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dustydigger
Posted 2015-03-16 2:34 AM (#9891 - in reply to #9888)
Subject: Re: The Definitive 1950s Reading Challenge		Quote Reply



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Location: UK		Jim,like you I greatly prefer Starman Jones to theClarke. I wonder if RAH had problems with the editors with this one,because the ethical situation,lying to get a job etc isnt the usual squeaky clean upright sort of thing expected of young heroes. I know at the end he gets heavily fined,but its still a bit dodgy. There are all sorts of interesting things in the book,from the rather stark home life with the unpleasant stepfather to be,the rather mediaeval Guild structure of society the fun encounters later with the alien centaur like race,and of course,Sam - liar, thief,deserter and all round shifty character!An unusual sidekick for a 1950s juvenile hero!
The tech is very odd. They have spaceships and computers,yet,just like sailing ships of yore,course positions and corrections have to be done by hand,and trig and log functions all have to be done from tables! I was wishing I could give Max my daughters smartphone,which would have sorted things out in seconds!. Its very strange just how limited ideas about computers were at that time.
I really like Starman Jones,well plotted,well written,full of twists and surprises. A fun read. And here the alien s make no bones about wanting to kill people. No transcendence like Clarke. I am still sceptical about that!
By the way,so sorry for the badly done post earlier.I had a stroke last year,and though I have recovered well I have been left with a heavy handed right typing hand!. I make a lot of errors,and extra letters get between words. Normally I edit,but as I was finishing that post I got interrupted,and it was a couple of hours before I got back to it,and I was too late to correct it. I am cringing looking at it! lol. Make allowances for me

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