Captive Universe

Rating:
Summary: Makes you think about our own existence
Review: I originally read this book over 20 years ago while I was in high school. Despite the time that has passed and the thousands of books I have read since then, I still remembered the plot and memorable elements from this book. I recently found it again on Amazon.com although I had to purchase it used since it was out of print. Needless to say I very much enjoyed rereading it.

Although written as an exciting sci-fi adventure, the book examines in the role of religion, intelligence and culture in regulating human life. The book follows a life of Chimal a boy born a genius amongst a civilization of below average intelligence Aztecs. The boy continually questions the cultural traditions and sometimes barbaric religious rules that his village has followed without question for hundreds of years. To his elevated intelligence some of those rules make no sense at all.

Needless to say his questioning gets him into trouble and on a series of adventures which reveal the true nature of the world in which he lives.

I find great parallels between Chimal's situation and those in the world today. Entire populations are being led by the teachings of religions. Many follow blindly while others question, some in secret in fear of their life. How many of us really know the reality of the world and universe out there.

Rating:
Summary: Makes you think about our own existence
Review: I originally read this book over 20 years ago while I was in high school. Despite the time that has passed and the thousands of books I have read since then, I still remembered the plot and memorable elements from this book. I recently found it again on Amazon.com although I had to purchase it used since it was out of print. Needless to say I very much enjoyed rereading it.

Although written as an exciting sci-fi adventure, the book examines in the role of religion, intelligence and culture in regulating human life. The book follows a life of Chimal a boy born a genius amongst a civilization of below average intelligence Aztecs. The boy continually questions the cultural traditions and sometimes barbaric religious rules that his village has followed without question for hundreds of years. To his elevated intelligence some of those rules make no sense at all.

Needless to say his questioning gets him into trouble and on a series of adventures which reveal the true nature of the world in which he lives.

I find great parallels between Chimal's situation and those in the world today. Entire populations are being led by the teachings of religions. Many follow blindly while others question, some in secret in fear of their life. How many of us really know the reality of the world and universe out there.

Rating:
Summary: SF Aztec universe where things are not as they seem
Review: I read this novel some years ago, and I though it was wonderfull, the best Harrison novel I have read so far. Not to spoil it, I should not mention too much of the plot, but it' s hard science fiction set in an aztec universe and things are not quite as they seem, as it becomes more and more obvious from the first page. This review makes no justice to the book, but it' s too good a book to be forgotten, I hope that any review is better than no review.

Rating:
Summary: Memorable Images
Review: It's hard for me to review the language of this book, since I actually read it in Esperanto rather than the original English ("La Kaptita Universo"). There are, however, many images from this book that will stick in your head. The vultures eating a man-sized piece of meat, the Aztec human sacrifice, and the main character "walking on the sky." Some of the science is dubiable, at best, and parts of the "Konceptisto's" (English:
Conceptualist? Visionary? I don't know what term the original used) vision are hard to fit in with human nature. The plot is average for science fiction. The visual imagery, however, is worth the trip

Rating:
Summary: Memorable Images
Review: It's hard for me to review the language of this book, since I actually read it in Esperanto rather than the original English ("La Kaptita Universo"). There are, however, many images from this book that will stick in your head. The vultures eating a man-sized piece of meat, the Aztec human sacrifice, and the main character "walking on the sky." Some of the science is dubiable, at best, and parts of the "Konceptisto's" (English:
Conceptualist? Visionary? I don't know what term the original used) vision are hard to fit in with human nature. The plot is average for science fiction. The visual imagery, however, is worth the trip

Rating:
Summary: A hard to find favorite
Review: When my dad used to read to us kids 'way back then', I remember Captive Universe as one of the more graphically vivid stories. Years later, I started looking for it in bookshops here and there -- no where to be found. I finally found an old paperback in a used book store. Just as fun as I remembered! For every nerdy kid (or adult) who felt the powers in charge were slow and didn't understand, we could see ourselves in the frustrations of the hero. Can't describe the story without giving away too much.

For years I could imagine Captive Universe as a great movie. I sometimes wish it were made into a movie, but after what they did to Starship Troopers, maybe not...