Rating: 
Summary: Worthwhile
Review: This may not be the best book in the world, but it is certainly a worthwhile read. For me, the writing did keep me wanting to read more and more, making it hard to put the book down. I'm glad I picked up this book at the store.
Rating: 
Summary: Go buy some of Heinlein's old young-adult novels instead.
Review: This is, perhaps, the worst book I've ever read by this author. The main character is a two-dimensional cardboard cutout, which gives him one more dimension than anyone else in the story. The book is filled with rusty, creaking old plot devices. The Evil Hedonistic Villian-Father gets a brief showing to set our hero off on his quest. The Man Driven By Hatred makes an appearance. There are Spaceship-Eating Aliens-- two kinds, yet! And, oh yes, let's not forget the hero, the Young Man of Uncertain Patrimony. Even the science is bad. The Cold of Space is used to quickly freeze a dead person at one point. Another guy is reduced to ash by three years' exposure to the surface of Venus-- but the tape recording he carries is perfectly intact. If the book were at least short, I could have given it two stars. As things stand, however, I just can't think of anything good to say.
Rating: 
Summary: "Venus" was a disappointment for this Bova fan
Review: I've got to preface this review by stating that I've really liked some of Bova's other works. The Kinsman saga typified what was best about his work: complex characters caught up in interesting situations set against a backdrop of mature science fiction. Sadly, "Venus" was NOT up to par. It lacked the richness that I had come to expect from Bova. Instead, "Venus" harkens back to the juvenile sci-fi fantasies of the 1950's. I'm not kidding. The characters were very two dimensional and the plot development was minimal while containing aspects that severely strained the suspension of disbelief. The technology and theoretical speculation were also relatively unimaginative and uninspired. In all aspects, this book was very shallow. Perhaps Bova was intentionally paying a homage to the literature that he grew up with as a child. Maybe he was "phoning this one in" to satisfy some kind of contractual obligation with his publisher. Whatever the case, I hope "Venus" was an anomaly.
Rating: 
Summary: Makes you really think about being there
Review: I've never considered Ben Bova to be the equal of Clarke and Asimov, but now that I am actually reading his works, I am strongly reconsidering that notion. He certainly writes a better tale that Asimov (although I guess I've always preferring Asimov's short stories and non-fiction anyway), and manages to finish his stories better than Clarke. I picked out Venus because the cover caught my eye and I'm glad I gave it a read. Bova writes for the most part in what I call "believable sci-fi". Oh sure, there are some items here that are definately not grounded in reality (sorry, no spoilers), but most of the book makes me think about local space travel and Venus the way that they probably really exist. Venus is a nasty hot place, we all know that, but to really explore in depth the degree of nastiness is thrilling. Although Venus has a rock surface like our own, it isn't as simple as just landing there, climbing out and enduring the hot temperatures. There are other factors to consider and that's what I enjoyed as well. As far as the actual plot and story, there really isn't anything in here I haven't seen before, but that doesn't mean it isn't enjoyable. I guess you have a pretty good idea how things will all work out eventually, but enjoying the ride to get there and learning some things about our sister planet makes this a very fun read.
Rating:
Summary: Realistic Science Fiction
Review: This was the first book I read from Bova. All I can hope for is that the rest of his books are as interesting. This book takes you on an interesting ride through space and Venus and throws in some very weird and unexpected twists and turns. If your a science fiction fan, please read this book. You won't be disappointed.
Rating:
Summary: Another Bova Hero Tale
Review: Ben Bova has made a career of writing stories about the unexpected hero. In Venus, he delivers again. Van Humphries is the runt of the family, at least so says his father Martin Humphries the mogul industrialist. And, he is somewhat right; Van has a particularly potent form of anemia that requires injections at least a couple of times a day. He plays at being a scientist while his older brother, Alex, is off in space exporing the unexplored. Plus, his father blames hime for killing his mother during child berth. At the beginning of the tale, we join Van reluctantly attending his father's 100th birthday party on the moon where he learns that his allowance so to speak (a stipend for his scientific endeavors) is being cut-off so his father can use the money to help pay for 10 billion dollar reward to entice someone to go to Venus, where Van's older brother died 3 years previous while trying to explore the planet, to recover Alex's remains. Van misses his brother greatly and decides to take up his father's challange. And, the tale begins. Van must overcome his own self-doubt, his debilitating ailment and a ruthless cometitor for the prize money... Lars Fuchs, the once competitor to Martin Humphries. Fuchs was ruined financially but Humphries, then Martin Humphries stole his wife... who eventually became Van's mother. Though lighter on details such as how the ships operate than some similar hard SF, Bova always spins a good yarn. Venus was an entertaining read from start to finish as we watch Van Humphries struggle with who he is at his core.
Rating: 
Summary: Yet another "Hero's Journey"?
Review: Ben Bova's novels are workmanlike and usually worth reading. He knows the tricks of the novel-writing trade and manages to make the science seem at least plausible, if not strictly accurate. But you have to wonder if he and other science-fiction writers can do better than retell the "Hero's Journey" over and over again to adolescent male readers (who form the bulk of SF readership), especially the variation about the angry young man who discovers his true paternity. ("Oh, so that jerk who claimed to be my father was lying to me all along!" Is that a common male fantasy?) I'd like to see more science fiction aimed at "adults," as currently defined. What redeems this novel in my opinion is that Bova assumes that in the near future rejuvenation, radical life extension, cloning and revival from cryonic suspension all become successful and socially acceptable practices. This apparently reflects Bova's hopes for his personal future, since he published a nonfiction book titled _Immortality_ a couple years ago about the prospects for conquering aging and death. Unfortunately Bova hasn't thought through all the implications of this "immortalist" scenario, since his old, life-extended characters don't seem to have aged well in terms of judgment, emotional stability and what we call "wisdom." A society making such progress in conquering aging and death should likewise be making progress in improving people's mental health. Otherwise, if we get to the point where rejuvenated old people with such unhealthy grudges and obsessions ever attain a lot of irresponsible power, we are all likely to suffer from their folly. Nonetheless, Bova has figured out a lot of what I have long foreseen about the future, and I look forward to reading more of his new novels.
Rating:
Summary: Great Science Fiction
Review: I enjoyed this book very much. I highly recommend it.
Rating:
Summary: Venus Envy
Review: I like this new novel by Ben Bova. It's set in the same "universe" as Moonbase and Moonrise. Venus is a fascinating world and Bova captures its mystery and violence quite well. My only misgiving is Bova's preoccupation with murdering parents and envious siblings! Ditto Moonbase. These brutal people are the last kinds of characters we'd want on other worlds. They are amoral and stop at nothing to achieve their goals. Maybe he's too black and white in developing his characters? No matter, Bova has developed a very hard edge although he probably had it all along growing up on the streets of Philadelphia. Still a good book by a very good author.
Rating:
Summary: A new favorite author
Review: Venus is a dificult book to put down. The imagery is excellent. Throughout the read, you feel as if you are watching a movie. I hope Mr. Bova will lisence his works for the big screen. I began reading this book after finishing "Return to Mars". I was suprised to see characters and technoligies carried from on book to another. I works very well for Mr. Bova. I look foreward to reading his Moon series now. I have discovered a new favorite author.
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