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leganto's review against another edition
2.0
This story overstayed its welcome; I can't imagine ever having the stamina to survive the rest of the (7-book!) series.
The whole thing felt like a drunken, rambling game of adventure sci-fi bingo. Free Space, Time Travel, Communist spies, Bronze Age civilization, Aliens. Bingo!
I'm a fan of cheese, but apparently even I have a limit.
The whole thing felt like a drunken, rambling game of adventure sci-fi bingo. Free Space, Time Travel, Communist spies, Bronze Age civilization, Aliens. Bingo!
I'm a fan of cheese, but apparently even I have a limit.
ktrucke3's review against another edition
3.0
I enjoyed both parts of this two-part book. The second part reminded my of Clarke's Rama series - more focus on the 'gee wiz' descriptions of the aliens and their artifacts than on plot or character.
rayereads's review against another edition
3.0
Perfectly cromulent. I enjoyed the historical detail but found Murdock to be a little flat and one-dimensional- this is in keeping with a lot of mid-century science fiction, though. A larger problem is that much of the book reads like a fleshed out outline, moving the characters from A to B to C without a lot of examination. Again, this was the style of narrative at the time, but something about the voice is a little removed even compared to something like Deathworld by Harry Harrison, and it makes the novel less engaging.
For all its flaws, though, the premise is undeniable, and I ended up enjoying each sequel more than its predecessor.
For all its flaws, though, the premise is undeniable, and I ended up enjoying each sequel more than its predecessor.
anthonyrootbeer's review against another edition
2.0
Seemed like too many ideas but really fleshed out enough. Could have been better.
bone_daddy's review against another edition
2.0
Typical 50's pulp SciFi. That's not necessarily a bad thing, I just couldn't get in to this one.
jimbrown719's review against another edition
4.0
Newsome story
Nothing like a classic older pacify story. Just plain adventure and cunning. A bunch of guys going beyond to solve all kinds of problems and issues. This book had it all time travel, space travel, and alien life forms. They don't write then like this anymore that is for sure. If you want a really good story this is the one for you. I would recommend this to friends and others.
Nothing like a classic older pacify story. Just plain adventure and cunning. A bunch of guys going beyond to solve all kinds of problems and issues. This book had it all time travel, space travel, and alien life forms. They don't write then like this anymore that is for sure. If you want a really good story this is the one for you. I would recommend this to friends and others.
greg_brown's review against another edition
4.0
This was a tight, well written book. The action kept things moving along, and the hero seemed very human as he blundered from one emergency to the next.
davidrhansen's review against another edition
2.0
Has aged quite poorly.
Some good ideas, but expressed
Unpalatably.
Some good ideas, but expressed
Unpalatably.
kap89's review against another edition
adventurous
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.25
mysteriousnorse's review against another edition
3.0
I am ashamed to say this is my first by Andre Norton, and I see the appeal. I think the promising plot gets let down by 50s SF tropes at the end, but I do like where Norton edges in some feminism with her shamans during what is usually a boys club time for the genre. I look forward to more from Norton since this was frequently fun with some fantastic ideas.