sonofthunder's review against another edition
4.0
A classic sci-fi novel. Apparently I am still very much in a science fiction mood...and my appetite for old sci-fi has been most thoroughly whetted by the last few books I've read. This book, published in 1972, actually reads almost more like a 50s'/60s' sci-fi novel, which for me is not a bad thing! I apparently liked this book enough that I've now ordered the second book in the series. I shan't describe the plot of the book, but like a lot of older sci-fi books, the characters aren't necessarily well-formed but...I shall say that the cypher-like nature of the main character actually enhances both the stunning wonder and pulse-racing danger of the cosmos. The descriptions of space-flight in this novel were both highly original and utterly gorgeous. The main spacecraft in this one...so lovingly described that I could almost imagine the author was a space-pilot himself. And this book moved right along...I read it in just a few days? Not a masterpiece this, but a very serviceable enjoyable read. Looking forward to reading more by this author.
paulopaperbooksonly's review against another edition
4.0
The story begins with Grainger marooned alone on a desolated planet on the fringe of a area called Halcyon Drift. When the ship fell it killed his partner Michael Lapthorn. Grainger managed to survive for two years but during his stay he has been invaded by an alien mind symbiote (although he considers it a parasite) which was similarly stranded on the planet when its previous host died there.
A ship searching for the Lost Star a famous lost vessel hidden somewhere in the Halcyon Drift picks a distress call and rescues him. He then goes to court where they made him pay a heavy salvage fee against him and future earnings. He visits Lapthorn’s family and its sister suggests that she might get him a job. He stays with Johnny and aftewarads he is approached by Nick delArco with a offer. He wants him to fly the fastest ship built on missions for the planet New Alexandria for a period of two years and it’s debt will be pay off. He then learns that the first mission is to fly through Halcyon Drift to recover the Lost Star. Wind helps Grainger to take the job. Johnny goes as part of t he deal.
Grainger learns that the man behind the project is someone he's worked for before, a scientist named Titus Charlot. Charlot has grand goals of uniting the galaxy through the sharing of knowledge. Grainger dismisses him as insane, although the wind appreciates his aims.
On a world just outside of the Drift, Grainger encounters an old friend, an alien (Khormon) trader named Alachakh. He is nearing the end of his life, and for personal reasons wants to find the Lost Star before he dies, but fears that the Hooded Swan will beat him to it. He proposes an arrangement with Grainger. He has acquired the location of the ship, and will lead the Hooded Swan to it. In exchange, Grainger would allow him one day with the ship and its cargo. After that, Grainger can have both the ship and the credit. Grainger agrees, despite that the Hooded Swan should be able to outrun Alachakh's ship.
The Hooded Swan follows the Hymnia (Alachakh’s ship) into the Drift but the trip is extremely dangerous. The Hymnia is damaged and stops moving, and Grainger insists on rendezvousing. On Hymnia he learns that the two on board were dead, and receives a message from Alachakh explaining why he wanted the Lost Star. It seems that the Khor-Monsa originated on another planet, called Myastrid, lost to history. As a matter of pride, the Khor-Monsa do not want anyone to know this, and have kept the secret even from most of their own population. It's believed the Lost Star visited Myastrid just before it crashed, and its cargo would contain evidence of Myastrid. Alachakh wants to destroy the evidence, to keep this one secret.
The Lost Star is located on a world in a particularly dangerous part of the Drift, and landing is too much for Grainger. He blacks out, and wakes to learn that the wind took control and landed the ship. The wind, who had always claimed that it could not force Grainger to do anything against his will, claims that this is still true, but admits that he can take over when Grainger has given up control. He insists he would only do so in an emergency or at Grainger's own request.
Grainger, delArco, and Johnny cross the planet in an armored vehicle, observing the strange biosphere that has evolved on the world, but there comes a point delArco and Grainger must proceed on foot. Grainger contrives to lose delArco and get to the ship first, intending to destroy the cargo, but when that fails, he manages to convince delArco of the righteousness of his goal without revealing the secret. The two destroy the cargo and tamper with the evidence, and claim that the Lost Star had no cargo.
On the way home, Caradoc ships attempt to destroy the Hooded Swan in an effort to prevent them from returning with the credit and glory of reaching the Lost Star, but Grainger's piloting manages to save the ship, and they escape. The Caradoc vessels fall victim to their own attack.
A ship searching for the Lost Star a famous lost vessel hidden somewhere in the Halcyon Drift picks a distress call and rescues him. He then goes to court where they made him pay a heavy salvage fee against him and future earnings. He visits Lapthorn’s family and its sister suggests that she might get him a job. He stays with Johnny and aftewarads he is approached by Nick delArco with a offer. He wants him to fly the fastest ship built on missions for the planet New Alexandria for a period of two years and it’s debt will be pay off. He then learns that the first mission is to fly through Halcyon Drift to recover the Lost Star. Wind helps Grainger to take the job. Johnny goes as part of t he deal.
Grainger learns that the man behind the project is someone he's worked for before, a scientist named Titus Charlot. Charlot has grand goals of uniting the galaxy through the sharing of knowledge. Grainger dismisses him as insane, although the wind appreciates his aims.
On a world just outside of the Drift, Grainger encounters an old friend, an alien (Khormon) trader named Alachakh. He is nearing the end of his life, and for personal reasons wants to find the Lost Star before he dies, but fears that the Hooded Swan will beat him to it. He proposes an arrangement with Grainger. He has acquired the location of the ship, and will lead the Hooded Swan to it. In exchange, Grainger would allow him one day with the ship and its cargo. After that, Grainger can have both the ship and the credit. Grainger agrees, despite that the Hooded Swan should be able to outrun Alachakh's ship.
The Hooded Swan follows the Hymnia (Alachakh’s ship) into the Drift but the trip is extremely dangerous. The Hymnia is damaged and stops moving, and Grainger insists on rendezvousing. On Hymnia he learns that the two on board were dead, and receives a message from Alachakh explaining why he wanted the Lost Star. It seems that the Khor-Monsa originated on another planet, called Myastrid, lost to history. As a matter of pride, the Khor-Monsa do not want anyone to know this, and have kept the secret even from most of their own population. It's believed the Lost Star visited Myastrid just before it crashed, and its cargo would contain evidence of Myastrid. Alachakh wants to destroy the evidence, to keep this one secret.
The Lost Star is located on a world in a particularly dangerous part of the Drift, and landing is too much for Grainger. He blacks out, and wakes to learn that the wind took control and landed the ship. The wind, who had always claimed that it could not force Grainger to do anything against his will, claims that this is still true, but admits that he can take over when Grainger has given up control. He insists he would only do so in an emergency or at Grainger's own request.
Grainger, delArco, and Johnny cross the planet in an armored vehicle, observing the strange biosphere that has evolved on the world, but there comes a point delArco and Grainger must proceed on foot. Grainger contrives to lose delArco and get to the ship first, intending to destroy the cargo, but when that fails, he manages to convince delArco of the righteousness of his goal without revealing the secret. The two destroy the cargo and tamper with the evidence, and claim that the Lost Star had no cargo.
On the way home, Caradoc ships attempt to destroy the Hooded Swan in an effort to prevent them from returning with the credit and glory of reaching the Lost Star, but Grainger's piloting manages to save the ship, and they escape. The Caradoc vessels fall victim to their own attack.
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