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Summary: The Reluctant Astronaut
Review: I realize the above phrase may trivialize this novel's import, but the truth is that this story is narrated by a 25-year-old man suffering from pernicious anemia who is forced into a voyage to Earth's sister planet by his domineering, spiteful father. Van Humphries is not brave, he is not a pioneer by nature, he doesn't even have a clear vision of what he wants to do with his life. But he is tired of his father's iron fist, his father's ceaseless criticism, and so he voluntarily, tremulously embarks on a voyage that could very well kill him.
In short, a reluctant astronaut.
The reader will sympathize with any number of characters...and despise others. This is not an action-without-character-development sci-fi story. This a real story about people plagued by doubts and suspicions, who are looking for the truth, set against the backdrop of interplanetary exploration in the late 21st century. Van Humphries freely admits he's never been in love, he half-agrees with his father's disdain of himself (for he was sickly and weak from birth), and he rationalizes his fears and lack of ambition adroitly. But above all else, Van worships his brother, and he is determined to discover what killed him. For Van Humphries will be the second man to land on Venus--his brother was the first. And he never came back.
Ben Bova offers an excellent Venus 101, sharing elementary facts about the planet without condescension. Each scientific fact is well laid out, and each scientific speculation is presented in a believable context. You feel the 900-degree-heat of Venus' surface. You choke on its sulfuric atmosphere. You wonder if you've discovered Hell itself.
I recommend Ben Bova unreservedly; I remember his name from Omni Magazine (yes, I'm that old), but this is my first exposure to one of his novels. I intend to read more.
Rating: 
Summary: Attracts Non Science Fiction Readers
Review: I usually don't read science fiction, but the cover of this book caught my eye in the bookstore. For people who aren't readers of science fiction, this book is a good introduction to the genre. It is an excellent, can't-put-it-down read. The author describes everything so well that you can picture it in your mind. Because of this book, I've become a fan of Ben Bova and plan to purchase all of his books.
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Summary: Tom Swift It Ain't
Review: I wanted to enjoy this book more than I actually did.(Possible spoiler alert!) In truth I expected one of those 800-page monsters that touch on every conceivable detail and was very disappointed to find it basically a good corking read, but not necessarily about Venus specically. Indeed, the setting could have been a century before, with "Himalayas" or "North Pole" in place of Venus. Bova does include details about the second planet, and a stern warning on the Greenhouse effect; this is fine, yet much of this could have been altered with minimal effect on the plot. The actual plot is basic: Hated younger son Van competes with his power-hungery father's greatest rival in retriving the body of favorite son Alex from the shrouded inferno of Venus, in return for a ten-billion dollar prize. In process he strengthens and discovers the Truth About Who He Really Is, in a Hamletesque turn. It's not a bad idea in itself, Van narrates the story himself, giving more insight to his character. All the same, first-person (to me anyway) is not always the best way to tell a science fiction story. Bova doesn't mean to skimp on details, yet an interplanetary journey needs more pizzazz than just a super-expedition. Venus is not the Himalayas; what's wrong with some Tom Swift Gee-Whiz-WOW! once in a while?
Rating: 
Summary: Not one of Bova's best
Review: I'm surprised that people like this book as much as they did. I really liked _Mars_, reasonably liked _Return to Mars_, liked _Jupiter_, but I really really did not like _Venus_.Why? Somehow, nothing resonated for me. I found the characters boring, the dialog awful at times-- note especially the horrible exchange after Van tells his father that he will tell the media all of his secrets: --------------------------------------------
"You... you..." Martin sputtered. -------------------------------------------- I know that I'm not reading Bova for sparkling dialog and characterizations, but this really is sub-par. Even the descent into Venus just wasn't exciting. I often had trouble developing a mental picture of what was happening, something that was never a problem with _Mars_. Maybe it was Bova burnout? (I read _Mars_, _Return to Mars_, and _Venus_ over a 2 week period). Recommendation-- read _Venus_ last, or not at all. It isn't even that necessary for Bova's universe building.
Rating:
Summary: Not one of Bova's best
Review: I'm surprised that people like this book as much as they did. I really liked _Mars_, reasonably liked _Return to Mars_, liked _Jupiter_, but I really really did not like _Venus_. Why? Somehow, nothing resonated for me. I found the characters boring, the dialog awful at times-- note especially the horrible exchange after Van tells his father that he will tell the media all of his secrets: --------------------------------------------
"You... you..." Martin sputtered. -------------------------------------------- I know that I'm not reading Bova for sparkling dialog and characterizations, but this really is sub-par. Even the descent into Venus just wasn't exciting. I often had trouble developing a mental picture of what was happening, something that was never a problem with _Mars_. Maybe it was Bova burnout? (I read _Mars_, _Return to Mars_, and _Venus_ over a 2 week period). Recommendation-- read _Venus_ last, or not at all. It isn't even that necessary for Bova's universe building.
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Summary: "Venus" was a disappointment for this Bova fan
Review: I've got to preface this review by stating that I've really liked some of Bova's other works. The Kinsman saga typified what was best about his work: complex characters caught up in interesting situations set against a backdrop of mature science fiction. Sadly, "Venus" was NOT up to par. It lacked the richness that I had come to expect from Bova. Instead, "Venus" harkens back to the juvenile sci-fi fantasies of the 1950's. I'm not kidding. The characters were very two dimensional and the plot development was minimal while containing aspects that severely strained the suspension of disbelief. The technology and theoretical speculation were also relatively unimaginative and uninspired. In all aspects, this book was very shallow. Perhaps Bova was intentionally paying a homage to the literature that he grew up with as a child. Maybe he was "phoning this one in" to satisfy some kind of contractual obligation with his publisher. Whatever the case, I hope "Venus" was an anomaly.
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Summary: Makes you really think about being there
Review: I've never considered Ben Bova to be the equal of Clarke and Asimov, but now that I am actually reading his works, I am strongly reconsidering that notion. He certainly writes a better tale that Asimov (although I guess I've always preferring Asimov's short stories and non-fiction anyway), and manages to finish his stories better than Clarke. I picked out Venus because the cover caught my eye and I'm glad I gave it a read. Bova writes for the most part in what I call "believable sci-fi". Oh sure, there are some items here that are definately not grounded in reality (sorry, no spoilers), but most of the book makes me think about local space travel and Venus the way that they probably really exist. Venus is a nasty hot place, we all know that, but to really explore in depth the degree of nastiness is thrilling. Although Venus has a rock surface like our own, it isn't as simple as just landing there, climbing out and enduring the hot temperatures. There are other factors to consider and that's what I enjoyed as well. As far as the actual plot and story, there really isn't anything in here I haven't seen before, but that doesn't mean it isn't enjoyable. I guess you have a pretty good idea how things will all work out eventually, but enjoying the ride to get there and learning some things about our sister planet makes this a very fun read.
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Summary: The best novel on Venusian exploration ever written...,
Review: In terms of readability and the skill in employing credible scientific facts, I found Venus better than Robinson's Mars Trilogy, Herbert's Dune series, and even Asimov's Foundation series Although some of the plots are predictable, its rate of screams/page is enough to make your hands sweat to effectively mutilate the book's beautiful cover. In addition, this is one of a few books written in first-person narrative, which I found pretty pleasurable, as if reading a veteran explorer's diary. Plus, you get informed about some of the most discussed speculations in the fields of science. The following are among a few: 1. Green house effects on both Venus and Earth 2. A complete walk-through of the Venusian atmosphere and how to design, build, and navigate your spacecraft through it. 3. The search for extra-planetary life. There is a great deal more to this novel; you'll be surprised at how much the 400-pages of text will add to your reservoir of knowledge
Rating:
Summary: Boring, predictable Bova cookie-cutter plot
Review: The plot of Venus is very predictable. The Characters are all paper-thin and even the descriptions of Venus and the science of being there is nothing better than what can be found in a book that focuses on planetary astronomy. If you want to read Bova's Tour 0f the Solar System series, then Venus is a required read. If you are looking for Hard SF that will make you think, go read Stephen Baxter, Gregory Benford or Greg Bear. This book will disappoint.
Rating:
Summary: Boring, predictable Bova cookie-cutter plot
Review: The plot of Venus is very predictable. The Characters are all paper-thin and even the descriptions of Venus and the science of being there is nothing better than what can be found in a book that focuses on planetary astronomy. If you want to read Bova's Tour 0f the Solar System series, then Venus is a required read. If you are looking for Hard SF that will make you think, go read Stephen Baxter, Gregory Benford or Greg Bear. This book will disappoint.
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