The Long Way Home
by Poul Anderson
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Space explorers returning to an unrecognizable Earth after five millennia away find themselves caught up in a deadly political power game on a planet racing toward intergalactic war Five thousand years have passed since the interstellar spacecraft Explorer left Earth, and now Edward Langley and his two crewmates are returning home. The faster-than-light mission that took only a year for Langley, Matsumoto, and Blaustein has cost them the only world they ever knew. This future Earth is show more unrecognizable, its global society ruled by a benevolent, all-powerful computer and divided into a strict class structure of masters and slaves. Though war has been eradicated for generations, tensions between the powers on Earth and colonists on Centaurus over mineral mining are rapidly reaching a violent breaking point. The homecoming of three astronauts from the distant past should have no bearing on the present political situation. But the crewmembers did not come back alone--and the alien visitor who accompanied them holds the key to victory or total defeat. Â One of the most acclaimed of the Golden Age science fiction masters, Poul Anderson has written a provocative and enthralling tale of the future that incorporates his trademark blend of hard science, sociology, and humanism. At once thrilling and thought provoking, No World of Their Own is classic speculative fiction at its page-turning best, as only the incomparable Anderson could imagine it. Â show lessTags
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A readable and enjoyable socio-political adventure that presents some interesting ideas on a potential societal structure informed by a few thousand years more development. The concept of innovation reaching a limit is a thought provoking one in this age of rapid technological development. Despite being forward thinking the story does show its late 1950s origins with the assumption that even over thousands of years that vacuum tubes and cigarettes would still be part of everyday life.
Astronaut Captain Edward Langley and his crew, who, after a hyperspace jump, return to find Earth has advanced 5,000 years, now ruled by a benevolent AI called the Technon, forcing them to navigate a radically changed civilization while protecting an alien passenger, Saris Hronna, from various factions seeking to exploit him.
A stilted translation, but an entertaining read with the world 5000 years into the future used as a backdrop for intrigue and action. Interesting ideas: a world ruled by computer/AI, and the problems presented by speed of light limitation for interstellar conflicts between civilisations.
Tja, weet niet zo goed wat over dit boek te schrijven. Het is dan ook een wat ouder SF verhaal.
Een ruimteschip verlaat de Aarde, om na een tocht zo'n 5.000 jaar later weer terug te keren. Een reiziger die onderweg opgepikt is, blijkt over bijzondere krachten te beschikken. Diverse groepen willen hem hebben.
De karakters zijn heel erg vlak; geen groei in ze te bekennen. De protagonist, kapitein Edward Langley, komt mentaal onstabiel en onzeker over en de vertegenwoordigers van de concurrerende facties hadden absoluut geen idee wat er gaande was.
Het plot was, in mijn ogen, erg dun, en voorspelbaar.
Een ruimteschip verlaat de Aarde, om na een tocht zo'n 5.000 jaar later weer terug te keren. Een reiziger die onderweg opgepikt is, blijkt over bijzondere krachten te beschikken. Diverse groepen willen hem hebben.
De karakters zijn heel erg vlak; geen groei in ze te bekennen. De protagonist, kapitein Edward Langley, komt mentaal onstabiel en onzeker over en de vertegenwoordigers van de concurrerende facties hadden absoluut geen idee wat er gaande was.
Het plot was, in mijn ogen, erg dun, en voorspelbaar.
Fun little sci-fi, lots of action, some typical Poul Anderson theory and social critique stuff.
Het ruimteschip flitste uit de superversnelling en hing in een duisternis die schitterde van sterren. Een ogenblik was het stil, toen: waar is de zon...?
Een interstellair onderzoekschip keert op aarde terug na een reis van enkele duizenden jaren in de toekomst en brengt een intelligente levensvorm mee, hetgeen een desastreuze oorlog lijkt te ontketenen.
Een interstellair onderzoekschip keert op aarde terug na een reis van enkele duizenden jaren in de toekomst en brengt een intelligente levensvorm mee, hetgeen een desastreuze oorlog lijkt te ontketenen.
Mar 8, 2025Dutch
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Poul Anderson, November 25, 1926 - July 31, 2001 Poul Anderson was born on November 25, 1926 in Bristol, Pennsylvania to parents Anton and Astrid. After his father's death, Poul's mother took them first to Denmark and then to Maryland and Minnesota. He earned his degree in Physics from the University of Minnesota, but chose instead to write show more stories for science fiction magazines, such as "Astounding." Anderson is considered a "hard science fiction" writer, meaning that his books have a basis in scientific fact. To attain this high level of scientific realism, Anderson spent many hours researching his topics with scientists and professors. He liked to write about individual liberty and free will, which was a well known theme in many of his books. He also liked to incorporate his love of Norse mythology into his stories, sometimes causing his modern day characters to find themselves in fantastical worlds, such as in "Three Hearts and Three Lions," published in 1961. Anderson has written over a hundred books, his last novel, "Genesis" won the John W. Campbell Award, one of the three major science fiction awards. He is a former president of the Science Fiction and Fantasy Writers of America and won three Nebula awards and nine Hugo Awards. In 1997, Anderson was named a Grandmaster by the Science Fiction and Fantasy Writers of America and was also inducted into the Science Fiction Fantasy Hall of Fame. Poul Anderson died on July 31, 2001 at the age of 74. (Bowker Author Biography) show less
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Belongs to Publisher Series
Ullstein 2000 (3047)
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Common Knowledge
- Original title
- No World of Their Own
- Alternate titles
- The Long Way Home
- Original publication date
- 1955
- People/Characters
- Edward Langley; Sarris Hronna; Lord Brannoch; Varis; Chanthavar; Thrymkas (show all 10); Goltam Valti; Marin; James Blaustein; Robert Matsumoto
- Important places
- Earth; Thyrum; Holat
- Dedication
- To Hallie Kruze with thanks
- First words
- The spaceship flashed out of superdrive and hung in a darkness that blazed with stars.
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- 383
- Popularity
- 81,516
- Reviews
- 6
- Rating
- (3.07)
- Languages
- 6 — Dutch, English, French, German, Italian, Portuguese
- Media
- Paper, Ebook
- ISBNs
- 10
- UPCs
- 1
- ASINs
- 12
