most memorable sci fi characters from the Fifties. Hard to find, except at used bookstores.
April 3, 2013
A very well paced and quick novel, not long but very satisfying with memorable characters, a unique faster than light travel, and has managed to age very well despite being older than even my parents.
February 5, 2019
6/10. Media de los 7 libros leídos del autor : 6/10
Alguna idea original para su tiempo pero sin mas. Olvidable y olvidado.
Alguna idea original para su tiempo pero sin mas. Olvidable y olvidado.
May 19, 2022
It is considerable time into the future, and humanity has gone to the stars. At first they crawled out and scattered, because the lightspeed limit meant it took forever to get anywhere interesting and there was no way to establish meaningful ties between worlds. But then the golden-blooded people of Eron created the Tubes. The Tubes allow faster than light travel from one end to the other, a 300 light year distance traversed in only three hours. At last communication and trade between worlds was possible. With one hitch. All Tubes have one end on Eron, and so they first became wealthy middlemen and then an empire.
It’s proved impossible to duplicate the Tubes, so the empire of Eron has lasted a thousand years. Recently, the empire crushed the one free civilization in the Pleiades Cluster. Soldier of Fortune Alan Horn was hired by an unknown party to assassinate one of Eron’s Directors at a ceremony to be held some months hence on the backwater hunting preserve once known as Earth. Our story begins as Horn makes his way across the desert to Sunport, the former Denver.
Along the way, he runs into a jewel thief and con artist named Wu, who speaks in a peculiar old-fashioned way when threatened, and Wu’s alien companion Lil. Lil usually looks like a parrot, but that is by no means her true appearance. Wu knows a secret way into Sunport and reluctantly shows it to Horn.
Horn is able to complete his mission, but must now accomplish the even more difficult task of escape. This causes him to repeatedly encounter the lovely Wendre Kohlnar, another Director of Eron. All Tubes lead back to the imperial planet. It soon becomes apparent that in order to survive, Horn must destroy the empire itself!
This 1955 SF novel was begun by Jack Williamson, but after fifty pages of story and 150 pages of background notes, he hit writer’s block hard and called in James E. Gunn to turn it into a book.
Good: This is a hectic book, with Horn constantly in motion. The chapters are separated by segments of “history” that give background information. Thus things that the characters already know don’t have to be explained to them. There’s seldom a rest in the book, with the exception of a long chapter where Horn is physically unable to move at all, and thus is forced to think. Wu and Lil are an interesting pair of supporting characters with their own motivations and mysteries.
Less good: Wu embodies some 1950s ethnic stereotypes of Chinese people, despite this being well into the future and China itself no longer existing as a culture. Worse, Horn, despite being from nowhere near Earth, “gets” these stereotypes. Part of the “evidence” that Eron has reached the decadence part of being an empire is that its male citizens wear “effeminate” clothing. Wendre is basically a prize to be won by the best man, though she manages to use some soft power offscreen to support Horn’s actions.
The themes pull on the tension between individuals’ ability to make their own decisions and the inevitable tide of history due to aggregate actions. Did Horn ever really have another choice? Only Wu and Lil may ever know the truth from a longer perspective.
Content note: ethnic stereotypes, gender stereotypes, mild sexism.
This is an exciting, action-packed book with some interesting ideas but a bit dated in its attitudes. Recommended to science fiction action fans.
It’s proved impossible to duplicate the Tubes, so the empire of Eron has lasted a thousand years. Recently, the empire crushed the one free civilization in the Pleiades Cluster. Soldier of Fortune Alan Horn was hired by an unknown party to assassinate one of Eron’s Directors at a ceremony to be held some months hence on the backwater hunting preserve once known as Earth. Our story begins as Horn makes his way across the desert to Sunport, the former Denver.
Along the way, he runs into a jewel thief and con artist named Wu, who speaks in a peculiar old-fashioned way when threatened, and Wu’s alien companion Lil. Lil usually looks like a parrot, but that is by no means her true appearance. Wu knows a secret way into Sunport and reluctantly shows it to Horn.
Horn is able to complete his mission, but must now accomplish the even more difficult task of escape. This causes him to repeatedly encounter the lovely Wendre Kohlnar, another Director of Eron. All Tubes lead back to the imperial planet. It soon becomes apparent that in order to survive, Horn must destroy the empire itself!
This 1955 SF novel was begun by Jack Williamson, but after fifty pages of story and 150 pages of background notes, he hit writer’s block hard and called in James E. Gunn to turn it into a book.
Good: This is a hectic book, with Horn constantly in motion. The chapters are separated by segments of “history” that give background information. Thus things that the characters already know don’t have to be explained to them. There’s seldom a rest in the book, with the exception of a long chapter where Horn is physically unable to move at all, and thus is forced to think. Wu and Lil are an interesting pair of supporting characters with their own motivations and mysteries.
Less good: Wu embodies some 1950s ethnic stereotypes of Chinese people, despite this being well into the future and China itself no longer existing as a culture. Worse, Horn, despite being from nowhere near Earth, “gets” these stereotypes. Part of the “evidence” that Eron has reached the decadence part of being an empire is that its male citizens wear “effeminate” clothing. Wendre is basically a prize to be won by the best man, though she manages to use some soft power offscreen to support Horn’s actions.
The themes pull on the tension between individuals’ ability to make their own decisions and the inevitable tide of history due to aggregate actions. Did Horn ever really have another choice? Only Wu and Lil may ever know the truth from a longer perspective.
Content note: ethnic stereotypes, gender stereotypes, mild sexism.
This is an exciting, action-packed book with some interesting ideas but a bit dated in its attitudes. Recommended to science fiction action fans.
July 19, 2018
I took a genre challenge two years ago. I chose science fiction and discovered the golden age stories written in the 50's and 60's. Star Bridge is one of those golden age stories. It had an interesting story line. The planet Eron had complete control of the tube system. The tube system was the bridge to the stars. Everything went through the tubes, supplies, space ships and messages.
The opening paragraph reminded me of a western. The outlaw being chased across the desert with a posse behind him. That is where you meet Horn. He was a drifter, hired to assinate one of the board of directors. While in the desert he met Wu and his shape shifting parrot, Lil. At first I thought Wu and Lil were funny. Then I became suspicous. They showed up with too much information.
The moral of the story should be absolute power corrupts. Eron and its board of directors were not popular, especially in the lower classes. It was a little predictable because unhappy people revolt. In the middle of the revolt there is a love story.
The writing style was different. You get short sentences like this, space, cold, dark. It worked for the story, just took awhile to get used to it.
I would recommend this book. I had no idea what to expect. It was an interesting story that kept me interested.
The opening paragraph reminded me of a western. The outlaw being chased across the desert with a posse behind him. That is where you meet Horn. He was a drifter, hired to assinate one of the board of directors. While in the desert he met Wu and his shape shifting parrot, Lil. At first I thought Wu and Lil were funny. Then I became suspicous. They showed up with too much information.
The moral of the story should be absolute power corrupts. Eron and its board of directors were not popular, especially in the lower classes. It was a little predictable because unhappy people revolt. In the middle of the revolt there is a love story.
The writing style was different. You get short sentences like this, space, cold, dark. It worked for the story, just took awhile to get used to it.
I would recommend this book. I had no idea what to expect. It was an interesting story that kept me interested.
July 30, 2018
Premetto che non sono mai stato un fan della space opera in generale, ma qui purtroppo siamo di fronte ad un esempio piuttosto scadente del genere...
Si comincia come un western: il protagonista, un duro, è in fuga dalle truppe imperiali. Si salva per un soffio e da qui, una Terra ormai pianeta di confine di nessuna importanza strategica, inizia la sua rocambolesca avventura fatta di colpi di scena, fughe, ancora colpi di scena, e ancora fughe.
Tutto già visto, ormai troppe volte. Capisco che il romanzo sia datato, ma anche per gli standard dell'epoca (il 1955) si trattava di un polpettone stantìo, pieno di clichè vecchi di almeno vent'anni.
Devo ammettere di aver faticato ad arrivare al finale, delusissimo, tra l'altro, perchè è esattamente quello che si inizia ad intuire fin dalle prime venti pagine.
Ulteriore nota dolente: la parte "tecnologica" è completamente trascurata. Il funzionamento dei tubi di trasporto non è spiegato e per dirla tutta la loro stessa presenza trascende completamente la fantascienza e sfocia nel fantastico più puro.
Si comincia come un western: il protagonista, un duro, è in fuga dalle truppe imperiali. Si salva per un soffio e da qui, una Terra ormai pianeta di confine di nessuna importanza strategica, inizia la sua rocambolesca avventura fatta di colpi di scena, fughe, ancora colpi di scena, e ancora fughe.
Tutto già visto, ormai troppe volte. Capisco che il romanzo sia datato, ma anche per gli standard dell'epoca (il 1955) si trattava di un polpettone stantìo, pieno di clichè vecchi di almeno vent'anni.
Devo ammettere di aver faticato ad arrivare al finale, delusissimo, tra l'altro, perchè è esattamente quello che si inizia ad intuire fin dalle prime venti pagine.
Ulteriore nota dolente: la parte "tecnologica" è completamente trascurata. Il funzionamento dei tubi di trasporto non è spiegato e per dirla tutta la loro stessa presenza trascende completamente la fantascienza e sfocia nel fantastico più puro.
November 8, 2020
One man against a galactic empire. Guess who wins.
Once you get past the eye-rolling sexism and terrible female characterisation (unless you enjoy a good eye-roll, in which case it's a win-win read), then there's fun to be had from this 1950's Space Opera. It reminded me a lot of two of Jack Vance's earlier works, namely The Five Gold Bands and Slaves of the Klau, though it was better written than the former -for me, JV's worst novel- and not as enjoyable as the latter (being too po-faced and pseudo-profound at times, whereas SotK knows it's a romp and just runs with the notion).
There's plenty of action -likely and unlikely- and a number of twists (both unexpected and otherwise), so the pages keep turning easily enough. It won't set your SF world alight, but it won't drown it, either.
Once you get past the eye-rolling sexism and terrible female characterisation (unless you enjoy a good eye-roll, in which case it's a win-win read), then there's fun to be had from this 1950's Space Opera. It reminded me a lot of two of Jack Vance's earlier works, namely The Five Gold Bands and Slaves of the Klau, though it was better written than the former -for me, JV's worst novel- and not as enjoyable as the latter (being too po-faced and pseudo-profound at times, whereas SotK knows it's a romp and just runs with the notion).
There's plenty of action -likely and unlikely- and a number of twists (both unexpected and otherwise), so the pages keep turning easily enough. It won't set your SF world alight, but it won't drown it, either.
March 14, 2020
A bizarre book, to say the least. An assassin is hired for a job, plunging the galaxy into chaos and causing him to go on the run. It starts well, with the title device being an interesting piece of technology. However, the story has the protagonist becoming a rebel bent on changing the status quo of the galaxy.
There wasn't really much action, the tension was blase, the supporting characters very one dimensional, and the pair that pop up often were too far fetched.
I'm glad I read one of Williamson's books, but I won't be returning to this one.
There wasn't really much action, the tension was blase, the supporting characters very one dimensional, and the pair that pop up often were too far fetched.
I'm glad I read one of Williamson's books, but I won't be returning to this one.
March 16, 2025
Better than average 1950's science fiction novel. Had a greater than average mysteries to be solved and the use of science fiction tropes to advance the narrative although important was not the major focus of the story. The main focus is upon galactic empire and its leaning towards injustice and freedom and its cost. Depth of characterization is limited as typical of science fiction of the time and female characters were almost stereotypical. None-the-less the story was enjoyable and we will see how quickly the plot falls from the mind.
February 14, 2018
The Golden Age of science fiction is still the best. This fast-paced novel has it all. Romance, intrigue, guns blazing, a daring escape, and time travel. The only downside was the last 30 pages where the characters resort more to philosophizing, rather than just saving the universe and moving on.
August 21, 2019
One of the best science fiction novels I've never heard anyone talk about.
I won't say much of anything so as not to spoil it, but I am astounded that this book was written IN THE 1950's and managed to tell such a technologically complicated, intricate, believable story. If you're a fan of science fiction at all, you should read this book.
I won't say much of anything so as not to spoil it, but I am astounded that this book was written IN THE 1950's and managed to tell such a technologically complicated, intricate, believable story. If you're a fan of science fiction at all, you should read this book.
March 1, 2024
With one foot in the pulps and one foot in a sort of proto-New Wave, Star Bridge reads like a broadly Western-influenced space opera infused with robust and well-realized worldbuilding. Politically complex, filled with exotic yet somehow plausible future tech, it remains character driven and human.
Is Star Bridge a forgotten classic?
*I* think so!
Is Star Bridge a forgotten classic?
*I* think so!
March 24, 2018
The Eron Company controls the Star Bridge that connects worlds. Horn is hired by a mysterious person to kill the company's director. Along the way he must deal with the ancient Wu and his diamond eating bird Lil as well as the director's daughter.
May 17, 2025
Classic, Relevant, and Timely.
Rip-Roaring Space Adventure to the Stars. Explodes with Action, Drama, and Interesting Situations. Absorbing Characters, Come to Life, with Excellent Writing.
Rip-Roaring Space Adventure to the Stars. Explodes with Action, Drama, and Interesting Situations. Absorbing Characters, Come to Life, with Excellent Writing.
January 26, 2019
Un buon "page turner", ma le gesta del personaggio sembrano un po' troppo stereotipate. Direi un 2.5.
October 27, 2024
Una space-opera tradicional, dentro del estilo clásico de Williamson. Entretenida.
October 1, 2025
Vintage space opera. Worth the read, but I suspect I would have enjoyed it more a good few years ago. Lots of good concepts and characters, so maybe I'm being a bit harsh ...
September 27, 2013
If you love Asimov's Foundation series you will love this book. I am not big fan so I struggle a little bit to finish it (because I hate to start a book and not finish it). When it comes to science fiction I don't felt that that Tube technology can stand by itself. I mean, yeah is cool how the planets are interconnected to the planets poles and they have a way to keep up with the planet turn but does not mentions anything about how it deals with the orbit and the expansion of the universe so that is a killer for me. Then it tries to be very philosophical but it seems that the characters has the same voice and ideas so it felt very plain. Overall I found the book very shallow on the social, economical and technological subjects but the ending is good, unexpected and leaves you with a "WTF happened next?" kind of feeling. So, if you a are a hardcore old school science fiction lover this is your book.
March 27, 2016
The storyline is interesting. The ruminations about individuals and society along with the ethical questions make this a somewhat deeper read than it would otherwise be. Really, a novel about the many poor vs. the few empowered. Only real complaint: descriptions of technical/mechanical/setting is quite rocky. Hard to follow and choppy.
May 26, 2016
Meh. Slow beginning, long middle, weak end. There were some neat moments, but the characters were not nuanced and the "romance" especially felt like it was written like a 12 year old boy. I read it after good reviews from a few people, but I can't agree with them. I think this was probably a better book in the fifties to eighties, but didn't hold up for me now.
October 23, 2024
This story started out ok but then got bogged down with a lot of philosophizing and not much action. Boring! It was funny that it belittled the main woman character so much. This book will never win any points with the Feminist.
April 21, 2011
Read it many years ago. Entertaining old fashioned sf. A product of its time.
October 15, 2012
Star Bridge was the first "grown up" book I read, back in 1955. I've read it many times since and I still think it's one of the best hard SF books ever written.
April 4, 2014
I'd recommend it to anybody.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 34 reviews