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Summary: The most realistic book about the end of the world
Review: This book is like a hard-hitting, non-supernatural version of Stephen King's "The Stand." In it, the authors begin with the question "what if the Earth were hit by a fairly large comet?" What would happen? The strike portrayed here is somewhere between the Tunguska, Siberia meteor strike of 1908, and the K-t boundary disaster that probably is responsible for wiping out the dinosaurs. It is nearer in severity to the dinosaur-extinguishing event, but not AS bad. Still, the disaster portrayed here is awful enough to completely destroy Europe, the Eastern Seaboard of the U.S., coastlines worldwide, and much of the rest of the world. The authors clearly spent some serious time thinking about all the possible ramifications of this catastrophe. This book goes a long way beyond the stereotypical apocalypse scenario of "Well, we stocked the bomb shelter with enough canned goods to last for decades, but -- who was supposed to pack the can opener?!? We forgot!! Oh noooo!" Niven and Pournelle painstakingly gamed out military, agricultural, social, psychological, and medical issues, among other problems. It's all realistic, too. Beyond the horror implicit in the basic premise, no extraneous horrific elements (such as Randall Flagg from "The Stand") are brought in. They aren't needed. A lot of people have commented that there is some serious racism in here. They may be correct, but I'm not sure. I think it's important to be cautious about accusing someone of racism. There is a group of people who turn to ritualized cannibalism after the comet hits, when they are on the verge of famine, and many members of this group are African-american. Not all of them, however -- there was also a battalion of soldiers, of mixed race, who were part of that group. In fact, the guy that incites them to cannibalism is supposed to be white, I think. It seems to me that the authors just wanted to have a group of people who went crazy, and turned to cannibalism. There were two groups the authors used for this dramatic purpose, and one of the groups happened to be radical black urban guerillas -- don't forget, this was written in the mid-70s. It seemed to me that they could just have easily have used any other fringe group -- take your pick. Also, don't forget, there are several sympathetic black characters among the "good guys." My favorite part is the section where Dan Forester, the astrophysicist, tries to decide what books he should try to save, books with which to rebuild civilization. Think about that! What a conundrum. I would give a lot to have been a fly on the wall during the conversations between Jerry Pournelle and Larry Niven that gave rise to this book. Just terrific, tremendous stuff. Two thumbs up.
Rating: 
Summary: Fantastic (despite ending)
Review: Have to join the group of voices here stating that this is an excellent "end-of-the-world" tale. The characters are fairly well developed and the action is well paced. I especially liked the chapter of "snapshots" of what happened when the comet hit and the italized asides throughout the book that described geographical and political results of the impact. These details are what draws one into the story and helps you visualize the magnitude and scope of such a disaster. (While not profound, I first read this book when I was in high school and one of the images that had stuck in my mind for over 20 years was that of Gil trying to ride out the tidal wave that hit Los Angeles.) In fact it was that tease of a memory that made me look in the bookstores for Lucifer's Hammer so I could re-read it again. I would have rated the book 5 stars exept for the last 3 pages. It really feels like after building up to a climax that Niven and Pournelle had never really agreed on who was going to write the conclusion.....and the book ends quite abruptly with a really unsatisfactory summary. I would have preferred that they added an additional 50 pages to flesh out was what discussed in these 3 pages (......maybe some year a sequel?) All in all, despite my personal complaint about the ending, a good read that I would highly recommend.
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Summary: A brilliant tale of desperation and hope. What a book!
Review: I just finished "Lucifer's Hammer," and, well, I'm impressed! Larry Niven and Jerry Pournelle have done a wonderful job in weaving a tale of excitement, fear, devastation, fear, desperation, and hope. This is 5-star sci-fi all the way! If all you read is the first 100 pages, however, you probably won't agree with that. You see, the first part of the book is a bit slow in getting moving, but that's because the authors introduce a whole string of characters that interact with one another as the story and the action unfolds. And once the action starts, it doesn't stop. In fact, it makes you want to store some food, some water, some other things...and get ready for what COULD happen. As I started reading this book I thought to myself, this book has many similarities with the movie "Deep Impact." Was I ever wrong with that assumption! This book goes way beyond "Deep Impact." It goes beyond it in that this book is not so much about events surrounding a comet-earth collision as it is about the aftermath, and how people do or do not cope with that kind of calamity. Imagine this...world-wide cataclysmic events wipe out the major governments on the planet -- national, state, and local governments collapse, and people are left to fend for themselves. What will they do for food, shelter, personal safety, information, etc.? It's a whole new ballgame out there! The kinds of challenges described in the book bring out the best in some people, the worst in others, and trapped in the middle of everything that's happening are the characters you'll come to know quite well. The characters are, for the most part, believable, the plot development is rivetting, and the conclusion is satisfying. Do good guys always finish first? Do they even survive? Read "Lucifer's Hammer" and find out -- if you dare... The authors really did their homework on this one. 5+ stars all the way for feasible, believable sci-fi. Good luck out there... Alan Holyoak
Rating:
Summary: Awesome!
Review: Still one of the best Sci-Fi/Adventure stories around. Well written. If you're into giant rocks hitting the Earth, this is the book for you! I only wish it was longer, or a sequel was made. Gripping, read it one sitting type book.
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Summary: The world ends with a bang, and not a whisper, after all
Review: For some reason, I (as well as other sci-fi fans) have an affinity for end-of-the-world type sci-fi stories, after all, what could be more dramatic than the whole world coming to an end? The subject also seems to draw some of the field's best writers, perhaps because what could give you more power as a writer than creating universal conflagration, and blowing up the earth itself? This theme has been the subject of movies from the 50's through the 70's as well as things like Twilight Zone and Outer Limits episodes, not to mention the two recent Hollywood blockbusters with the asteroid strikes. When I was a kid, I read Phillip Wylie's When World's Collide, which was made into a classic 50's movie, and After World's Collide, both great examples of the genre. Then there were the nuclear holocaust-type novels, exemplied by Neville Shute's On the Beach and Stephen Minot's Chill of Dusk. Finally, there are the ones where deadly viruses or other microbes get out of control, such as in Stanislaw Lem's Memoirs Found in a Bathtub and George R. Stewart's Earth Abides, Michael Crichton's The Andromeda Strain, and so on. So if you enjoyed Lucifer's Hammer, you might also enjoy these books too. Lucifer's Hammer is probably the greatest example of this important category of sci-fi tale. So if you have an interest in this sort of story, this is no better place to start than with this book.
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Summary: Why isn't THIS book a movie?
Review: I'm 52 and I first started reading this book in 1984. Since that time I have re-read it many times. when ever I find a friend who hasn't read it I'd buy a copy at a used paperback store and give the copy to them. Lately I have been unable to find it anywhere. Now to see that it has been re-released I will be buying 2 copies, one to loan, and one to keep. This is the best "end-of-civilization" book ever written. It should be a primer for anyone trying to write anything called "Comet" or "Impact". Keep in mind, for those of you who haven't had the pleasure of reading this book yet, there are a lot of players in the drama and it takes a while to introduce them all. So give the book time. When it takes off though make sure you don't have any plans because you won't be able to put the book down. I mean really! Enjoy it. Read it again and again. It only gets better with time!
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Summary: Best "End-of-the-World" Story In Existence!
Review: Yeah, I know what you're thinking. "Another 'comet or asteroid threatens to hit the Earth story". True, but this one's different: it actually hits. And once it does, the suspense starts. Lucifer's Hammer is one good yarn, not only because of the suspense, but because of the believable characters and situations. True, it is science fiction (sort of), but the science (which there is actually little of, and not all of it flawless) takes an extreme backseat to the story itself. You don't have to be an SF fan to like Lucifer's Hammer. There are a lot of stories (not to mention movies) that have this same premise, but none are as good.
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Summary: One of the Best of the Genre, If not The Best
Review: Of all the book dealing with "THE END OF THE WORLD AS WE KNOW IT" These guys have hit upon the formula that give hope a say in the mix. Robert R. McCammon's " SWAN SONG " (an antecedent work) Draws upon "LUCIFERS HAMMER" and the King Work " THE STAND" heavily. But first there was this. I love McCammon's book, and King's; but the best , first groundwork was laid in the chapter and verse of " LUCIFERS HAMMER." The development of character is complete...brilliant.. The scenario is developed with an eye towards the ultimate conclusion. There is not a word wasted nor a picture left incomplete. As I read works of literature I often wonder who the writer knew or met and admired (or not) to draw his characters upon. More so here than most. The Science may not be flawless, there are gaps in rudimentary cosmology and physics- but fiction, science or otherwise - requires of the reader a "suspension of disbelief". This is a worthwhile read if only to see where the "Apocolypse Genre" began. I would much rather read "LUCIFER'S HAMMER" than watch "THE STAND" on television...shudder..... I had rather read "LUCIFER'S HAMMER" than read "THE STAND". And the hell of it is I like "THE STAND". I hope you will read this book and the other book(s) mentioned herein,. not because one leads to the other... but because they DON'T.
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Summary: Disaster at its finest
Review: After watching Deep Impact and Armageddon I was throughly disappointed with how Hollywood portrayed what would happen if doomsday was approaching. I recently read "Lucifer's Hammer" and I will have to say that this is one of the best books i've read in years. The characters are believable and you get the impression that you are actually there with them. The novel rivals Stephen King's "The Stand" and the "Left Behind" series of books that portray the end of the world. I highly recommend this novel.
Rating:
Summary: Simply the Best
Review: I have read Lucifer's Hammer 6 times. Soon to be 7. Every time it grabs me and doesn't let go. The characters are so real you feel you are looking over thier shoulders. It is "Simply the Best" book on the end of the world by far, from the tidal waves to the cannibalism. This story gives you a true idea what events might happen if such a catastrophy were to occur
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