[AQG]∎ Libro Fallen Angels Larry Niven Jerry Pournelle Mike Flynn 9780743435826 Books

Fallen Angels Larry Niven Jerry Pournelle Mike Flynn 9780743435826 Books

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Fallen Angels Larry Niven Jerry Pournelle Mike Flynn 9780743435826 Books

I'll admit, it's been a few decades since I touched bases with Larry Niven and Jerry Pournelle. I've enjoyed their imaginative work and thought I'd check in again after so much time. And since it's been some time I can't ding them too much on their prognostication of the future; what was once, arguably, uncertainty about global warming would now be called full blown science denial. And the depiction of environmentalists as against all technology (because they are against dirty technology) is simplistic and as much of a straw man today, as it was then. But again, predictions of the future viewed from the future are certainly somewhat unfair.

I do remember these guys as better writers and it's not just the fog of nostalgia. The story is thin and the characters so one dimensional that they tend to blend together. The characters each display their knowledge of science and technology, but seem to think that makes them instant experts on political and social matters and, of course, superior to the "Greens" they despise. Little is given in back story on the Greens except that in their supposed hysteria about global warming, they tried to head it off and in their technological ineptitude, screwed it up bringing on an ice age.

The characters are mostly science fiction fans and that's what kind of stuck in my craw as I've been one for years. I know there is more intelligent and thoughtful science fiction out there as well as intelligent and thoughtful fans to read it who bear little resemblance to those portrayed in the book. I am also aware that there's always been a strand of smug simplistic libertarian politics in science fiction which I generally just ignore if the writing is good enough. In this case the writing is not up to the authors demonstrated abilities in their other books.

Bottom line, I was disappointed.


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Fallen Angels Larry Niven Jerry Pournelle Mike Flynn 9780743435826 Books Reviews

Larry Niven is a writer of terrific hard science novels. In "Fallen Angels" he also shows again that he is a political animal with very Libertarian points of view. I first read this novel back in the1990's, way before Owl Ghwore and his ilk made piles of money preaching to the foolish and the indoctrinated about "global warming". Read this outstanding novel, then read it again.
Had a first edition of this years back and it has gone missing. Had to buy another copy to re-read it.

Also a great book by Walter Dean Myers by the same title
No, this isn't Fahrenheit 451. It isn't trying to be. It's a love-letter from three successful and popular SF authors to SF fandom... and, in the process, they manage to poke a lot of holier-than-thou environmentalists in the eye with a sharp stick. Lots of fun, lots of recognizable characters to fen of a certain age. Probably worth four stars, but I'm giving it five to bring the average up from the Grievous Gus types who have reviewed it.
Niven and Pournelle wrote this back in the 70s but it holds up incredibly well. Michael Flynn co-authored with the dynamic duo on this and its portrayal of science fiction fandom alone makes it worth the read. The current state of our space program stands in waning contrast to even the modest capabilities showcased in the novel, and it serves as a cautionary tale in that should we abandon space--which is possible as the International Space Station is due to be de-orbited in 2024 as this is written--what we may lose may one day cost us more than we can bear (microwave power satellites, naked dances on glaciers, and life saving discoveries made in orbiting laboratories included).

The characters are vividly drawn and the interweaving of the fictional culture--the government, fandom, and 'Angels'--sucks you right in. No spoilers here, but if you are a fan of Niven and Pournelle in particular, or science fiction in general, you won't be disappointed.
Well written book alluding to climate change. The citations regarding causes and potential changes will alter some to change their opinion on climate change. Well written and apparently well researched. The storyline is set in a time in the future. What happens when the 'Greens' get all of what they want without regard for the human industry and personal freedom. Very enjoyable book.
First note is this is a book for older active SF fans from the convention circuit. Some of us even recognize people in it. (The guy in the hot tub, wearing a towel and a tuxedo top? Friend of mine.) If you were not in that community, some of the references will be obscure.

This book is remarkably prescient. It has a dark, PC, anti-technologic world where people can be terrified into political wimpery via media, spout party propaganda from fear of retribution, and global warming has been used as a boogeyman to scare the masses into sacrificing self-determination in favor of central authoritarian control.

The only flaw is the authors foresaw SF fandom being the educated, literate, scientific holdouts against mainstreaming pseudoscience and eco-fascism.

Instead, that crowd embraced it and are its ephors.
There is a well put together world here where the threat of global warming and the actions taken thereof have resulted in the return of the glaciers. The realities of this situation are quite scary and the implications for the world profound. This provides an excellent background for the adventure/love story to sci-fi fandom that keeps things moving along. The characters are unforgettable and make the story fun to read.

I found the following sentence quite interesting. If I had read this book back in the early 90s when it was written, I would have thought this was the most ridiculous statement in the book.

“He said that the alleged objectivity of materialist science was an invention of heterosexual, white males, so we shouldn't use that as a basis for judgement."

In 2019, this statement is actually being uttered in the halls of Higher Education. Let's hope the rest of this book doesn't also come true; although the weather report for the next few days predicts the Midwest will have some of the coldest temperatures ever experienced!
I'll admit, it's been a few decades since I touched bases with Larry Niven and Jerry Pournelle. I've enjoyed their imaginative work and thought I'd check in again after so much time. And since it's been some time I can't ding them too much on their prognostication of the future; what was once, arguably, uncertainty about global warming would now be called full blown science denial. And the depiction of environmentalists as against all technology (because they are against dirty technology) is simplistic and as much of a straw man today, as it was then. But again, predictions of the future viewed from the future are certainly somewhat unfair.

I do remember these guys as better writers and it's not just the fog of nostalgia. The story is thin and the characters so one dimensional that they tend to blend together. The characters each display their knowledge of science and technology, but seem to think that makes them instant experts on political and social matters and, of course, superior to the "Greens" they despise. Little is given in back story on the Greens except that in their supposed hysteria about global warming, they tried to head it off and in their technological ineptitude, screwed it up bringing on an ice age.

The characters are mostly science fiction fans and that's what kind of stuck in my craw as I've been one for years. I know there is more intelligent and thoughtful science fiction out there as well as intelligent and thoughtful fans to read it who bear little resemblance to those portrayed in the book. I am also aware that there's always been a strand of smug simplistic libertarian politics in science fiction which I generally just ignore if the writing is good enough. In this case the writing is not up to the authors demonstrated abilities in their other books.

Bottom line, I was disappointed.