[Colonel Worf]

1. Jupiter by Ben Bova

Okay, the book came in the mail today. I'm a fan of his stuff, but the only really extraordinary ones are Mars, Return to Mars, and As On A Darkling Plain. Is Jupiter as high in quality as any of these?

2. Anvil of Stars by Greg Bear

I know it's a sequel, but I've heard it can stand alone. Should I try and find the first book of the series just in case?

3. Downbelow Station by C.J. Cherryh

In all honesty, I don't like the way the plot sounds... but I know it won the Hugo. Is it any good?

[Lowlander]

Can only comment about Downbelow Station.
I'am a great fan of Cherryh but I found Downbelow one of
her weakest novels. Strange thing is it actually won the
Hugo Award for best novel. If you're new to Cherryh try
the Foreigner Trilogy, Faded Sun Trilogy (very slow but
worthwile) or if you like science fantasy her Morgaine novels.

[Horace Slatz]

Read it. I don't know about Jupiter but Venus was excellent. :D

Anvil of Stars I know nothing about.


Downbelow station I read but don't remember.




1. Jupiter by Ben Bova

Okay, the book came in the mail today. I'm a fan of his stuff, but the only really extraordinary ones are Mars, Return to Mars, and As On A Darkling Plain. Is Jupiter as high in quality as any of these?

2. Anvil of Stars by Greg Bear

I know it's a sequel, but I've heard it can stand alone. Should I try and find the first book of the series just in case?

3. Downbelow Station by C.J. Cherryh

In all honesty, I don't like the way the plot sounds... but I know it won the Hugo. Is it any good?

[cgw]

Downbelow Station was very hard to get in to. If you make it half way it is all down hill (gets better). I remember it as good but not very good. Part of was that I was not connecting with any characters.

[Priestvyrce]

Downbelow Station was very hard to get in to. If you make it half way it is all down hill (gets better). I remember it as good but not very good. Part of was that I was not connecting with any characters.

Though I've read plenty of C J Cherryh's stuff, she does have problem of being too detached from her characters. They come off as distant and cold, but the thing is, if stick with it, these type of books really pay oof. Now I liked, not loved, Downbelow, but yes it is hard to get into. Now if you want to read books that are a part of her Union-Alliance series try her stand alones, like The Cuckoo's Egg or Serpent's Reach or even Cyteen. These are more personal and you really get into the characters and what is happening around them.

[ironchef texmex]

1. Jupiter by Ben Bova

Okay, the book came in the mail today. I'm a fan of his stuff, but the only really extraordinary ones are Mars, Return to Mars, and As On A Darkling Plain. Is Jupiter as high in quality as any of these?


Unfortunately, I don't think it is. It isn't that it's bad. A little formulaic, maybe. It's just that it's... well... it's a four hundred page long hamburger. It's food. You'll eat it, but it's not going to make a lasting impression.

[Colonel Worf]

Ah... I think I'm taking a month where all I read is Ben Bova stuff. I still have Jupiter, Colony, The Dueling Machine, and End of Exile laying around that I haven't read. I think I'll kick it off with Jupiter!