corymojojojo's review against another edition
4.0
4.5. This is classic, pure hard sci-fi at its best. The book is basically one big science problem that Hoyle models in detail and shows you all his work on the way. The lack of pathos is more than excused by how straight up scientific this book is in a way that is accessible and fascinating (even for how dated the technology is). Hoyle was apparently a genius astrophysicist and it’s quite obvious from his writing. He threw a team of scientists in a room to solve the great mystery of the coming apocalypse, and we get to see everything they come up with and what it took to get their conclusions. This is a science-focused book and I loved it for staying true to that the whole way through. It even poses some great questions about our place in the universe that I imagine will stick with me.
garthranzz's review against another edition
3.0
Not the best of Hoyle's work but a good read nonetheless. A lot would probably have issue with the amount of science in this book, the processes we might now laugh at in the Internet age. But taken for when it was written and Hoyle's own standing in the scientific community it's a good story and worth a try.
bschase's review against another edition
challenging
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.5
rjnn's review against another edition
3.0
Interesting, mostly for how old it is. I think this is a 5 star novel to fans of understanding the evolution of the genre of sci-fi (it was so to me) but 3-star on its own merits.
I immensely enjoyed the 1960s Cambridge setting, given my entire childhood was fantasizing about bring a part of that, but I probably am a niche audience for that bit.
It's a very quick and easy read.
I immensely enjoyed the 1960s Cambridge setting, given my entire childhood was fantasizing about bring a part of that, but I probably am a niche audience for that bit.
It's a very quick and easy read.
dai_shan's review against another edition
hopeful
informative
mysterious
reflective
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? No
3.75
bundy23's review against another edition
5.0
I wonder why Apocalypse fiction was so much better from this era through to the 80's than it is nowadays? Maybe we need the threat of Nuclear War to spark some better modern writing... Anyway, I'm sure this form of "hard" sci-fi is not for everyone but I powered through it in less than an afternoon and loved almost every second of it.
eithe's review against another edition
informative
mysterious
reflective
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
5.0
sherif31415's review against another edition
adventurous
informative
inspiring
mysterious
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? N/A
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
5.0
thomcat's review against another edition
4.0
A massive black cloud approaches the solar system, with calculations and estimations laid out as part of the text. The first 2/3 is a high realism disaster novel, between boiling layers of atmosphere and massive temperature drop from lack of sunshine.
The whole novel reads like a screenplay, though I suspect Hollywood would remove the calculus. This ensemble piece doesn't have a main character, though cold-hearted scientist Professor Kingsley (apparently modeled after the author) comes close. The primary setting of Nortonstowe has a very British feel.
A very enjoyable book.
The whole novel reads like a screenplay, though I suspect Hollywood would remove the calculus. This ensemble piece doesn't have a main character, though cold-hearted scientist Professor Kingsley (apparently modeled after the author) comes close. The primary setting of Nortonstowe has a very British feel.
A very enjoyable book.