Paradox Men

Rating:
Summary: A classic that grabs you for page 1
Review: Harness said that he put into The Paradox Men every idea that he had, and that's why it's such a rich feast. One reviewer here points to a plot loophole that actually is clearly explained in the novel. The only glitch I recall is a minor one, where Harness puts sonar as part of the electromagnetic spectrum. Otherwise, a masterful job. Track it down and read it.

Rating:
Summary: A Great Book, what became of the Author?
Review: I have never seen a Charles Harness book retail in the UK. I picked this one up by accident in a 'Jumble Sale' as we say here in England. One of the best single SF novels in my opinion, up there with Asimov's Foundation or Herbert's Dune. Tightly written, imaginative, realistic dialogue, gripping. Elements of a detective story/thriller with the SF side of it a highly competent backdrop. In some ways it's one of those future-society what-ifs and makes a unique contribution as such. Seems he only wrote one other, The Rose, not quite as good I would say. If there are any other titles, let me know! Nigel, England.

Rating:
Summary: A MINDBLOWER
Review: I picked up this book because it had been compared to Alfred Bester's "The Stars, My Destination," one of my favorite sci-fi novels, AND because it is listed as one of the Top 100 sci-fi novels in David Pringle's excellent overview book. Happily, I found the comparison to be a fair one, and the rating to be just. This is one terrific science fiction novel, as fast paced and colorful as the Bester novel, and featuring a similar use of colorful characters and extravagant imagination. It is really quite impressive how Charles Harness manages to incorporate some fantastic surprise or bit of mind-blowing scientific hypothesizing into every single chapter. Einsteinian theories of the universe, Toynbeean history and non-Aristotelian philosophy are all mixed into a swashbuckling and fast-moving pulp story, with a backdrop of a technologically advanced society on the decline. The story jumps from the Earth to the moon to Mercury and finally to a "solarion," a station that hovers over a sunspot to process the energy of the sun itself. It's all wild and improbable and quite irresistible stuff, if you're game. I highly recommend it.

Rating:
Summary: A MINDBLOWER
Review: I picked up this book because it had been compared to Alfred Bester's "The Stars, My Destination," one of my favorite sci-fi novels, AND because it is listed as one of the Top 100 sci-fi novels in David Pringle's excellent overview book. Happily, I found the comparison to be a fair one, and the rating to be just. This is one terrific science fiction novel, as fast paced and colorful as the Bester novel, and featuring a similar use of colorful characters and extravagant imagination. It is really quite impressive how Charles Harness manages to incorporate some fantastic surprise or bit of mind-blowing scientific hypothesizing into every single chapter. Einsteinian theories of the universe, Toynbeean history and non-Aristotelian philosophy are all mixed into a swashbuckling and fast-moving pulp story, with a backdrop of a technologically advanced society on the decline. The story jumps from the Earth to the moon to Mercury and finally to a "solarion," a station that hovers over a sunspot to process the energy of the sun itself. It's all wild and improbable and quite irresistible stuff, if you're game. I highly recommend it.

Rating:
Summary: Interestting.
Review: I've heard a fair amount about this book. It put out a fair amount of ideas other books would use. I hear it's about time travel ,in part, that must be a real fascination of his. The only thing of his I read was a story in a June '97 issue of Asimov's. His later work's unavailable in the U.K., but you maybe able to find "The Ring of Ritornel".

Rating:
Summary: Like van Vogt on overdrive
Review: This Harness classic form the forties is like the best novel A. E. van Vogt never wrote - the same universe-spanning fantastic visions, but more humanistic. Nobody writes things like this anymore. Why dont somebody reprint it? Later Harness work is quite good too, original and very unlike this.

Rating:
Summary: Uneven, but interesting
Review: This is one of those stories that has several mysterious buried in the plot that all come together at the very end. The premise is exceptional and the look that we get into a future imperial America is fascinating. Unfortunately the plot seems uneven in places. As an example a character who gets tortured at the end of one chapter suddenly reappers free in the middle of the next chapter with little explaination of what happened in between. The book is full of small "problems" like this and that makes it a bit annoying to read. Also the explaination of the structure of the universe is confusing and requires you to read it over several times. That said, the time travel plot is incredible and will leave you thinking about it for days after the book is done. My favorite part of this book, though, is the description of the solar bases and the sociology of what goes on there. Yeah, you heard me right they have bases on the sun in this book. If you want to find out why and how such a thing is possible read the book. Overall it is a good read.

Rating:
Summary: Uneven, but interesting
Review: This is one of those stories that has several mysterious buried in the plot that all come together at the very end. The premise is exceptional and the look that we get into a future imperial America is fascinating. Unfortunately the plot seems uneven in places. As an example a character who gets tortured at the end of one chapter suddenly reappers free in the middle of the next chapter with little explaination of what happened in between. The book is full of small "problems" like this and that makes it a bit annoying to read. Also the explaination of the structure of the universe is confusing and requires you to read it over several times. That said, the time travel plot is incredible and will leave you thinking about it for days after the book is done. My favorite part of this book, though, is the description of the solar bases and the sociology of what goes on there. Yeah, you heard me right they have bases on the sun in this book. If you want to find out why and how such a thing is possible read the book. Overall it is a good read.

Rating:
Summary: Interestting.
Review: This was the first Sci-Fi book I ever read, and it caused me to become a Sci-Fi fan. Even after all these years, its amazing how often I think about the amazing plot and complex twists and turns and mysteries involved in this story. A must have for any fan of well developed plots and mysterious, heroic main characters. A beautifully painted future world puts a cap on this already enthralling book

Rating:
Summary: Incredible story... complex, involving, a multiple-read!
Review: This was the first Sci-Fi book I ever read, and it caused me to become a Sci-Fi fan. Even after all these years, its amazing how often I think about the amazing plot and complex twists and turns and mysteries involved in this story. A must have for any fan of well developed plots and mysterious, heroic main characters. A beautifully painted future world puts a cap on this already enthralling book