Reviewer: bpwhittaker (see more about me) from Bellefonte, PA United States
A friend of mine lent me a copy of this book, and I couldn't put it down. The descriptions of the inhabitants of Prism shows Foster's fabulous imagination. I give it 4 stars for the wonderful descriptive qualities alone. It would be next to impossible for two different people to imagine the same kinds of creatures as set forth in the book. The only downside to the book is that the plot/story development is fairly typical/ametuerish sci-fi. But the monsters: Very imaginative! Worth a read.
| <Miles_V> |
hehe - well let me begin then :) |
| <BaldScrib> |
k |
| <Miles_V> |
Alan Dean Foster, while lacking some of the late Asimovs academic credentials, is nonetheless one smart man. He holds an MFA in film from UCLA and has been a commercially successful writer for more than three decades now. |
| <Miles_V> |
I am struck by Fosters ease at writing fantasy, hard science fiction and even historical novels. Ill tell you about them a bit later, but I want to start with the very hard-science Sentenced To Prism. |
| <Miles_V> |
"Sentenced to Prism" is a science fiction novel taking place in the Humanx Commonwealth milleu as created by Foster in a number of other books and series. |
| <Miles_V> |
"Sentenced to Prism" is a science fiction novel taking place in the Humanx Commonwealth milleu as created by Foster in a number of other books and series. |
| <Miles_V> |
oops :) |
| <Miles_V> |
The book gives us a view of a future interstellar union of planets where multi-planet corporations are as powerful as the government. Everyone in the field has done this treatment before, but Foster doesnt dwell on the machinations of the economic-political spectrum in some future time. |
| <Miles_V> |
Rather, we are quickly whisked away into arrogant Evan Orgells journey to a new planet that his company is seeking to exploit. Surprise Orgells a company man, but Foster will make him a nice round character before shutting the story down. |
| <Miles_V> |
Approximately a third of the way into the story a whole lot of things happened. We moved from Orgell dealing with his all-powerfull suit to a really scary few moments where he lost every convenience and safety factor society could give him and finally ended up with a buddy story with some unique twists. |
| <Miles_V> |
Chief among them, and worth exploring, are the new life forms the photovores, who live on light. This is a crystalline world, but the creatures inhabiting her are nothing like a little knick-knack that might be on your shelf. |
| <Miles_V> |
<--- me takes a few hasty coffee gulps |
| <Miles_V> |
Orgell must work hard to overcome his prejudices towards carbon-based life forms, thus gently scolding the reader with an anti-prejudice platform. Theres nothing as moralistic as Star Trek here, however. |
| <Miles_V> |
I also found Fosters view of his main characters society to be a call to action for our own. In Evans society people live in suits pressurized, specialized exoskeletons with a variety of functions. Theyre self-cleaning, intelligent and just a real nice thing to wear around, well, everywhere. |
| <Miles_V> |
So thats what the world does. There are special suits for swimming (you might want to sip a fresh fruit juice while letting the suit pilot you through the waves), suits for work (a quick glance at caste and status) and all manner of industry-related suits. |
| <Miles_V> |
Unfortunately, man lives by suit alone, and only when Evan Orgell is forced into a dangerous world without his suit does he find out how much of his humanity is truly missing. In a delightfully wicked twist, Foster rips his heros new-found humanity away just as he finds what a gift he has been given. |
| * Miles_V |
take BaldScrib's pulse (just checking if my only listner is still awake;) |
| <Miles_V> |
In science fiction carbon-silicate life forms have been done before, most notably in "Uller Uprising" by H. Beam Piper. But those writers did not have the tool of fractal geometry readily available to implement for offensive and defensive evolution, and Mr. Foster makes sure that it plays a very large part in the creatures that are met on Prism. |
| <BaldScrib> |
yes |
| <BaldScrib> |
continue |
| * Miami |
is listening intently |
| <Miami> |
continue |
| <Miles_V> |
hi there Miami!!! Welcome :D |
| <Miles_V> |
While this book is another of his 'deadly planets', like "Midworld", the sentient creatures on this planet do not think in patterns anywhere near ours. While "Midworld" either destroys or absorbs, Prism either mines the resources or adapts to new methods. |
| <BaldScrib> |
Yikes! |
| <Miami> |
that's just great |
| <BaldScrib> |
lol |
| <Miles_V^> |
erm - what a time to get a disconnect!!! |
| <Miles_V^> |
rehi :) |
| <Miles_V^> |
Sentenced To Prism is filled with a solid plot, several likeable characters, and some beautiful descriptions of an alien landscape. Given the special effects technology that now exists, as well as Fosters film background, I would not be surprised to see a film in the local cinema <grin>!!! |
| * Miami |
passes out the string to connect all the cans if that happens again |
| <Miles_V^> |
hehe |
| <BaldScrib> |
rofl |
| <Miles_V^> |
thx Miami - I'll tie my side down |
| <Miles_V^> |
say Miami - did you get round to this book ? |
| <BaldScrib> |
very nice presentation Miles_V^ thank you |
| <Miami> |
yep...good book I thought |
| * Miles_V^ |
is now known as Miles_V |
| <Miami> |
started slow and didn't think I'd like it but it improved |
| <Miles_V> |
yes - StP is one of those books I could recommend to a new SF reader |
| <Miami> |
ditto what BS just said on the presentation |
| <BaldScrib> |
I had a little trouble with the innocence of the main character |
| <Miles_V> |
since I really enjoyed ADF's exploration of the Silicate aliens |
| <BaldScrib> |
and yes i thought it started slow as well |
| <BaldScrib> |
it is a very interesting subject |
| * Miles_V |
agrees - it took off in about the 2nd third of the book |
| <BaldScrib> |
however i thought some of it was a bit well ... out there |
| <Miles_V> |
but that 1st part did give us the background from which Orgell came from |
| <Miles_V> |
the Suits etc |
| <Miami> |
some of the details were pretty good |
| <Miami> |
the snowflakes in particular |
| <BaldScrib> |
yes the snowflakes were nice |
| <Miami> |
describing them |
| <Miami> |
all different colrs...wouldn't that be something to see ? |
| <BaldScrib> |
some of the defensive mechanisms i found hard to grab as hard science |
| <Miles_V> |
actually ADF has written dosens of books, many of whom create and expand the Human-Thranx universe |
| <Miles_V> |
wherein this book is but slightly part of |
| <Miles_V> |
Miami - immagine the headache without suitable filters ;) |
| <MerrysPla> |
-= Alan Dean Foster's Sentenced to Prism DD 03/28! Barry Hugart's Bridge of Birds DD 04/25!=- (Discussions are held at 20h00 GMT and the new book will be announced afterwards.) |
| <Miles_V> |
BaldScrib - how so? |
| <Miami> |
yea |
| <Miles_V> |
you found natural lasers a bit hard to immagine :P~~~ |
| <BaldScrib> |
I thought some of the discriptions of the silocate life more cartoonish |
| <BaldScrib> |
actually the natural lasers i could grab onto more easily |
| <BaldScrib> |
it would make sense ... the doctors were another story |
| <Miles_V> |
i did enjoy the idea of having a surgeon like those of the associate work on me during an operation |
| <Miami> |
with all the built-in features in the suits (doctors' knives,tools,etc) you'd think they'd be quite heavy as casual-wear |
| <Miles_V> |
but it was probably streatching things a bit granted |
| <BaldScrib> |
would put tiffany to shame |
| <BaldScrib> |
again i think this book is a good beginners book into sci/fi |
| <BaldScrib> |
the moral lessens a bit superficial in that they are obvious |
| <Miles_V> |
yes - but even now when i re-read it again I really enjoyed it - although it is fairly escapist |
| <Miles_V> |
have any of you read other books by ADF? |
| <Miami> |
Evan's Boss' suit appeared to be far advanced....it was like wearing a computer. |
| <Miami> |
no I havn't Miles |
| <BaldScrib> |
i read a spellsinger |
| <Miles_V> |
do yourself a favour and browse his website ---> http://alandeanfoster.com |
| <Miles_V> |
have a look at all the books and other material he has produced over the years |
| <Miles_V> |
look under Bibliography --> Novels for a list |
| <BaldScrib> |
arrk! i hate site that re-size my browser |
| <BaldScrib> |
wow he did a lot of star trek |
| <Miles_V> |
yes and it included --> Star Trek - The Motion Picture - original story treatment - Paramount, 1978 |
| <Miles_V> |
he even did a few Star Wars books |
| <Miles_V> |
well :) |
| <Miami> |
smiilar then to the doctors creating organs vs Star Trk's "replicators" |
| <Miami> |
similar |
| <Miles_V> |
seeing as to how the associative is probably already taking over, is there any further questions ? |
| <Miles_V> |
or comments ? |
| <Miami> |
was neat somewhat how "tendils" were used to connect to the brain like a modem |
| <BaldScrib> |
yea |
| <BaldScrib> |
they are doing that now |
| <Miles_V> |
I can recommend another of his books ---> The Tar-Aiym Krang |
| <Miami> |
like we all have ESP but very few can use it |
| <BaldScrib> |
just saw a PBS story on how they are helping the blind with chip inplants |
| <Miles_V> |
the main character in that book is called Phillip Lynx or 'Flinx' and he has a whole series devoted to this character |
| <BaldScrib> |
yes Miami i liked the way peter hamilton explored that |
| <Miles_V> |
bio-chip-telepahy |
| <BaldScrib> |
yes some where and some where native ESP |
| <BaldScrib> |
but he gave non-esp people the capasity via implants |
| <Miami> |
how about Azure's Community...everybody treated has a role and no "leader" they ran it as a (another Star Trek word) "Collective" |
| <BaldScrib> |
also the information retrieval |
| <BaldScrib> |
can we say utopia |
| <BaldScrib> |
ha how long have we been dreaming of that |
| <Miles_V> |
blue tooth ;) |
| <Miles_V> |
just gotta find the brain hookup :D |
| <BaldScrib> |
lol .. get in line |
| <Miami> |
I'd fry my brain trying to hook it to the computer |
| <Miles_V> |
fried neurons!- Yum! |
| <BaldScrib> |
the loyalty that the silocates showed and the willingness to allow him in as part of the associate is another part of that utopian dream |
| <BaldScrib> |
but i guess that is part of escapism ... the feel good all encompassing solutions |
| <Miles_V> |
hehe |
| <Miami> |
ya...Azure saves his life and then he repaid it with the busks or something like that |
| <MerrysPla> |
-= Alan Dean Foster's Sentenced to Prism DD 03/28! Barry Hugart's Bridge of Birds DD 04/25!=- (Discussions are held at 20h00 GMT and the new book will be announced afterwards.) |
| <Miles_V> |
the pace was fast - perhaps too fast, but it was a short novel |
| <Miles_V> |
I suppose ADF could have stretched out the book a lot more |
| <BaldScrib> |
i don't think it was that type of book |
| <Miami> |
not bad for my first Foster read...may read others in the future |
| <BaldScrib> |
it had a mission and i thought it accomplished it very well |
| <BaldScrib> |
i will read more of him |
| <BaldScrib |
i like escapism once in awhile |
| <Miles_V> |
well peeps - I am glad you enjoyed it :D |
| <Miami> |
I liked how the planet had it's own defenses (the pool) to give protection |
| <Miles_V> |
wiould have been nice to have MerrysPla here, but she couldn't make it today |
| <BaldScrib> |
Thank you Miles_V ... sorry there wasn't more here to enjoy what you so abely prepared for us |
| <Miami> |
ya..small turnout today |
| <Miles_V> |
But none-the-less our next book is going to be Barry Hugart's Bridge of Birds |
| <BaldScrib> |
who is doing that one? |
| <Miles_V> |
this will be moderated by MerrysPla on the 25th of April |
| <Miami> |
good job Miles |
| <Miles_V> |
Thanks BaldScrib / Miami for being here today :D |
| <Miami> |
did you reccomend this book (Prism) ? |
| <BaldScrib> |
my pleasure |
| <BaldScrib> |
;) |
| <Miles_V> |
next book I nominate will have more meat ;) BaldScrib was saying he wanted to do Dune or somesuch ... ;) |
| <BaldScrib> |
sure wish more would get involved |
| <BaldScrib> |
yikes! |
| <Miami> |
I loved the Dune movies |
| <Miles_V> |
Miami - yes I did |
| <BaldScrib> |
i would have enjoyed them more if i hadn't read the books |
| <Miles_V> |
The television series was very well done and more true to the book than the origional movie |
| <BaldScrib> |
yes i thought so too |
| <Miles_V> |
but the origional movie did have some great scenes and characters :D |
| <Miami> |
I havn't read the books yet...I'm sure they're far more detailed |
| <Miles_V> |
Miami - that would be a major understatement |
| <BaldScrib> |
they are fascinating |
| <Miami> |
have you seen the Children of Dune Movies ? |
| <Miami> |
looooong |
| <Miles_V> |
you have a fantastic book ahead of you if you haven't yet read Dune :DDD |
| <randeza> |
!rules |
| <Miles_V> |
\\'elcome to #bookclub randeza :) |
| <Miles_V> |
but o-so worth reading Miami |
| <Miami> |
I'll have to find it because I like those kinds of books |
| <BaldScrib> |
I have read the entire series twice |
| <Miles_V> |
I will have to read the prequels sometime all at once |
| <BaldScrib> |
and have read some of Brian Herbert's add on's |
| <Miles_V> |
but 'Dune' it self I have read more than 10 times over the years |
| <Miami> |
wow |
| <Miles_V> |
It is right Up there Miami - Frank Herbert did a great job |
| <BaldScrib> |
and i thought i was nuts into my third reading of Lord of the Rings |
| <Miles_V> |
<----- semi-loony : Certified |
| <BaldScrib> |
yes it's a wonderful epic |
| <Miami> |
rofl...I've read LOTR ~15-20 times |
| <BaldScrib> |
eeep |
| <Miami> |
The Hobbit even more |
| * Miles_V |
prints out a loony certificate and hands it to Miami |
| <Miami> |
:) |
| <Miles_V> |
:D |
| <Miami> |
getting up there w/ JK Rowlings |
| <BaldScrib> |
o.O |
| <Miami> |
kids' books but like them for some odd reason |
| <Miles_V> |
ever read Raymond E. Feist's "Magician" ?? |
| <Miami> |
The Similarrion was a difficult read |
| <Miami> |
no I havn't |
| <Miles_V> |
aaaaaarg the Silmarillion sucked!!!! |
| <BaldScrib> |
oh yea that one was rough |
| <randeza> |
I have Miles, I'm a big fan of Feist! |
| <Miles_V> |
I wanted to slit my wrists! |
| <Miles_V> |
hi there randeza :D - yes it is a great read :D |
| <Miles_V> |
Miami - try Magician :) |
| <BaldScrib> |
that's the riftwar series Miles_V ? |
| <Miami> |
k |
| <Miles_V> |
yes BaldScrib |
| <randeza> |
you read Talon of the Silverhawk yet, Miles_V? |
| <Miles_V> |
how ANY sane person can read the Silmarillion and remain so is difficult to believe |
| <Miles_V> |
randeza - not yet |
| <Miles_V> |
it a case of too many books & too little time |
| <Miami> |
hehe....I've read Sim 3 times I believe |
| <BaldScrib> |
has anyone checked the condition of the next book |
| <Miami> |
each time just as confused as the first tmie |
| <Miami> |
time |
| <Miles_V> |
you poor man... |
| <randeza> |
ain't that the truth hehe... Sim I havent read yet, just stayed so far reading LOTR over and over, lol |
| <Miami> |
I figure I'll eventually understand it on my death bed |
| * Miles_V |
has to go - making tee for the wife :D |
| <Miles_V> |
off for the night then :D --- Good night!!! |
| <Miles_V> |
tea |
| <BaldScrib> |
k Miles_V thanks agaian |
| <Miami> |
night MIles |