Rocket Jockey

I read this book when I was a kid, but really didn't remember it. Perhaps because it's a piece of fluff.

We have here an account of a regularly-scheduled race from Earth to Earth by way of the other inner planets and Jupiter's moons. It's completely absurd, but fun in its way. There are enough holes in the story to be really annoying, though, and it has a nasty sub-plot about Mars (apparently everyone on or involved with the planet) sabotaging opponent's chances.

I'm also puzzled about the "nationality" of the main characters. They seem to be natives of the asteroid belt, and certainly live there, but identify themselves as Earth folks. I'm sure this arrangement could have been explained, but St John/Del Ray didn't do so.

Many of the show more significant characters don't seem to have names, just titles ("the commissioner", "the mayor", etc). This is an issue I had with a couple Alan E Nourse stories as well. I assume it's just the specific 1950s SF juvies I've read this week; certainly Heinlein's don't have this trait. show less