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stvmln's review against another edition
dark
sad
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
2.0
Fascinating ideas stuck in antiquated language; in a post-The Martian world this book's achingly long explanations of science are just far too slow.
johnnyforeign's review against another edition
3.0
The main draw of this novel is no doubt its scientific content. However, scientific content does not a novel make. Save for the head scientist, Kingsley, characterization is virtually nil, and much of the story reads more like a text book than a novel. Attempts at humor fall flat and a good deal of the scientific explication is tedious and/or difficult to fathom. Also, there were two aspects of the plot that I had trouble with: 1.) The black cloud causes the death of many millions of people on earth. You would think this would be a fertile area for a novelist to explore, but Hoyle passes over this greatest disaster in human history in just a few perfunctory words; 2.) Owing to its very presence, the black cloud wreaks havoc on planet Earth and will very likely radically change weather patterns for the worse going forward. Eventually, the group of scientists depicted in the novel find a way to communicate with the cloud, which, it turns out, is sentient and highly intelligent. So, wouldn't you think the first thing the scientists would do is ask the cloud to please stop destroying the Earth? That's a headscratcher from my point of view. The book is worth the read, though, for the many interesting ideas explored regarding the nature of life, the origin of the universe, alien intelligence and such.
goongus's review against another edition
challenging
dark
emotional
hopeful
inspiring
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? N/A
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.5
shivani_maurya's review against another edition
5.0
This book puts SCIENCE in science-fiction!!! What a pure joy reading this book was! I recently came across an interview where Dawkins mentioned Hoyle amongst his favourite authors. Thankfully I was on the look out for my next read and Dawkins had me intrigued with all the praise he had for the book. Little did I know that I would be just as enamoured with it.
From page one Hoyle immerses his readers in the scientific world. With an interstellar cloud of unknown origin on its way to the solar system, his characters are the only ones equipped to handle the situation. They are fleshed out scientists with a range of personalities. Through them Hoyle dishes out scientific insights into the plot at just the right pace. The reader cannot get ahead at any point. One can speculate but Hoyle stays one step ahead. From plot developments to slowly but surely making sense of the Whys and Hows, this book is the best yet in doing the science part of the science-fiction right. And it isn't trivial in any sense. Space trajectories, information theory, radio transmissions, climate change etc. all explained with an ease never encountered before.. And I haven't even mentioned Kingsley yet!
This is the first time while reading a book that the main character wasn't obvious from the start. Kingsley, a brilliant astrophysicist and polymath, gets introduced in the first chapter as an irascible cynic. And he is given the reins of the plot in the third chapter, from when all bets are off. Hoyle probably saw himself in Kingsley (some suggest), but it is his love for the character that is so well written that the reader can't help but root for the guy even through his follies. Hoyle's genius becomes even more apparent in how he serves the idea that any theory is only as good as its prediction. His characters hash out their theories on the cloud and its behaviour and only accept what allows verifiable predictions. This book isn't science lending itself to the purpose of a fictional plot development. Science itself is front and center. I believe this is what every sci-fi writer aspires to.
Now the question of recommendation. Of course, you should read this! You can choose to skim over the scientific jargon but there is that extra relish to be had if you look it up. Barring the punch tape computers this sci-fi from the last century is just as contemporary as they come. Anyone looking for some good sci-fi? This is your cup of tea. Hoyle has just placed the sugar a little out of reach. A bit of stretching and reaching out on tip toes, and you are set.
From page one Hoyle immerses his readers in the scientific world. With an interstellar cloud of unknown origin on its way to the solar system, his characters are the only ones equipped to handle the situation. They are fleshed out scientists with a range of personalities. Through them Hoyle dishes out scientific insights into the plot at just the right pace. The reader cannot get ahead at any point. One can speculate but Hoyle stays one step ahead. From plot developments to slowly but surely making sense of the Whys and Hows, this book is the best yet in doing the science part of the science-fiction right. And it isn't trivial in any sense. Space trajectories, information theory, radio transmissions, climate change etc. all explained with an ease never encountered before.
Spoiler
Having read [b:Project Hail Mary|54493401|Project Hail Mary|Andy Weir|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1597695864l/54493401._SY75_.jpg|79106958] recently, I couldn't help but compare its visualization of an extra-terrestrial contact with what's done in here. They both are products of different day and age, but Hoyle's vision is mind-opening. Quite unintentionally, in my opinion, he unravels the anthropocentric imaginations that envision alien life in forms with features that we can relate to (face, limbs etc.).This is the first time while reading a book that the main character wasn't obvious from the start. Kingsley, a brilliant astrophysicist and polymath, gets introduced in the first chapter as an irascible cynic. And he is given the reins of the plot in the third chapter, from when all bets are off. Hoyle probably saw himself in Kingsley (some suggest), but it is his love for the character that is so well written that the reader can't help but root for the guy even through his follies. Hoyle's genius becomes even more apparent in how he serves the idea that any theory is only as good as its prediction. His characters hash out their theories on the cloud and its behaviour and only accept what allows verifiable predictions. This book isn't science lending itself to the purpose of a fictional plot development. Science itself is front and center. I believe this is what every sci-fi writer aspires to.
Now the question of recommendation. Of course, you should read this! You can choose to skim over the scientific jargon but there is that extra relish to be had if you look it up. Barring the punch tape computers this sci-fi from the last century is just as contemporary as they come. Anyone looking for some good sci-fi? This is your cup of tea. Hoyle has just placed the sugar a little out of reach. A bit of stretching and reaching out on tip toes, and you are set.
vvolof's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
mysterious
reflective
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
3.0
griddleoctopus's review against another edition
4.0
Hard scientific mid-C20th SF from an English astronomer. Good on science, just okay on characterisation, big things happen in passing. Nice to read some hard SF though!
meggle_shmeggle's review against another edition
adventurous
mysterious
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.0
sfletcher26's review against another edition
3.0
A fun though very dated science fiction story by the physicist and astronomer Fred Hoyle, a man famously wrong, for his opposition to The Big Bang and inflalationary universe.
overly didactic at times and gloriously reductionist but still a great old school ripping Scifi yarn.
overly didactic at times and gloriously reductionist but still a great old school ripping Scifi yarn.
misanthrope's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
dark
mysterious
reflective
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.0
An excellent read. Above par first contact story with big ideas. I would read more from this author.
sopranoreader's review against another edition
challenging
dark
informative
mysterious
tense
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
3.0