Venus / Ben Bova

Venus

by Ben Bova

science fiction

copyright 2000

part read in January 2020

rated 4/10: bad but could be read

I wonder if someone said, Hey Mr Bova, here's an article on weird ways to get to Venus, why don't you write a story about it? So Bova describes a ridiculous spaceship, adds cardboard characters, love interest and a possible villain... and it is published.

The author also shows signs of being an ancient, narrow-minded person. A group of people get together for a casual discussion, they are all dressed up in suits. How horrible it was in the past, thinks one of them, When people used to wear old untidy clothes. And they would have tattoos. Ugh!

Sorry, that is a very "disgruntled old man" view.

Just before page 100 the main character realises that he is a useless fool. He's right, I'm just surprised at how long it took him to realise the truth. And then... he does not change. Well, not as far as I can be bothered reading.

The spaceship has some interesting features. There is no space to move in the control room. The labs are cramped. The mess is said to be the only space where two people can sit and meet. What about the viewing room? With room for two to sit and chat. Has it disappeared?

Oh, and they spot the metal wreckage of an earlier spaceship. One serious problem: the spaceship was made of "cermet" -- which is said to be stronger than metal -- but *not* metal.

Back at the start of the book, the evil father is about to cut off his son's allowance. Yet, without question -- the father bankrolls the building of his son's spaceship!

The plot is slipshod, characters are unbelievable and unlikeable. The science may be "hard" but it is unlikely and it is inconsistent.

It's slow. It's silly. It's rubbish. I have no interest in what happens next. I've stopped reading.

Nick Lethbridge  /  consulting dexitroboper
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"I took out a loan to pay for an exorcism. If I don't pay it back, I'm going to get repossessed." … Olaf Falafel
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