Jupiter

Rating:
Summary: Science fiction in the classic style
Review: Although he has been around for a while and I have read a lot of science fiction, this is only the second Ben Bova novel I have read, the first being one of his stories for teenagers. What I found with Jupiter is that Bova is a decent author, well-deserving of his longetivity in the genre.

Bova's late 21st Century Earth is an unpleasant place dominated by the New Morality, a futuristic spin-off of the Moral Majority. Protagonist Grant Archer is a religious man who is used as a pawn of the New Morality in its efforts to spy on the Jovian explorers. Archer is sent to a space station above Jupiter and quickly learns there are mysterious goings-on, and as the story develops, he gets more and more involved with these happenings himself, until finally he must go on a high-risk exploration of the big planet itself.

I say that this novel is in the classic style of science fiction because it is reminiscent of such sci-fi giants as Asimov and Clarke. Science and scientific exploration are the most important things, and plot and character are next on the list. Nonetheless, although his characters are not all that well developed, they are not one-dimensional. Archer, in particular, is a conflicted individual, torn between the New Morality who he often agrees with and offers his only chance to go home to his wife and his own feelings that the Jovian explorers are doing a necessary thing.

I recommend this book for fans of hard science fiction, in particular, fans of classic hard science fiction. This book fits well into this genre and will not disappoint those readers.

Rating:
Summary: Could this book be any MORE repetitive?
Review: Be prepared to be hit over the head again and again by the same ideas again and again through this entire book again and again.

How many times must we read the word "baleful" or "sardonic". I wouldn't be surprised if the word "baleful" appears in this book 30 times. How many times must we be reminded that the crew is in discomfort on the deep mission. Yes... we know... let's move on.

This book could have EASILY been edited to half its size without eliminating anything of importance.

Rating:
Summary: Readable but not very imaginative.
Review: Ben Bova has been around a long time, has written a lot of novels, and when he writes a novel it is bound to be a decent read. That is what this book is: a decent read for those of us who enjoy "hard" science fiction.
Candidly, this book is not in the same league as Bova's "Mars" or even "Moonrise" or "Moonwar." Although the story takes place almost entirely aboard a space station orbiting Jupiter, one would never know it. They might as well have been at an Antarctic research station--few of the special issues that surely would exist in such an envirnonment ever come out. The book takes a crack at being imaginative by featuring some odd aliens: a genetically modified (more intelligent) gorilla, and whale-like intelligent Jovians. It doesn't work. The ape reminded me of my three year old son except with gorilla strength, and the Jovians act just like human beings. Not at all compelling, convincing, or interesting. Well, that's my opinion, anyway.

Nor did I find the politics of the novel to be particularly interesting. In effect, the novel is set in a world where a caricature of the present American so-called "religious right" is in full control in both the future USA and other countries. Just as you'd expect, these folks (the "New Morality") are narrow-minded characters who you would not want to have a beer with. They are against science and progress because, well, they are narrow-minded characters. OK, so we know that Bova doesn't like the "religious right." We find that out in the first ten or so pages, which essentially constitute a recital as to how awful the "New Morality" is. The "New Morality" then basically drops out of the novel into the distant background, basically as a bunch of puritans who don't want the folks on the space station to explore Jupiter and find out that it contains life and maybe intelligent Jovians. They don't want people to know that there are intelligent aliens because, well, the New Morality is comprised of narrow minded characters. Ho hum.

Basically, like all of Bova's books that I have ever read (most of them) Bova paints a depressing view of the future--one in which individual liberty is very limited, and anything resembling a Jeffersonian view of freedom is a thing of the past. In virtually all of Bova's books he postulates a future in which the authorities can pretty do whatever they like to whomever they like, and generally this is pretty ugly. That is certainly the case in this book--you'll find this recurrent theme throughout. Just like in Bova's "Mars" "Moonrise" "Moonwar" and I imagine the others.

Bova's prose is good. As usual, his character development is serviceable, but none of the characters are compelling, and all are quite forgettable. Nevertheless, this is a readable book; good for an afternoon at the beach or whatnot.

Rating:
Summary: Readable but not very imaginative.
Review: Ben Bova has been around a long time, has written a lot of novels, and when he writes a novel it is bound to be a decent read. That is what this book is: a decent read for those of us who enjoy "hard" science fiction.
Candidly, this book is not in the same league as Bova's "Mars" or even "Moonrise" or "Moonwar." Although the story takes place almost entirely aboard a space station orbiting Jupiter, one would never know it. They might as well have been at an Antarctic research station--few of the special issues that surely would exist in such an envirnonment ever come out. The book takes a crack at being imaginative by featuring some odd aliens: a genetically modified (more intelligent) gorilla, and whale-like intelligent Jovians. It doesn't work. The ape reminded me of my three year old son except with gorilla strength, and the Jovians act just like human beings. Not at all compelling, convincing, or interesting. Well, that's my opinion, anyway.

Nor did I find the politics of the novel to be particularly interesting. In effect, the novel is set in a world where a caricature of the present American so-called "religious right" is in full control in both the future USA and other countries. Just as you'd expect, these folks (the "New Morality") are narrow-minded characters who you would not want to have a beer with. They are against science and progress because, well, they are narrow-minded characters. OK, so we know that Bova doesn't like the "religious right." We find that out in the first ten or so pages, which essentially constitute a recital as to how awful the "New Morality" is. The "New Morality" then basically drops out of the novel into the distant background, basically as a bunch of puritans who don't want the folks on the space station to explore Jupiter and find out that it contains life and maybe intelligent Jovians. They don't want people to know that there are intelligent aliens because, well, the New Morality is comprised of narrow minded characters. Ho hum.

Basically, like all of Bova's books that I have ever read (most of them) Bova paints a depressing view of the future--one in which individual liberty is very limited, and anything resembling a Jeffersonian view of freedom is a thing of the past. In virtually all of Bova's books he postulates a future in which the authorities can pretty do whatever they like to whomever they like, and generally this is pretty ugly. That is certainly the case in this book--you'll find this recurrent theme throughout. Just like in Bova's "Mars" "Moonrise" "Moonwar" and I imagine the others.

Bova's prose is good. As usual, his character development is serviceable, but none of the characters are compelling, and all are quite forgettable. Nevertheless, this is a readable book; good for an afternoon at the beach or whatnot.

Rating:
Summary: I really liked this one. . .
Review: I enjoyed the Mars books; I enjoyed the Moonbase books; I HATED Venus; and it was with a question of whether "Jupiter" would be more like the former than the latter that I cautiously decided to try this book.

I'm very glad that I did so! Bova, as he as occasionally done before, actually has a thoughtful, religious major character, while at the same time, railing against the worst sorts of religious fundamentalism. This type of balance is difficult to achieve.

I enjoyed the (somewhat predictable) plot and the interesting descriptions of what sort of a manned ship could actually penetrate deep into the Jovian clouds, and the descriptions of the sort of life which might exist under those circumstances.

This book was worth my time.

Recommended.

Rating:
Summary: I really liked this one. . .
Review: I enjoyed the Mars books; I enjoyed the Moonbase books; I HATED Venus; and it was with a question of whether "Jupiter" would be more like the former than the latter that I cautiously decided to try this book.

I'm very glad that I did so! Bova, as he as occasionally done before, actually has a thoughtful, religious major character, while at the same time, railing against the worst sorts of religious fundamentalism. This type of balance is difficult to achieve.

I enjoyed the (somewhat predictable) plot and the interesting descriptions of what sort of a manned ship could actually penetrate deep into the Jovian clouds, and the descriptions of the sort of life which might exist under those circumstances.

This book was worth my time.

Recommended.

Rating:
Summary: A Fascinating Look at the King of Our Solar System
Review: Jupiter was one of my first forays into the works of Ben Bova. While not the best author around, Bova does some things very well.

The main character, Grant Archer just graduated from college and is preparing for mandatory public service. However, he recently got married and was expecting to serve his time on the Moon. Instead, religious zealots, who are in control of governments on Earth, send him out to Jupiter to spy on the scientists here. Now, my main problem with this is how little sense it makes. However, the one thing I've learned from this is that you do NOT read a Ben Bova book for superior characterization. You do NOT read a Ben Bova book for a suspenseful plot. The characters are shallow, their motives simple. The plot is transparent and quite cliche... With that being said, what Bova DOES do well is give us a fascinating glimpse of our solar system and the possibilities therein. Bova gives us a mostly scientific look at Jupiter, and even slips in some fairly believable alien life.

Some may criticize Bova's shortcomings, but the bottom line is, I liked this book. If you are looking for deep characters or an awesome plot, look elsewhere: Bova is not the author for you. But if you would like a fast-paced romp through Jupiter's atmosphere and into the ocean below, this is your cup of tea. Bova keeps the pages turning, simply by making you want to know more and more about Jupiter.

Rating:
Summary: I was moderately impressed by Jupiter, my first Bova book
Review: Quick plot summary. Grant is a recent college graduate in the not to distant future (maybe one or two hundred years). Religious fanatacism has gained a large influence on Earth through the "New Morality." The government also requires two years of community service from its citizens after college. For Grant's community service, the New Morality sends Grant to a space station orbiting Jupiter to spy on their research of extraterrestrial life. Grant encounters an "intellecually altered" gorilla and gets involved in a top secret deep sea mission.

Jupiter is an interesting read but the ending is slightly unimaginative and a little idealistic. I could have done without the religious overtones. They were necessary for the plot but Bova really laid the religion on heavy at the end. Having said that, the end was by no means bad and the rest of the book was very good. The ideas presented on non-human intelligent life were interesting.

If you don't mind religious influence in a science fiction book, Jupiter is a good, simple (but not elementary) read.

Rating:
Summary: I was moderately impressed by Jupiter, my first Bova book
Review: Quick plot summary. Grant is a recent college graduate in the not to distant future (maybe one or two hundred years). Religious fanatacism has gained a large influence on Earth through the "New Morality." The government also requires two years of community service from its citizens after college. For Grant's community service, the New Morality sends Grant to a space station orbiting Jupiter to spy on their research of extraterrestrial life. Grant encounters an "intellecually altered" gorilla and gets involved in a top secret deep sea mission.

Jupiter is an interesting read but the ending is slightly unimaginative and a little idealistic. I could have done without the religious overtones. They were necessary for the plot but Bova really laid the religion on heavy at the end. Having said that, the end was by no means bad and the rest of the book was very good. The ideas presented on non-human intelligent life were interesting.

If you don't mind religious influence in a science fiction book, Jupiter is a good, simple (but not elementary) read.

Rating:
Summary: Cheesy but occasionally exciting
Review: Really unconvincing, stereotype characters with painfully corny dialogue. Solid, tense pacing though.