Rating: 
Summary: It's not bad, but it's not Varley.
Review: I've read a lot of Varley's older work, and while this is set in one of his "universes", the tone is very different, very much more mass-market. One of the strong points of his previous stories is that along with the changes in technology there were significant changes in cultural views. For example, he had one of his characters compare the validity of fatherhood with that of the divine right of kings, showing how alien his humans are in some ways. But in _Steel Beach_, the characters might as well have been transplanted from down the street, and this makes the stories plebeian. All in all, it's not terrible, but it just isn't Varley. I recommend that you pass on this and go for his older, more original writings
Rating: 
Summary: Disappointing
Review: Interesting but ultimately disappointing science-fiction book. A colony on the Moon, an all-powerful central computer gone mad, medical advances that can handle a decapitation, routine sex changes - all very diverting, but ultimately one gets the impression that every time the plot sags a little, the author simply introduces a new plot element, unconnected to the story so far, to keep it going.
Rating: 
Summary: Biosphere meets Political Satire
Review: John Varley uses this book as yet another chance to poke fun at the "modern" society. Many references are made to pop culture. These references give you a good look at "us" from another side and give the reader a chance to laugh about the human condition.Parts of the story seem rather created. The story follows Hildy, a reporter, through his life and his relationship in this new brave new world. The computer runs the society, suicide is common, and violence is normal. People live 300+ years in the Heinlein tradition but they are finding life borring an un-fulfilled. In order to compensate their boredom they have sex changes at the drop of a hat and play at old earth "disney's" such as Texas in which the habvitants liove the pioneer life. You become very caught up in Hildy's life, especially after the central computer reveals that it is suicidal. A great laugh and a new persepective on the human race intertwined with a catching story.
Rating: 
Summary: Weird and wonderful
Review: More than one of my friends has picked up "Steel Beach" on my recommendation, soon after asked me what on Earth I was thinking, and then soon after that told me it was one of the best books they've ever read. Some people may initially find John Varley a challenging writer, if only because he doesn't flinch at thinking about how sexual mores will change along with science fiction staples as bio-engineering, space colonies and artificial intelligence. As a result, compared to most science fiction, "Steel Beach" initially feels as though it's obsessed with sex, although it's no more so than modern society's sexual obsessions projected forward over the centuries. Once one gets beyond the discussions of future sexuality that would raise even Hugh Hefner's eyebrows, "Steel Beach" turns out to be about much more. There's a discussion of the role of a free press, celebrity-as-journalist, libertarianism, the role of ambition in human history and, once again, the relationship between God and man. While not a short novel, "Steel Beach" feels like one, as Varley sends protagonist Hildy Johnson (look up the name on IMDB.com if you don't already get the joke) on a wild roller coaster ride that works both as a straight story and serves to make the thematic medicine go down smoother than smooth: "Steel Beach" never feels like Varley's got a Point To Make. Ultimately, the book is a wonderful showcase for Varley's Eight Worlds setting -- aliens who sympathize with whales and dolphins have kicked humanity off the planet, almost exterminating them in the process -- and is a big wet kiss to Robert Heinlein's science fiction and worldview. A rollicking good read, equal to his Gaean Trilogy, and only excelled by them in that we (so far) have only seen one book's worth of character development with Hildy, as opposed to the full arc in "Titan," "Wizard" and "Demon." A must-buy for Varley fans and fans of Robert Heinlein.
Rating:
Summary: A brilliant novel in a Heinleinian future
Review: One of the best hard-science fiction novels of all time, one that does something most of that genre fails to do: tell a story about human beings. Hildy Johnson and his/her world is involving, recongnizable without being mundane, and the story is thus all the more exciting. Moreso than even the world of Varley's "Titan"/"Wizard"/"Demon" trilogy, this is a world I'd like to visit. While Varley has his fetishes -- freaky future sex and comparing man's relationship to God with man's relationship with computers and alien entities -- he's the solid, mature, subtle writer Heinlein could only be in flashes. A great read. Buy, read, share.
Rating:
Summary: Excellent tale of the not-so-far-off future...
Review: One of Varley's finest novels. The book plays and counterplays the lives of the a humanity that has been expelled from Earth..
Rating:
Summary: Some Interesting ideas, but...
Review: Overall it was an effort to finish reading because I repeatedly had little sense of direction for the novel. Characters come and go and the main character Hildy often does things, such as change sexes, that only seem like gimmicks. Many times he skips around to an overindulgent and annoying extent. I didn't find him overly sympathetic or interesting. However, It is interesting to think that people and even a supercomputer could become depressed as life becomes too easy as everything is taken care of down to morning breath. This is the only Varley book I've read to date. I get the sense from the way many chapters read like episodes, he may be a better short story writer.
Rating:
Summary: The "STONE GANG" visit STEEL BEACH.
Review: So Varley likes Heinlein, I like Heinlein too. I was wonderfully surprised, after finishing Mr. Varleys' "The Ophiuchi Hotline", I found "Steel Beach" to be lightyears (sorry) above the former. It is a ripping tale, quite involved and perhaps a little rambling but with some wonderful "gender bender" insights and a plethera of wit, and humor. As an R.A.H. fan, I loved the references to Hazel Stone and our Lord M.V. Smith and realized that, after due reflection, this one isn't going back to the library.
Rating:
Summary: a mess
Review: Steel Beach appears to have been written by the novel's central computer - schizoprhenic, derivative, dumbed down to please the Dull Normal audience, and an unholy mix of styles from William Gibson to Harry Harrison to, well, John Varley. The last 100 pages are particularly dreadful. A tough editor could have made a pretty good book out of this, but as it is, it reads like it was ghost written by the West Texas John Varley Fan Club and Suvivalist cult. It's a shame, since some of his short stories are really good. There must be some law of 'classic' sci-fi that says short is better. Bottom line: Bad jambalaya.
Rating:
Summary: Superb, true hard core SF as it was meant to be..
Review: Superb, true hard core SF as it was meant to be. I've heard that his earlier writings were more indepth as far as social SF, but this is excellent across the board. I started Varley with this and would recommend it as a first
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