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Summary: One of the greatest books I've ever read!
Review: I read this book in the early 60's. I promised myself I would never forget the title so as to read it again as soon as I found a copy. I'm still waiting . I hope it will be available soon and recommend it to all who like interesting books, not just Science Fiction!
Rating:
Summary: One of the greatest books I've ever read!
Review: I read this book in the early 60's. I promised myself I would never forget the title so as to read it again as soon as I found a copy. I'm still waiting . I hope it will be available soon and recommend it to all who like interesting books, not just Science Fiction!
Rating:
Summary: Amazingly gripping and interesting
Review: I read this book when I was eleven or so and have spent the rest of my reading life in search of something that fascinated me more. Tolkien's was the only fiction that may have done so, but it is, of course, nothing like Wasp. WASP is a short, simply written book, but it has some quality that makes people mad for it. I think it is the sardonic omniscient voice that adds so much to the flavor of WASP: the voice of the Author himself. A new edition was published not long ago that was completely unabridged. I felt the slightly abridged version read better (It's always good to cut out the fancy talk.). But I may just be used to the same slightly shorter edition most people have read. If you want a guaranteed fascinating read (and be swept away on wings of reading enjoyment!), buy this book now. Be forewarned, however, that some might say it kind of glorifies terrorism.
Rating:
Summary: THIS ONE IS WORTH READING AND KEEPING
Review: I read WASP years and years ago. Bought a copy and every so often I reread it. It is a simple book, simply written but I do feel it is one of the best SiFi books to come along in the past 30 years. Sometimes simple is simply the best. The entire book can easly be read in one setting and it is a delight. I do hope that the next generation of readers discover this one as they will be missing something quite delightful if they don't.
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Summary: Bond...space Bond
Review: Really, this underrated classic is more of a spy story than sci-fi. It deals with Earth having to fight a protracted interstellar war with a humanoid civilization in the Sirian system. Something has to be done to break this near-stalemate, so ne'er-do-well James Mowry gets drafted because he is smaller than the average human and speaks fluent Sirian. The idea is that Mowry do some sabotage and psychological warfare on a Sirian planet. Mowry is really no urbane Bond type--he hangs out in urban areas with a bunch of Bogart/ Cagney hood types--but he manages to use this bunch of hard cases who don't give a damn about patriotism one way or the other as muscle. It's too bad this book is out of print--I've had my Dell edition for almost 40 years.
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Summary: Pacific War transferred to a galactic stage
Review: Since I first read it (and Russell's other brilliant books such as Men, Martians and Machines and Three to Conquer) in my early teens, I have regarded Wasp as one of the true SF classics. It ranks with Bester's The Demolished Man and Tiger! Tiger!, as well as the best of Clarke and Heinlein, although its sardonic tone has more in common with Robert Sheckley. Although set in a future a few centuries ahead, when Earth is at war with the Sirian Combine, Wasp is directly transplanted from conventional warfare of the Second World War era. Indeed, I don't know why it took so long to dawn on me that the Sirians are analogues of the Japanese, while the noble Earthmen are essentially 1950s Americans. Oh sure, the Sirians are purple instead of yellow - but they are short, bandy-legged, and fanatical. To clinch it, their dreaded secret police is called the Kaitempi: compare the actual Japanese Kampeitei. The Sirians have a great advantage in numbers, but the Earthmen are smarter. How to make the most of their quicker wits and superior technology? One way is to drop secret agents behind enemy lines to sow confusion, dissension and destruction. The result is dramatic, convincing and (in parts) riotously funny.
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Summary: Refreshingly new, innovative,interesting, AND well written
Review: The future holds war between planets and a man is sent into enemy terrirtory, a la Battle of the Bulge, to be a wasp, stinging and unnerving the enemy within its own territory. Terrific plot building, with great suspense. Much like original 2001 book, by clarke and city and stars also by clarke. of course, to even have found this review you must be a fan already (lucky you) or had a recommendation. Recommended to me by my English god-father. This is the only Russell book I have ever read so I am not a "fan"
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Summary: A classic curiously topical.
Review: This book is a classic in the sense that it is timeless. If you wnat to know how to disrupt a society, then this book is a text book. If you want to know how not to respond to such an attack, which is in many ways remarkably similar to that that took place in New York City on 9/11/01, then this is your book.
The idea of such warfare is to provoke a disporportionate reaction, wildly disproportionate if at all possible.
It is also a very fun read. Great book. Very perceptive.
Rating:
Summary: A classic curiously topical.
Review: This book is a classic in the sense that it is timeless. If you wnat to know how to disrupt a society, then this book is a text book. If you want to know how not to respond to such an attack, which is in many ways remarkably similar to that that took place in New York City on 9/11/01, then this is your book.
The idea of such warfare is to provoke a disporportionate reaction, wildly disproportionate if at all possible.
It is also a very fun read. Great book. Very perceptive.
Rating:
Summary: Fantastic!
Review: This fantastic book shows the power of a single person, being used as a "wasp" in hostile territory. The story's hero is a human person masked as a native on the enemy's planet. He is the only human being on the whole planet, so he has to use his brains to fulfill the task of causing as much (mainly moral) damage to the enemy as possible. Although on the firsthand much more brutal than usual for Russell, the novel only carries the message that it is better to use some tricks than to fight over years and losing millions of lives.
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