Rating: 
Summary: How do you take your freedom? straight or on the rocks?
Review: L. Neil Smith's vivid portrayl of absolute personal freedom versus the politically correct utopia is mind opening. Not only does this book show exactly the reason our forefathers put specifically into our constitiution our right to bear arms, but it also shows how things could have been if we hadn't felt the urgent need to get rid of our personal responsibilites by giving them over to a government. The clashes between Emerson Ngu and his arch enemy Gibson Altman are completely realistic, the plot flows true-to-life, and even though Smith is a bit heavy handed with libertarian rhetoric, it doesn't take anything away from the story. Besides, aren't most of us, in our most private thoughts, sick and tired of the intrusions we allow our government to make?
Rating:
Summary: How do you take your freedom? straight or on the rocks?
Review: L. Neil Smith's vivid portrayl of absolute personal freedom versus the politically correct utopia is mind opening. Not only does this book show exactly the reason our forefathers put specifically into our constitiution our right to bear arms, but it also shows how things could have been if we hadn't felt the urgent need to get rid of our personal responsibilites by giving them over to a government. The clashes between Emerson Ngu and his arch enemy Gibson Altman are completely realistic, the plot flows true-to-life, and even though Smith is a bit heavy handed with libertarian rhetoric, it doesn't take anything away from the story. Besides, aren't most of us, in our most private thoughts, sick and tired of the intrusions we allow our government to make?
Rating: 
Summary: True Frontier Spirit on the Final Frontier
Review: Mr. Smith displays a combination so rarely found in accessible authors: a wonderful style backed by a coherent, intelligent worldview and philosophy. By no means does the philosophy bog down the story, but instead I see a human realism oftentimes absent from the plastic utopias offered by Star Trek etc.
Rating:
Summary: entertaining read about a believable future
Review: Mr. Smith has provided us with the perfect science fiction novel - an entertaining read about a believable future that makes us think about the world of today. His vision of a society based on individual freedom triumphing over one based on the loss of rights and control by a dominating "elite" is a tonic to those of us lost in Clinton's Amerika. Mr. Smith also does not bludgeon you with his libertarian ideas - they simply form an integral part of his novel. You find yourself being informed while also being swept up in his story. A must read for lovers of class science fiction.
Rating:
Summary: Pallas - Literature for the 21st Century
Review: Not many science fiction writers can actually create a new world populated by heroic, but real people - AND convey a sense of dynamic IDEAS about society and technology that yoju would WANT the future to become. L. Neil Smith has done just that with "Pallas", arguably his BEST BOOK ever (until the upcoming "Ceres", that is! :-) Pallas tells the story of a child inventor who grows up to become a hero amidst the largely, but not exclusively, liberty-loving colony on Pallas asteroid. While the enemy is obvious, the plot twists and turns are not. In science-fiction, its the IDEAS that count, and this book ROCKS with them. As good, if not better, than Robert Heinlein and Fred Pohl. Buy and read this book and enjoy!
Rating:
Summary: Something very rare in Sci-Fi
Review: Pallas is something very rare inaSci-Fi read, it provoked me into thinking about the nature of our society. I wasn't a liberatrian before this but I seriously considering it now. I am ordering copies for my two nephews, maybe it'll also start them thinking. Though the novel ends on an optomistic note, probably in the real world men like Altman will win out and we will all live in Greeley.
Rating:
Summary: A libertarian epic in the asteroid belt!
Review: Smith picks up where Heinlein left off and turns out a novel that is equivalent to the best that Heinlein ever did (which is saying something)! As a former libertarian myself, I almost found myself mourning my younger, more anarchic self. But quibble with a detail here or there concerning optimum social organization schemes, Smith's tale is still inspiring to anyone who prefers freedom to slavery. It is a slap in the face to those "liberals" and "conservatives" who who so inadequately dominate America's political affairs. And it is just plain a darn fun romp that sci-fi fans will tend to heartily appreciate
Rating:
Summary: Heinlein, without the self-imposed muzzle
Review: Some people don't like thought in their books.If you're one of those people, don't bother with 'Pallas' or anything else by L. Neil Smith. It's entertaining, provoking, challenging, and cerebral, in a way very reminiscent of Heinlein. That is high praise, indeed. He puts forward ideas and concepts that might be difficult to grapple with, but they are worthwhile. There's action, adventure, interesting characters and ideas (both the 'good' and 'evil' ones are interesting, which is rare; most authors get one or the other down). The only thing I didn't like was the ending. Seemed a bit of a cop out. Not enough to cripple the book, but not up to par with the rest. Great job, Smith.
Rating: 
Summary: Moderately entertaining, but ..
Review: Somewhat entertaining, but ultimately L. Neil Smith spends too much time trying to write politics rather than entertainment. Not groundbreaking in anyway, although it should appeal to libertarians.
Rating:
Summary: 5 for the message, maybe 4 because the book was too short ;)
Review: The libertarian message was welcome, with all the drivel I've been reading lately. Although, I found the book seemed to be missing large chunks of Emerson's life, chunks I would have liked to read, (I don't mind a long book, myself...) I found it extremely entertaining, couldn't put it down... (My boss noticed this, btw). I'm nearly inspired to dig up some of my old work... maybe...
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