Alfred Bester (1913–1987)

‪In the midst of an ongoing war between the inner planets and the outer satellites, Gulliver Foyle is shipwrecked in space for 170 days. When at last another ship picks up his distress signal and approaches, it pauses but then leaves without rescuing him. Foyle, a common Everyman, is enflamed by a rage that inspires him to tremendous feats and abilities, to transcend his simple, common self in a quest for revenge. How he transforms himself and what he transforms himself into makes for an interesting tale with an unexpected but satisfying end.‬… (meer)

Gosh, until I entered this, I thought I hadn't read this book in several decades, but it's been only 11 years. At any rate, it loses nothing from re-readings. I think this was at least the 4th time I've read it. It's an imaginative extravagance, with an unforgettable main character, built somewhat on the Count of Monte Cristo; it traverses the solar system of he 24th century with some great scenes. It's lost a bit since it was written: corporations are kind of family businesses, where the lead of the corp takes his name and title from the corporation. For instance, there's "Kodak of Kodak" and many others. It's notable that most of the corporations mentioned, such as Kodak, RCA Victor, and many others, barely lasted the 20th century, let alone the 24th. There's also some language that's unsettling -- people in books like this don't really call women "bitches" that much anymore. One other thing worth noting: there's more plot and action in this short (less than 300 pages) novel than in most of the huge things sold these days. I loved almost every minute reading this book, and I plan to read it again in less than 20 year.… (meer)

I'm uncertain about how to review this book. In many places it was brilliant. Bester, the author, is obviously looking back at the atomic attacks on Japan and is using atomic bombs in the book as the greatest enemy of the new and expanded dwelling places of mankind. His writing at times is excellent, fast-paced, and original. More than half a century later, a lot of the book is questionable. All the women are sirens, rape is a commonplace, and the racism throughout the book is terrible, both for the characters and the reader.

At the end of the book I was unsure what was going on. Foyle seems to have assumed Christ-like status. He is dying, possibly already dead, yet the viewers in the book are awaiting Foyle's awakening.

The book was very much ahead of its time. There is good reason that this book is still promoted as one of the great classics of science fiction. Yet it did not hold me. It was often lacklustre entertainment. I did not like it much but I found it powerful.… (meer)