Fallen Angels

Rating:
Summary: The premise is different and the story line involving
Review: Larry Niven, et.al.'s Fallen Angels tells of two marooned astronauts who find themselves stranded on a much-changed Earth and hunted by a US government convinced of the evils of technology. The premise is different and the story line involving, adding romance and strong characterization to hard science.

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Summary: Fandom against modern day luddites
Review: Modern day luddites obsessed with political correctness and,say it quietly, power have led to the world falling fast intobarbarism and ironically environmental disaster. The books plot is a chance to revel in SF fandom, even if like me you're a newcomer and deliver more than a few blows to the self righteous "green" movement. For me though the most intriguing part though is the Phoenix, could it exist if so could Gary or Ann Hudson mail me so we can build it NOW. If you don't know what the Phoenix is read the book and enjoy the escapism. A good read and more.

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Summary: Entertaining and frightening look at anti-technologists
Review: Niven and Pournelle have a knack for creating believable, deep characters, and this book has several. The premise of a current ice age held at bay only by industrial pollution is intriguing and carries considerable scientific weight. Not being in the thick of sci-fi fandom, I had a bit of trouble with some of the trivia, but the overall story was tremendously enjoyable. TDR

Rating:
Summary: Highly reccomended
Review: Not being a member of "fandom", I can truly say that this book was a joy to read. Granted, I didn't get all the in-ref's, however I loved the book. All the political correctness and oh-too real references today's world actually scare you.

Rating:
Summary: Much better than the premise would lead you to believe...
Review: Ok, the thought of outlaw astronauts being hidden from the government by sci-fi fans just sounds silly. Let's just get that out in the open right now. Despite this, the book works. I rated it as a five, but I'm part of the target audience for the book. It plays heavily on the "Fen vs. Mundanes" feelings that is common amongst those of us who've been picked on for being sci-fi fans. It tends to run a little heavy on tyhe fannish slang, but is still readable despite that. Like the astronauts on the run, the reader will pick up on the meanings as they go along. All in all, a good read, especially if you're a hardcore sci-fi fan.

Rating:
Summary: The ultimate tribute to SciFi fandom!
Review: OK, time has made this book partialy obsolete. Global warming is an established fact - a new ice-age won't come (I suspect the authors weren't serious about that one)! On the other hand: the PC crowd and the technophobes more than ever would like to regulate to death any progress and anyone who not agrees with them. So this part, the struggle for one's freedom to progress, is still valid. But in the world pictured here this is not so easy anymore. However there is a resistance movement at large - the science-fiction fans ...

Rating:
Summary: Way better than I expected
Review: Over the years we've come to expect great things from Niven/Pournelle collaborations, their track record has been so good that you can't help but want more from each sucessive novel. But for some reason I had low expectations for this, the concept just didn't seem that interesting . . . in a nutshell two astronauts crashland into the middle of a future US where most technology has been outlawed in favor of an extremist form of environmentalism . . . without reading it my first reaction was "yawn" and I settled down to plug away at it and get it over with. Little did I know. This has to be one of the most entertaining SF experiences I've read in recent years . . . the authors (I'm not sure what Michael Flynn added to the affair, being that I'm not up on his work . . . but heck he could have just sat there and smiled for all I care) throw in all sorts of interesting stuff . . . their take on the environmentally friendly United States is both mildly amusing and utterly chilling, a world where science is seen as just another form of magic rammed down everyone's throat by "white, heterosexual males" (hey!) and superstition and "conservation" are the order of the day. You sit there and chuckle about the characters are acting so silly . . . until you go read the newspaper and hear the latest reaction to the latest research. It's scary. For kicks they throw in an upcoming Ice Age and blame it on the efforts to halt global warming and that adds a nice backdrop to the whole affair. But the cap to the already fine novel is the portrayal of the SF fan community . . . with science all but outlawed and SF seen as the "wrong" kind of reading, fans have to hold conventions in secret, pretend to have "mundane" jobs and basically go underground . . . the authors show the community as not only a closely knit group of utterly unique individuals who aren't nerds that sit around discussing which Star Trek captain was the greatest, but as resourceful and quick thinking. Apparently some of the characters are based on real people and this is probably SF's greatest love letter to the fans that make it all worthwhile, the authors definitely feel an affection for these people. The plot moves swiftly and turns in all the right places, even in the darkest hour everyone seems to be having a fine time and when you're done you'll fine you have little to complain about. So ignore the garish cover and lackluster writeup on the back cover, just get it and dive in, if you consider yourself in any way a "true" SF fan, you need to read this.

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Summary: A near future prophesy that will send chills down your spine
Review: The "Greens" have won and now control the world. Technology is the enemy of the people and is responsible for all the problems of the world. Burning fossil fuels is banned innovation is stopped and the world economy collapses. A major climatic change spurred by the lack of particulate matter in the atmosphere finds the world plunged into a new ice age. Technophiles are the underground and they have their heroes. Miles above the planet the last of the astronauts live isolated from the rest of humanity, imprisoned in a metal can once known as the international space station. When they send one of their ramscoops to collect vital nitrogen from the Earth's atmosphere it is shot down. Thus begins a frantic rescue mission to save the downed "fallen angel" from the frigid cold and the ravages of gravity on his frail space born body. I was fascinated by the premises of this book. I couldn't help but wonder if this is the inevitable conclusion of the extreme environmentalist movement. It's clear Niven/Pournelle place the blame for the demise of technology as much with the scientists and politicians as it did with the Greens themselves. The authors describes in great detail the consequences of stopping the technology train in its tracks. The effect on the world and humanity is truly devastating and can be likened to jumping from a car as it speeds down the interstate. This book should be required reading for all would be politicians, scientists and especially those budding environmentalists who may think the are doing the world a favor by opposing the high tech world we live in. It was a quick read, I loved it.

Rating:
Summary: A bit tedious, but fun.
Review: The story will keep you intrigued, but it does drag in spots. Two space station residents are shot down as they are "scooping" nitrogen from Earth's atmosphere. From there, it's a race to save them -- and then return them to where they came! The good guys are old sci-fi fans, whose ways (most of 'em) are now illegal. Say what? Illegal? Yep -- b/c of the Green Parties that now are in power in most governments. If nothing else, this novel serves as a warning as to what'll happen if lefty radicals ever get their way. (As one reviewer pointed out, global warming is a fact, but the extent to which *man* plays a role in it is far from established. And who says a new Ice Age won't come? I don't think he read this novel very carefully.) Will the "Angels" (the fallen astronauts) make it back to space? If most technology is now suppressed, how *can* they? Hooo-boy!

Rating:
Summary: A love letter to the fans, those hardcore book-buyers
Review: This book didn't get a good reception critically when it came out, mostly because the critics didn't like the "SF Fandom _rules,_ the mundane world _drools_" subtext. I found it a bit over-the-top myself, as I don't like being bludgeoned over the head with a Message in my fiction, even one that I agree with...but I liked the book. A lot of people have complained that this book paints fans in too flattering of a light. Granted, but they're supposed to be the heroes, and I've often wondered: Why is it that someone who's a stone fanatic about, forex, professional football-watching, is considered perfectly normal, no matter how much this hobby distorts his life---while SF fans are considered geeks and nerds?