Fire Time

This is one of Anderson's more satisfying novels for me. It involves a system in which a "demon star" periodically moves through the region of a planet which usually has a fairly normal earthlike climate. This disrupts the lives of a militant nomadic culture of aliens --usually they just suffer, but this time they have a strong capable leader of the Genghis Khan type (though they are not horse archers) who is leading his people to invade the more settled lands and escape the worst effects of the demon star. The settled aliens have good relations with the local human colony, some of whose small military decide to help their friends despite Terran laws against it.
Spoiler warning: My favorite moment is when the nomad leader is heroically show more killed but has a death vision of leading both races in war against the demon star. show less

For every high point, there were just as many low points in this book. Several passages were gripping in the tale the wove of two species surviving an essential apocalypse, while others are just as forgettable.

A similiar concept to Aldiss' Heliconia novels, but in reverse, a planet that goes through a very hot cycle when one of its stars approaches, causing the fall of civilization, usually. This time humans are there to help prevent it, maybe. A much shorter treatment of the ecosystem gone mad concept. Global warming long before it was a fad!

This is a story about a planet with severe global warming problems. It also has a platonic love affair and very good pacing. A fun time for Poul's fans.

Reminiscent of "Against the Fall of Night" but with its own charm, and story to tell. Poul is a master.

Anu, la gigante roja, también llamada la Estrella Cruel, El Merodeador, el Sol Demonio, El Vagabundo…se estaba aproximando a Isthar. Como cada mil años, abrasaría la tierra, secaría los ríos, agostaría los cultivos, y mataría.
La parte norte del planeta siempre era la más afectada. Sus habitantes, los bárbaros tassui, habían decidido no volver a ser las víctimas del Tiempo de Fuego y en consecuencia se lanzaron a la conquista de mejores territorios, amenazando acabar con la civilización.

Anu, la rossa e gigantesca stella compagna di Sel ed Ea, si avvicinava inesorabilmente a Ishtar, devastando con il suo calore la Terra e costringendo i barbari del Nord a migrare verso sud, lontano da quell'inferno. L'Età del Fuoco correva veloce sul pianeta... e con essa la guerra civile. Fu allora che i Tassui schierarono le proprie forze contro le armate degli invasori, in una lotta disperata per la sopravvivenza. E fu allora che i Gathering attesero spasmodicamente un aiuto da parte della colonia umana di Primavera. Fu allora, infine, che Jill Conwoy e i suoi amici decisero di salvare la civiltà di Ishtar, contando al sopraggiungere della Marina Spaziale della Federazione Terrestre. Ma la Federazione era impegnata in una guerra show more interstellare contro i Naqsa, un conflitto che sembrava senza fine. E se non vi era fine, Ishtar non poteva essere salvata… Finalista al Premio Hugo 1975 show less