Rating: 
Summary: Great Read!
Review: This is one of the best scifi novels I have ever read. I do not often come across a book that I cannot put down, but this was certainly one I could not bear to part with. Bova is a great storyteller, and aside from a somewhat sappy ending, the book is well-written and exciting. I am no expert on Venus, so his science may not be accurate, but it matters little to me since the story was so strong. Definitely recommended for someone needing an escape from the ordinary.
Rating: 
Summary: Good physics; bad medicine
Review: A little medical research would have made VENUS into a fine SF novel, rather than the mediocre one it is. The protagonist, Van Humphries, begins as a sickly dilettante with little dedication to anything beyond the preservation of his wellborn lifestyle. His development into a responsible, even noble man is the main point of the book, and the process of that development is nicely handled. The problem with the setup is that Van (we are told) has "pernicious anemia" that resulted from his mother's drug use while pregnant with him. As a remedy, he requires daily "enzyme" injections. His decline within a few days of being separated from his medicine is an all-important plot device, and the story can go nowhere without it. Well, the whole concept is preposterous to anyone with a collegiate-level understanding of blood disease. In fact, pernicious anemia is not caused by maternal factors of any kind; it requires no daily injections (only monthly B12 shots); and, enzymes have nothing to do with it. Even if treatment is stopped abruptly, it requires months to years, not days, to cause any deterioration of physical or mental function. Bova could have established this through a 30-minute conversation with any doctor, nurse, or medical technologist. This is just plain laziness on the parts of the author and the editor. If you can get beyond the enormity of the medical aspects of the story, the physical science angle is carried in excellent Bova fashion. What would it be like on a planet where the surface glows dully at 740 Kelvins and the atmosphere consists of carbon dioxide pumped up to over 90 atmospheres of pressure? How would one even think to visit such a place and survive to return home? The author paints a vivid picture in answering these questions. Character development is uneven. Vann and his prime rival, Lars Fuchs, are well done, but the major female character is a bit cardboardish. For Lars Fuchs and his space ship, Bova borrows heavily from 20,000 LEAGUES UNDER THE SEA. Just substitute the thick Venusian atmosphere for Verne's undersea world, and there is near point-to-point correspondence between the two stories. This is not to detract from Bova, though; it was really a good idea to do it this way. VENUS is a short book, and, with its action-filled linear story narrated by the protagonist, it's a fast read. I recommend it as light vacation fare. It will certainly make you appreciate the beautiful earth as you lie there on the beach, and you may come away with a little more concern about the greenhouse effect here at home.
Rating:
Summary: Brotherly Love?
Review: The setting: Venus-- The Plan: Van Humphries will travel to Venus with a crew to recover the remains of Van's brother.-- The reason: To gain financial freedom and distance from his father.-- The problem: (1) There is another adventurer seeking to gain the reward offered. (2)The temperature of Venus is such that it is near impossible to land on it and survive. I enjoyed this novel. It does have the element of science fiction in it, but it is also a great adventure story.
Rating:
Summary: Tom Swift It Ain't
Review: I wanted to enjoy this book more than I actually did.(Possible spoiler alert!) In truth I expected one of those 800-page monsters that touch on every conceivable detail and was very disappointed to find it basically a good corking read, but not necessarily about Venus specically. Indeed, the setting could have been a century before, with "Himalayas" or "North Pole" in place of Venus. Bova does include details about the second planet, and a stern warning on the Greenhouse effect; this is fine, yet much of this could have been altered with minimal effect on the plot. The actual plot is basic: Hated younger son Van competes with his power-hungery father's greatest rival in retriving the body of favorite son Alex from the shrouded inferno of Venus, in return for a ten-billion dollar prize. In process he strengthens and discovers the Truth About Who He Really Is, in a Hamletesque turn. It's not a bad idea in itself, Van narrates the story himself, giving more insight to his character. All the same, first-person (to me anyway) is not always the best way to tell a science fiction story. Bova doesn't mean to skimp on details, yet an interplanetary journey needs more pizzazz than just a super-expedition. Venus is not the Himalayas; what's wrong with some Tom Swift Gee-Whiz-WOW! once in a while?
Rating:
Summary: 4 1/2 stars
Review: This was the first Ben Bova Book I've read. I really liked it and intend to read more of his books. The action and adventure seems nonstop. I like it when an author can write scifi that seems plausible. Overall one heck of a good story, and I'm glad I discovered another author to go on my 'must read' list. Highly recommended..Abgd rvw..
Rating:
Summary: Good, but not as good as typical Bova.
Review: _Venus_ follows a familiar form; it is easily compared to the Mars (_Mars_ and _Return to Mars_) and Moon (_Moonrise_ and _Moonwar_) series. However, it is both the quickest read and the least interesting of the bunch. I would recommend the above 4 books before reading Venus, and if you like those, I would then recommend Venus. Furthermore, the books are all loosely connected, since they share the same "universe" and time. They seem to take place in approximately the order they were written. Venus also has a minor character who I believe was also in _Return to Mars_. However, beyond the throw-away connections, each "planet" stands alone. Perhaps in the future there will be a book to tie them all together. [Also note that you must click on "read more" to see the _Venus_ review in the above Kirkus Reviews section since it covers multiple books.]
Rating: 
Summary: Scinece OK, Fiction Not
Review: I like Ben Bova's work; just not this time. It may be the characters' fault. There weren't any of them that I'd want to spend time with -- each more selfish and short sighted than the last. Add plot twists that sent more telgraphs than Western Union and it just wasn't a book to ever pick up again. Too bad the flight was so long...
Rating: 
Summary: Thrilling Science Fiction Adventure!
Review: I had never read anything by Ben Bova but decided on a whim to read Venus. Boy, was I ever glad I did! What an exciting story! I couldn't put it down. And I don't usually read a lot of science fiction (mostly I read fantasy and mystery). Venus reminded me of classic science fiction adventure stories of Jules Verne and H.G. Wells. Makes you wonder what's out there. I highly recommend this book to all readers!
Rating:
Summary: Gripping characters challenge a formidable planet
Review: There are many different sci-fi novels out there, but very few actually focus on our sister planet. The harsh environs of near Venus offer a strong antagonist in Bova's novel. Ban Bova is well known for his visualization and grand scheme and this book is no exception. The characters are well developed an fit together to give the story edge. While it is a little slow at times, the action sequences can take the breath away and prevent you from putting the book down. Definitely a good read if you are a Bova fan. If not, try reading his earlier books first because he is known to subtly weave his plot lines between books.
Rating:
Summary: Character driven story
Review: Ben Bova's "Venus" is a fairly good story. I was a little turned off at first because it is written in first person, which I am not a big fan of and hadn't read a first person novel in a really long time. However, about halfway through the book, I realized the importance of the first person point of few when other strong characters were introduced. This is less a science fiction story and more a character journey in a scientific world. If you are looking for hard core scientific observations and manipulations I recommend other stories, such as Kim Stanley Robinson's "Red Mars." However, there is a lot of speculative science fiction the Bova introduces on the interior of the Venusian world, which is interesting and facinating. It does take a while for this book to really grasp you, but none-the-less it is worth the read if you are a Bova fan, or interested in our solar system. It is great the way Bova has researched the real world of venus, and then put in his own fantasy elements based on possibilities. To sum up, this is a first person book that is driven by the characters. It is more the characters coming to realization of who and what they are and them trying to overcome their weaknesses while completing their objectives than hard core science. My favorite character is definately Fuchs.
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