The Home Planet

Customer Reviews:

Fresh Perspectives on a Fragile Planet.......2006-01-28

Let's not forget we're living on a little planet, what some like to call spaceship earth. If earth is a spaceship, this is the owner's manual: THE HOME PLANET. Political boundaries are dissolved by a moon's-eye view of Earth to create bold visions of the planet through 150 color photographs culled from the American and then-Soviet archives. Commentary is provided solely by eloquent quotes from astronauts of 18 nations which are shown both in original language (be it Arabic, Chinese, Vietnamese, Hindi, Mongolian, French, German, Spanish, Hungarian, Romanian, Polish, Czech, Bulgarian, Dutch, or Russian) and English translation. The message is simple--we are all citizens of the same global nation.

An excellent choice for anyone of any age.......2002-03-07

This superb coffee table book by Kevin W. Kelley is especially apt in this day and age, when so much in life feels precarious and precious. A simple and simply eloquent collection of photographs and quotations, it is so much more than the sum of its parts.

The astronauts who have either landed on the moon or have orbited the earth have so much to tell us and it's easy to see from the photographs why they feel words fail them. Luckily for us, words DON'T fail them. This select, small group of men and woman try mightily to tell us what their experiences were, and overwhelmingly they succeed in conveying the mystery and beauty they saw from their unique perches in space. A few of the better bits include:

"[From space] you have an almost dispassionate platform--remote, Olympian--and yet [seeing the earth from up there is] so moving that you can hardly believe how emotionally attached you are to those rough patterns shifting steadily below."
- THOMAS STAFFORD, USA

"O. Henry, the American writer, wrote in one of his stories that if you want to encourage the craft of murder, all you have to do is lock up two men for two months in an eighteen-by-twenty-four-foot room. Entering 'Salyut,' which was to be both our home and our office for six months, we told each other: We are brothers. I am you and you are me."
- VALERIE RYUMIN, USSR

"Before I flew, I was already aware of how small and vulnerable our planet is; but only when I saw it from space, in all its ineffable beauty and fragility, did I realize that humankind's most urgent task is to cherish and preserve it for future generations."
- SIGMUND JAHN, GERMANY

In no book that I can think of does the phrase "A picture is worth a thousand words" better fit. The photographs herein are astonishing in showing the exquisite planet we occupy. A view of England's North Sea coast looks like a slab of lapiz lazuli, its surface flecked with sparkle and hue. Canada's Lake Winnipeg from space has the appearance of something primal, almost fetal. The Indian Ocean off Madagascar looks like a sheet of slate over which some divine presence has tossed a handful of diamonds. So few of us can ever hope to share the experience of these men and women that this book is all the more precious, and beautiful.

Only Being in Orbit Could Give You a Better View!!!!.......2001-03-28

This coffee table book presents some of the best photographs taken of the Earth and the Moon by both astronauts and cosmonauts. Due to the large size of the book, these photographs are even more stunning. In addition to the photographs, several quotes by those who have flown in space accompany each photograph.

One of things that I really liked about the book is that other than the small quotes, there is very little accompany text. The only real text is at the end of the book, where NASA's chief photographic planner describes "Why Space Photography?" I found thispart kind of chilling where he states, "it is a far more air-polluted Earth today than it was in the past ... twenty years ago"

A new perspective.......1999-03-09

A wonderfully moving and beautifully compiled collection of images. Mountain ranges and river deltas dissolve into abstract designs of astounding beauty. The accompanying commentaries show a world united in space in a way that is sadly absent on Earth. The book would make anybody want to become an astronaut.

This is the perfect present for any occasion. It has touched the hearts of everyone I know who has ever seen it. Highly recommended.

best book on earth.......1999-02-21

Political boundaries are dissolved by a moon's-eye view of Earth to create bold visions of the planet through 150 color photographs culled from the American and then-Soviet archives. The pictures are allowed to speak for themselves, with only tiny captions describing locales and weather conditions. Commentary is provided solely by eloquent quotes from astronauts of 18 nations which are shown both in original language (be it Arabic, Chinese, Vietnamese, Hindi, Mongolian, French, German, Spanish, Hungarian, Romanian, Polish, Czech, Bulgarian, Dutch, or Russian) and English translation. The message is simple--we are all citizens of the same global nation.

Customer Reviews:

personal astrology.......2007-05-23

Loved this book. Well written and comprehensive. Understandable and useful even for the non- astrolger. Tremendous insight.

Excellent!!!!!!!!!!!!!!.......2006-08-22

It's amazing how finally things get together, the knowledge from the past finally spreading out to everyone!
Thank you author!

Astrology made more accessib le.......2004-11-19

The more I read about astrology the more beautiful and complex it is. There is so much to be assimilated and interpreted: houses, planets, signs, aspects, elements, etc. Stephen Arroyo has taken the subject of karma and really explained how the energies of the planets can affect or reveal how karma is expressed. He's done this in a way that is easy to understand, and breathtaking to read. He gets right to the heart of the matter, with examples to clarify the concepts. The book added to my understanding of transits and progressions. Arroyo's discussion of Edgar Cayce's readings on astrology were illuminating. I loved his discussion of the application of astrology to counseling, and how a deep understanding of astrology helps one to be a better counselor. He also includes a bibliography of books he quoted from in the text, that can only serve as a beacon for more knowledge of astrology. After reading this book I am hungry for more! The insights in this book will make it useful for years to come.

The best astrology book of all time.......2003-02-16

If I was asked to choose between all my astrology books to pick one and only one to take with me on a desert island, I would pick Mr Arroyo's classic Astrology Karma and Transformation. In fact when I moved to the USA from England with only my backpack this book was with me. Why? It contains the most profound psychologically and spiritually insightful astrology that you can get your hands on. In fact, this book is almost a shame to read, because once you have read it, you will be hard pushed to find a better astrological text...

Arroyo here talks about the chart and particularly about the aspects and transits of Saturn and the outer planets, not with a cookbook approach but with the insight of the very special humanistic alchemy that carachterizes Arroyo's work. Drawing for Jungian concepts, psychology and spirituality Arroyo brings to life the birth chart and its players and weaves meaning into the life experience. And his writing is so beautiful, profound and yet simple, deep but easy to grasp. I love this man, such a jewel of mind and wisdom for us to enjoy...

In the book you will also find lots of stuff about the ascendant, transits, progressions, little bits and pieces of information that, even years after , you will refer to and think about and mull over in your mind. This is one of those books with that magical holographic quality, where every time you read it, it expands and you see stuff you had not seen before...

If I had to reccommend one book for you not to miss, this would be the one. Buy it. You will treasure it for life!

Yet another Arroyo groupie!.......2002-02-26

This was the first book in astrology I ever bought, amazing seeming it was over 20 years ago just after it was first published. This book has an energy about it, as obviously from the previous reviews, Stephen Arroyo has IT, he is the consummate humanistic astrologer who can give people the absolute astrological stuff that we need when we need it. Very much in the same area of astrology as Liz Green, yet in my opinion much more easily accessible, for as much as I adore Liz Greene's work, it can be quite intense and needs many readings to take in what she is saying. All of Stephen Arroyo's books are a joy to read, this one being my favourite. If you love astrology you need to do yourself a favour and buy this book.

Entering Space: Creating a Spacefaring Civilization

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Great balance
The single most authoritative book on the potential human future in space
A detailed technical manifesto
A touch preachy, speculative and stodgy
Check the numbers!

Entering Space: Creating a Spacefaring Civilization
Robert Zubrin
Manufacturer: Tarcher
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

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ASIN: 1585420360
Release Date: 2000-08-03

Amazon.com

Humans are not native to the Earth. So posits astronautical engineer Bob Zubrin in the opening of Entering Space. We're native to just a small sliver of it, the spot where our species originated in tropical Kenya. We set out from that paradise about 50,000 years ago, north into "the teeth of the Ice Age," and all the ground we've gained since then has been thanks to our tenacity and our tools.

Zubrin reasons that it's time we cover a little more ground. Written with a boyish enthusiasm and formidable techie know-how, Entering Space urges us to realize "the feasibility, the necessity, and the promise" of becoming a space-faring civilization, of colonizing our own solar system and beyond. And Zubrin, author of the influential and widely acclaimed The Case for Mars, knows his stuff--NASA adapted his plans for near-term human exploration of Mars, and Carl Sagan gave the author no less credit: "Bob Zubrin really, nearly alone, changed our thinking on this issue." Entering Space plots the second and third phases of humanity's course--now that we've mastered our own planet, Zubrin says we must first look to settling our solar system (beginning with Mars) and then to the galaxy beyond.

With its practicable visions of using "iceteroids" to terraform Mars and harnessing the power of the outlying gas giants ("the solar system's Persian Gulf"), Entering Space succeeds at making the fantastic seem attainable, the stuff of science fiction, science fact. --Paul Hughes

Book Description

The man celebrated as "the Christopher Columbus of Mars" brings us to the very brink of human exploration.

Using nuts-and-bolts engineering and a unique grasp of human history, Robert Zubrin takes us to the not-very-distant future, when our global society will branch out into the universe. From the current-day prospect of lunar bases and Mars settlements to the outer reaches of other galaxies, Zubrin delivers the most important and forward-looking work on space and the true possibilities of human exploration since Carl Sagan's Cosmos.

Sagan himself said of Zubrin's humans-to-Mars plan, "Bob Zubrin really, nearly alone, changed our thinking on this issue." With Entering Space, he takes us further, into the prospect of human expansion to the outer planets of our own solar system--and beyond.

"An exhilarating and informative ride." --The San Diego Union-Tribune

"Robert Zubrin is a true engineering genius like the heroic engineers of the past." --Frederick Turner, American Enterprise

Customer Reviews:

Great balance.......2007-05-21

It is a great balance between scientific technospeak and general ideas. It's easy to follow though, because if you aren't really into and/or understand things like velocity and chemistry, you can continue reading and he explains it in another way. As you read it, many of the questions that pop up in your mind are soon answered. He does sound a bit bitter and frustrated on some NASA related manners, though it seems understandable. However, I do sense a hint of derision about the other sometimes important aspects of the federal budget that is sometimes annoying. He makes a convincing case about the ability and necessity of going into space.

The single most authoritative book on the potential human future in space.......2006-05-12

Astonishingly imaginative and technically authoritative, this is the single best and most important book that exists right now on the possibilities for the human future in space. Full disclosure: I have written articles for books Zubrin has edited. Dr. Zubrin, a Ph.D. in nuclear engineering with master's degrees in physics and aeronautics and astronautics, probably did more than any other single person to change everyone's thinking, including NASA's, about human missions to other planets, with the mission architecture he came up with for sending humans to Mars.

With Entering Space, he lays out a full overview of the human exploration and settlement of space, beginning with a penetrating look at the lack of progress in our human spaceflight capabilities over the past few decades, and progressing through manned missions to the Moon, Mars, the asteroids, throughout the solar system, and then to other star systems. His vision is of a thousand people on Mars a hundred years from now, and millions of people on thousands of planets a thousand years from now. There are plenty of other books covering at least some of these topics, to wildly varying degrees of plausibility. But Zubrin has the technical expertise to walk through the physical and engineering arguments to show how thoroughly plausible his ideas are.

His wide-ranging attention also extends to economic evaluations, historical analogies, and references to past ages of exploration and to Enlightenment ideals of freedom and democracy. He embraces confidence in science and the human capability to engineer our surroundings to our benefit, rejecting the now common pessimism toward those ideals. The result is an encouraging outlook: the world is what we make of it - whichever world that may be.

A detailed technical manifesto.......2004-12-25

If you're like me, you've always felt that it would be pretty cool (and useful) to be able to travel through space like we currently jet around the globe. If that's the case, then you've probably also ran up against a huge wall of "who cares?" whenever you try to express your excitement about the possibilities inherent in space travel. This cogent, well-researched book will help you do two things: Convince your friends that a spacefaring civilization is possible in the few decades or so, and that it is worthwhile. Believe you me - I have always thought that the problems involved in getting ourselves to Mars were more political than technical, but Zubrin makes it abundantly clear how we can get to Mars, the asteroids, and accomplish a host of other tasks, and all for pennies on NASA's current dollar estimates. Furthermore, he outlines the possible benefits to such programs, including the literally astronomical mineral wealth of the asteroids, technological drives, and the intangibles that go along with a new human push towards the frontiers. This book has rekindled the vision of space for me and every one of my friends who has taken the time to read it.

Highly recommended.

A touch preachy, speculative and stodgy.......2004-01-14

Robert Zubrin is obviously dissatisfied with the state of affairs with NASA. He complains about the lack of funding for certain programs and the lack of direction from the top brass. He makes his point but he should have cut it short.

The author seems to overlook potential pitfalls in his ideas. On using nuclear fusion for propulsion, Zubrin states that exhaust speed could reach 5 percent lightspeed, therefore Alpha Centauri could be reached in 86 years. This assumes that extra time for acceleration is negligible. For acceleration time to be negligible, the power involved would be well beyond what current research in fusion power suggests is reasonable. This oversight makes be doubt the feasibility of his much wilder proposals.

I appreciate technical details but Zubrin uses a pedantic style of writing more suitable for a textbook than a leisurely read. Zubrin's previous work, The Case for Mars, was never so tedious.

However, Zubrin does a good job on explaining many principles and concepts that would be of great interest to the space enthusiast--mainly on how to best exploit the solar system's resources while achieving inspirational goals for humanity. He also gives a concise overview of the debate on extraterrestrial intelligence an their detection.

I do recommend this book for space enthusiasts, but they should take it with a grain of salt.

Check the numbers!.......2003-06-03

I have only read the first seven chapters of this book so far, but I feel compelled to point out some errors of information. Zubrin attacks any idea that doesn't go to Mars directly without proper research. A few hours of web searching have shown that his pessimistic numbers about solar power and lunar agriculture are not up to par. Zubrin is a rocket engineer, and so he thinks only in terms of rockets. So far in my reading I haven't seen anything about light sails or his own magnetic sail idea (for an interesting breakthrough on magsails, run a web search for M2P2). Zubrin really, really wants to go to Mars right now, and so he tries to discredit any colonization ideas that don't accomplish that objective. Personally, I don't know why we would go to all of the trouble to escape one gravity well only to go and crawl down another one.

Book Description

Discover the inner secrets of Chiron, the most recently discovered planet, and see how it is interpreted in astrological charts with Chiron by Barbara Hand Clow.

Chiron is a peculiar planetoid that orbits the Sun from between Saturn and Uranus. Its discovery in 1977 was concurrent with the explosion of divination, alternative healing techniques, and a new hope for a spiritual regeneration. Chiron explores this planet's mythological background and history as well as its effect on astrology. This comprehensive book includes:

The meaning of Chiron when it appears in each house The meaning of Chiron in aspect to each planet The meaning of Chiron through each sign The mythological legacy of Chiron A Chiron ephemeris Chiron in transit Chiron as a bridge between the inner and outer planetsBased on over 700 charts from the author's personal files, Chiron is the first book to explore in depth the astrological meanings of this planet. Learn how you can incorporate Chironic wisdom in your astrological readings and your life with this groundbreaking work.

Customer Reviews:

A very good book!.......2006-10-08

I've been an astrologer for 30+ years, and have a large library on the subject. I have a particular fondness for this one because it is the only book, whether on Chiron (of which I have several) or others relevant to chart interpretation, which revealed my "life plan" adequately (which is, as one might surmise, indicated by Chiron's placement in my chart). As for Clow's references to Nibiru ("the strange planet" another reader spoke of), I thought it pertinent. Of course, I am a Zecharius Sitchin fan, but I think most astrologers believe there is at least one more planet out there (12 signs, 12 planets). Barbara Clow, to some, might be an acquired taste, but ah, the irony of astrology proponents calling others "far out".

On the Mark- Off the Mark.......2003-04-23

Clow's book was one of the first to delve in the significance of Chiron. However, it is an uneven reference piece. There are too many pages devoted to charts and the chapter on the Mythology of Chiron could be reduced to a page or two (for me, anyway). There isn't enough on the powerful transits of Chiron to the Natal chart. Her under-pinning theory rings true, but it all gets a little New Age and long winded. However, when the book hits the mark, it hits true. Astrologers need an updated and more concise edition of this landmark book.

Too Weird.......2001-10-18

This has got to be one of the all-out WEIRDEST astrology books I've ever read or bought! If you're a Uranus/Neptune-type, you'll adore this book, but some of us are a little more, ahem, grounded. Clow has all kinds of theories about Chiron that I found really hard to digest. She barely mentions the effects of Chiron transits, aspects to Chiron, Chiron in the the signs and houses; instead she goes on and on about some undiscovered planet she has given some strange name, and talks about chakras and psychic healing. Any book that uses a phrase like "star-f---er" is not going to do it for me.

Wonderful book.......1999-03-07

I really enjoyed this book! It is one of only two books that I know of that really explain Chiron in depth. Chiron is such an important aspect to astrology, and so few people (certainly very few lay people like myself) actually KNOW about it! I think the author does an excellent job on organizing the sections of the book. In particular, I like the fact that she breaks down Chiron's effect by sign and by house, as separate sections. I also like the way she describes how specific kinds of aspects (like Chiron trine Saturn, etc.) affect you, rather than just talking about "aspects" in general. Because she does have so many subsections, some of the subsections are brief and, thus, necessarily superficial. For instance, I would really like to know more about the interaction between Chiron and Pluto when they oppose each other! Also, I find that part of the focus of the author is based on the aspects of the people in her immediate surroundings, rather than the general public. On the other hand, she speaks of what she knows, and has studied Chiron in relation to a LOT of clients, so her personal knowledge is pretty broad-based. Very upbeat, and fun, book, overall.

Average customer rating:

An excellent introductory book on planetary geology

Planetary Landscapes
R. Greeley
Manufacturer: Springer
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

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ASIN: 0412051818

Book Description

This introduction to planetary geology concentrates on the surface features of the planets and satellites of our Solar System. The author first discusses the primary processes that shape our planet, Earth, and the geomorphology of the objects in the Solar System. The second edition includes new information about Venus and a new chapter on Neptune. The book is beautifully illustrated with high-resolution black-and-white photographs from recent space probes and orbiting spacecraft, and with explanatory diagrams. Each chapter starts with a description of the general physiography and terrain units, then the geomorphic processes that created them are discussed. Finally a synopsis of the geologic evolution of the surface is given. The selected references at the end include original papers, review articles and books.

Customer Reviews:

An excellent introductory book on planetary geology.......1997-03-17

This book is written by a world class planetary geologist. In it, he has done an excellent job of bringing together the diverse threads of the planetary geology. The book is written on an introductory level, and so the language is not so technical that a novice cannot follow it. However, it might be helpful for the reader who has no background to read another introductory text first (this would then act as an 'upper level' introductory text). The book is strewn with quarter to full page photographs from the various space missions to the planets--and indeed, it is the best illustrated introductory text available. The author does provide a good overview of all the geological processes and imaging technology in his initial chapters, which is then followed by his descriptions of the planets. Overall, this text gets a very good recommendation, and readers will find themselves engrossed in the spectacular photography for hours on end

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Astrology, Karma and Transformation
Stephen Arroyo
Manufacturer: CRCS Publications,U.S.
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

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ASIN: 0916360032

Worlds Beyond: The Thrill of Planetary Exploration as told by Leading Experts

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Worlds Beyond: The Thrill of Planetary Exploration as told by Leading Experts

Manufacturer: Cambridge University Press
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

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Pluto and Charon: Ice Worlds on the Ragged Edge of the Solar System

ASIN: 0521520010

Book Description

With the development of space-travel, we have begun to explore worlds beyond Earth. Ten planetary scientists describe their favorite planet, what they have discovered, and what drives them to explore. Each tells a personal story, ranging across the breadth of the solar system--from hellish Mercury to the snows of Pluto; from telescopic to robotic exploration; from adventures in Antarctica to painting planetary landscapes; from the frustration of failure to the joy of success. Worlds Beyond is the third in a series of books bringing together leading space scientists to describe their work. Our Worlds was the first of its kind in revealing the inner motivations of planetary scientists. Our Universe explored the vastness of the Universe itself. Now, with Worlds Beyond, we return to our home--the solar system--to visit those fascinating new worlds beyond our own. S. Alan Stern is Director of the Department of Space Studies at Southwest Research Institute in Boulder, Colorado. He is a planetary scientist and astrophysicist with observational and theoretical interests. Stern is an avid pilot and a principal investigator in NASA's planetary research program, and he was selected to be a NASA space shuttle mission specialist finalist. He is the author of more than one hundred papers and popular articles. He is also the author of Pluto & Charon (Wiley, 1997).

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Non Fiction
Now I see how it can be done
Amazing and important book, even 10 years later
This needs to be required reading in schools
Makes One Think

Mining the Sky (Helix Book)
John S. Lewis
Manufacturer: Basic Books
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

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ASIN: 0201328194

Book Description

While we worry over the depletion of the earth's natural resources, the pollution of our planet, and the challenges presented by the earth's growing population, billions of dollars worth of metals, fuels, and life-sustaining substances await us in nearby space. In this visionary book, noted planetary scientist John S. Lewis explains how we can mine these precious metals from the asteroids, comets, and planets in our own solar system for use in space construction projects. And this is just one of the possibilities. Join John S. Lewis as he contemplates milking the moons of Mars for water and hollowing out asteroids for space-bound homesteaders-all while demonstrating the economic and technical feasibility of plans that were once considered pure fiction

Customer Reviews:

Non Fiction.......2007-09-03

Mining the Sky : Untold Riches from the Asteroids, Comets, and Planets
by John S. Lewis takes a balance looked at the possibilities and/or necessities of space exploration and exploitation for economic reasons.

There are a lot of resources out there, and finite resources here, and he looks at both private and public involvement in the activity.

Now I see how it can be done.......2007-07-28

A short way into this book, I went to the back of the book to see if the author is a journalist or a real scientist. That's because it was so well written. He's a scientist alright. And, it wasn't long before I encountered the dense exposition I expected.

So, there's a dusting of light reading, especially the scifi scenes that serve as introductions to each chapter. The craftsmanship of those would make a professional scifi writer envious.

Then there's the info-packed core of each chapter. My chemistry and astrophysics is practically non-existant and I couldn't keep up, but I got the gist of it. I still appreciated the effort to explain things. Other authors would skip the explanation and merely state the conclusion. That would leave me wondering how trustworthy that statement was.

In the end, I felt I had a good overview of how the future might take shape.

I should warn you of that, at the start of the book, the author presents a version of 15th century Chinese explorations (he doesn't mention the name 'Zheng He') that is a little shakey historically. But blaming "the court eunuchs" makes too good a metaphor to let that get in the way. However, for a couple chapters at the end of the book he turns preachy -- essentially labelling dissenters from expansion into space as "court eunuchs", then disassociating himself from the political left and right by sloppily redefining their positions. I guess he couldn't trust us to make our own way thru political thickets. Fortunately, the just-the-facts bulk of the book make up for these few tantrums.

Amazing and important book, even 10 years later.......2007-01-10

This is a wonderful book. The author lays out, very plainly, how the vast resources of the solar system will enable a prosperous future for 10 quadrillion people within half a millenium, and at the same time save the Earth from the economic and ecological dangers it now faces.

Parts of the book are a bit dated now, including the "new afterword by the author" which was written in 1997 (only a year after the book was first published). I'd love to see a new edition that takes into account the developments (or lack thereof) of the last ten years. But the vast majority of the book still applies just fine. I highly recommend this book to anyone with any concern about humanity's future.

This needs to be required reading in schools.......2007-01-02

Mining the sky is an encouraging answer to those who worry about overpopulation, global warming, and environmental degradation. It challenges us to expand our limited perspective and seek solutions to the worlds problems in unconventional places. Lewis very logically and reasonably explores the potential wealth of our solar system, and lays out a very feasable framework to follow in order to utilize the seeminly unlimmited resources in our backyard.

Makes One Think.......2006-01-01

Mining the Sky is an excellent book for any person who has had any association with earthly mineral extraction and the potential for utilization of space-based resources on the Moon, Mars, and Near-Earth Asteroids (NEAs). While the book is nearly a decade old, the primary message remains poignant and relevant even more so in the 21st Century. It is my hope that the author will do a second edition in the near future. With recent robotic missions to the Moon, Mars, asteroids and comets having taken place since the book was first published, I am certain that there is even much more to now be said about the economics of space-based mineral commerce.

How to Personalize the Outer Planets: The Astrology of Uranus, Neptune, and Pluto (Llewellyn's New World Astrology Series)

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How to Personalize the Outer Planets: The Astrology of Uranus, Neptune, and Pluto (Llewellyn's New World Astrology Series)

Manufacturer: Llewellyn Pubns
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

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ASIN: 0875423892

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fine debut
Dream a little Dream
The Dream held civilization together...
Interesting first novel combining space opera and dreams
AuthorZone.Com Book Review

Dreamers: A Novel of the Silent Empire
Steven Harper
Manufacturer: Roc
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

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ASIN: 0451458435
Release Date: 2001-09-05

Book Description

THE DREAM
...is a plateau of mental existence where people are able to communicate by the power of their thoughts alone.

The Silent
These people-known as the Silent-find that the Dream is threatened by a powerful Silent capable of seizing control of other people's bodies against their will...and may be causing tremors within the Dream itself.

THE RISK
And if the "normals" learn of this, they will do anything to capture the Silent for use as a weapon - and the Dream itself may be shattered forever...

Customer Reviews:

fine debut.......2006-03-10

I guess I should stop reading SF just because it involves gay main characters. It was never my genre, I generally find it too depressing, as it is the case with this book.

This is a fine book indeed: the author's lack of experience is clear only because of some clumsy character descriptions. The writing is already satisfying, the pacing good and the characters finely drawn and consistent.

It is the setting which is depressing: the world... well the universe we are given here is complex, believable, complete... just depressing: plenty of worlds where the law of the strongest is the only law, corruption, slavery, abuse are the unhappy rules. No way we can escape our own grim reality because we find it here, finely pictured, incredibly cruel.

The idea of the "Dream" I found extremely interesting, new and original. I think that just that makes the reading of this book worthwhile.

As mentioned above the two main characters are explicitly gay: sensitive reader should not shudder, though: there is no explicit sex, just a bit of believable, "manly" romance.

Dream a little Dream.......2005-01-12

The Dream is a place in the collective subconsciousness of The Empire, an uncountable number of souls strewn across a universe. It is how interplantary governments and corporations communicate.

The Silent are a small percentage of beings who can interact with the Dream. They are the messengers in this vast network, the ones who send and receive the information from planet to planet. Some regard them as a commodity, others as gods.

Kendi Weaver is one of The Silent. He has been a commodity, and now he wants to rescue other Silent from the same life. The only way to find them is through the Dream, but something is destroying the Dream.

Sejal is Silent. He is neither Commodity nor God, but a free citizen, and he wants to stay that way. Fortunately, Nature provided a way for him to keep his talent hidden. Unfortunately, he may be part of the key to what is destroying the Dream.

If the Dream dies, so will The Empire.

Steven Harper's story will keep your attention riveted on reading the story fromt he first page to the last.

The Dream held civilization together..........2004-06-26

It was a plane of existence that only the Silent could reach - a plane that allowed them to talk to, to reach other Silent Ones, no matter how far away, whether they were across the sea or across the galaxy. Aliens taught mankind about the Dream and soon they too are using it. It kept empires together. It allowed for interplanetary trade and helped corporations to function. Slipspace may allow ships to move about at faster-than-light travel, but the Dream allowed people to communicate and allowed civilization to exist.
So the Silent were important to have, but it was also important to keep them under control. So when a boy is found to be a super-Silent at the same time the Dream is starting to break apart, fear starts to overwhelm reason. Governments will kill to have him. They're even willing to go to war for him.
Somebody better do something fast, before the Dream is lost and civilization is lost with it!

Interesting first novel combining space opera and dreams.......2004-03-11

Dreamer, by Steven Harper

Players in my games and acquainted with my RPG characters know that dreams are a theme I enjoy. Dreamer is unusual in that it is a melding of space opera and these themes and many of the ideas that I employ in my games are coincidentally mirrored here. All sentient minds are connected to a plane of existence called the Dream, and a few individuals can access this plane for communication, and sometimes more.

The plot revolves around twin axes...the story of a young powerful dream sought by various sides, and a blight on the Dream itself. Interesting characterization and intriguing characters add to the unusual locales, both in and out of the Dream. In our time of tumult about such things, I was pleasantly surprised at the tenderness of a same-sex relationship as depicted in the book.

There are problems with pacing, its clearly the first book in a series, and some of the action of the book feels padded, and the ending clearly is ready to ramp up to sequels. These structural difficulties, while noticeable, do not greatly impact the enjoyment of the novel. The ideas, worlds and milieu carry the novel successfully.

Recommended.

AuthorZone.Com Book Review.......2003-07-24

A VERY complex but easy to follow fantacy/mystery.
The author is brilliant. His characters well developed and the enviornment well depicted.

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