Orphan Star

Is it just me or are these novels just getting better? Sure, it took a few years before ADF pumped out the second published novel (or third, chronologically,) but the story sure as hell popped along.

At first glance and in Flinx's mental flavor, it's so easy to fall into the trap of thinking this might be a YA title of '77 before we got all clunky with terms. Indeed, it feels more like a more polished and popping Heinlein juvenile, full of tough situations and some truly nasty crap going on while a basically good-hearted 17-year-old with untested mental telepathy and a fiercely loyal mini-drag tries to discover his past. You know. The little things like discovering who his parents are after having been raised an orphan.

Unfortunately for show more him, he runs headlong into child-porn rings, slavers, a corrupt universal church, murder (some of it his doing), and even a slave uprising... of which he manufactures. Sound too good to be true? Everything follows, though, and it's fun as hell.

That's right. I'm becoming a fanboy.

I'm not quite to the point where I'm raving or anything, but this is still a tight and fun read and it has no lossy quality compared to modern fiction at all. Indeed, it's standing the test of time and why aren't all you YA fans reading this great SF series???

It even leaves a wholesome taste in my mouth. It's odd. Weird. Even refreshing. :) show less

Foster, Alan Dean. Orphan Star. 1977. Pip and Flinx No. 3 (chronological). Gateway, 2013.
Orphan Star is the second book published in the Pip and Flinx series, and by this time Foster has his Human-Thranx world fully developed and has established the conflicts that will power the series for years to come. Pip has met aliens who have uses, both fair and foul, for his paranormal abilities. His search for his parents has put him in contact with the corporate villains who will reappear in various guises. The story is a clear homage (or rip off if you don’t like it) of Heinlein’s Citizen of the Galaxy. It has weathered well and is still as readable as ever. 4 stars.

The second book in this series I read, although I apparently missed something between this and For Love of Mother-Not. It wasn't too big an issue.

The world building is still a lot of fun. Flinx gets off-planet this time, chasing somebody who apparently know something about his past, although what we find out in this book seems to contradict what we found out in For Love of Mother-Not. I thought Flinx was supposed to be some sort of science experiment, but that's not referenced at all here. We do however get to meet an intriguing character who we only heard of by name and reputation in the previous book - though she doesn't get much focus. I'm interested to continue the series if only to find out more about her - and to see if Flinx's show more past starts to make sense.

Flinx's strategy in prevailing over the villains seems a bit...off. He takes a peaceful community and literally teaches them the concepts of fighting and killing. He says he's helping them fight back against people who are taking advantage of them, however we're not really shown anything that suggests the Ujurrians aren't completely happy with the deal they're getting, and the worst the villains seem to do to them before they turn is to hold them in contempt. I also wonder what the digging-holes game was supposed to do.

An overall enjoyable read, and I shall be reading more of the series when I can get my hands on them. show less

In this, chronologically the 3rd story featuring Pip and Flinx, our young red-headed vagabond, accompanied by his tenacious and deadly mini dragon, sets out in a journey to discover his roots. Pip, unsure of his parental origins, seeks to discover who and where his real parents are. His official full name is Philip Lynx but it is really his adopted name. He was raised by Mother Mastiff as described in For Love of Mother-Not and is not really sure of his origins. He travels from place to place, in pursuit of the belligerent Conda Challis who wants to use Flinx's psi powers to unwrap the mystery of some rare and expensive crystals that have a hidden secret. These crystals affect the behaviour of anyone who possesses them, and Challis show more wants to exploit these properties without being affected himself. Also Flinx travels to Earth in the hope of finding information about his history in the records there. He then travels to a planet held under special Edict, and discovers strange bear like natives that have been partially domesticated by a bitter and twisted woman, using them to serve her corrupted ends. Flinx is caught up in the middle of all this political wrangling and brings his own solution to the situation. This is another engaging story by Foster, with less technical blabber than The Tar Aiym Krang and is thus more accessible. It makes for a fun and captivating read. show less

What is the Krang? It has a central role in the technology of the extinct Tar Aiym. Flinx and Pip, his minidrag, are recruited into a merchant's small expedition to find out, dogged by competitors and the villainous AAhn, looking for a weapon that will give them an edge in their next war with humans. Lots of intigue, double-crosses, alien races, and the always fun duo of Flin x and Pip.

Flinx and his mini-dragon, Pip, depart on a dangerous quest to uncover the truth about his past. After a traumatic event, Flinx travels to a restricted world to confront a powerful villain while mastering his unique mental abilities.

The continuing adventures of Pip and Flinx. I liked the addition of Skua September, one of my favorite recurring characters from the early Commonwealth novels. Nothing fancy or complicated here, just good alien planet adventures.