Reviews

Inherit the Stars by James P. Hogan

klambson's review against another edition

5.0

By requirement, I have given this book 5 stars because it is where my dad got my name! An impressive work of science fiction that has a similar feel to Michael Crichton in terms of being apparently well-researched and making liberal use of not-to-distant pseudo-science. However, it is completely devoid of any kind of imperiling conflict, and may feel anti-climatic if that's what you were expecting. Truly just an optimistic book centered on scientific discovery and exploration.

cassie_b's review against another edition

adventurous mysterious fast-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Plot
• Strong character development? No
• Loveable characters? No
• Diverse cast of characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? No

3.0

An interesting idea but very much a product of its time so used predictable tropes & misogyny. The science was dismissive & arrogant, and the ending OTT gung-ho but the book was overall readable - once.

the_weirdling's review against another edition

4.0

This did what it was trying to do extremely well and didn't pretend to be the sort of novel it wasn't. It is an excellent example of hard science fiction, well executed to the end. I took the last star away just because I saw the two big "twists" or "reveals" coming from a mile away. But even there, it never took away from the very enjoyable fictional meta-story Hogan is trying to tell about our solar system's ancient and unknown history. It's worth your time.

fernenanda's review against another edition

4.0

แอบเดาตอนจบได้ แต่ก็ยัง felt moved by it อยู่ดี
ชอบประโยคสุดท้าย

"And so, gentlemen, we inherit the stars. Let us go out, then, and claim our inheritance. We belong to a tradition in which the concept of defeat has no meaning. Today the stars and tomorrow the galaxies. No force exists in the Universe that can stop us."

หลังจากอ่านมาทั้งเรื่อง มันใช่จริงแหละ

mabfred's review against another edition

3.0

I've read a third of the book and even though I liked the premise, the execution is lacking. I found the book dry and dated with respect to female characters (or better lack of). I'm sure I would have no problem reading it in my teens, but I just don't want to spend my time on it now.

zelaxi's review against another edition

5.0

Cannot express how much I truly enjoyed this read. What a great detective-esque story telling the origins of a species. Page turner through and through.

vladandrei's review against another edition

adventurous mysterious 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

4.0

caedocyon's review against another edition

3.0

The bad first: there are no women or boys in this book, only men and girls. "Girls" are rare creatures: they are mostly secretaries, their presence turns scientific discussions into parties, and they will wink at you when you claim their major discoveries as your own. They may not exist on the moon, and definitely don't exist at scientific research stations on Jupiter. They sometimes take long, grueling treks and make brave and difficult moral and interpersonal decisions

Spoiler

(which mostly seem to result in them dying)

, but somehow that doesn't elevate them to the status of women.

Soanyway, apart from that kind of thing, it's an odd book. It's a thriller where all the plot and suspense is based on the process of scientific discovery. And don't get me wrong, I had trouble putting it down. It's quite interesting and suspenseful.

Spoiler

Although there are lots of creepy and vaguely menacing events, none of them turn out badly. Even the vaguely menacing manipulative boss-figure only wants the project to succeed, and only good things come from his conniving.

By the end, though, I was wondering why Hogan wrote the book---just to show us all how smart he is for being able to come up with this convoluted scenario?

It's kind of interesting that book!Earth is ironing out its adolescence (world peace, global government on the horizon) but the Earth of today (only 15 years 'til this all supposedly happens!) is more like Minerva

Spoiler

: dwindling resources we fight for tooth and nail and a looming carbon dioxide problem

.

ronschae4's review against another edition

4.0

I read the Giants series in the 90's... so it's been awhile. What I remember about the whole series is that it was well-written with a compelling plot and sound scientific speculation. It was written in the mid-70's, and it seems to be more akin to the mid-century sci-fi adventures than the heavier, darker, more political SF of today. It definitely isn't a teen-angst-filled "YA" novel, but it is an easy read for a teen to engage and work through.

Someday will I reread it? Probably, if my child/grandchild were to read it - I would be delighted to reread it too! I think I would enjoy it the second time through as well.

danielmbensen's review against another edition

4.0

A mummified body is found on the moon. It’s human, but carbon-dated to 50,000 years ago. So what gives? The book follows both the story of the scientists who unravel the mystery of Charlie the Moon Mummy, and the story of Charlie’s own life as it’s pieced together. The science fiction is mostly in that second part, but the first part has some real scientific process and just people being people.