This starts off resembling a smart reinvention of Space Opera. The second half drifts off into melodrama, with the author constantly telegraphing plot twists that any intelligent reader will anticipate. Other reviews have mentioned the author didn't like this one; I can understand that. ( )

I picked this paperback up this evening. I'm always happy to encounter something from the earlier days, and this looked like his first book (which it is), first published in 1966. While I was holding it, I noticed another book with a mirror image of the cover, titled "Novelets of Science Fiction" (edited by Ivan Howard). Sadly, no credit is given to the artist in either publication, but I hope he got paid for both.

It's a great cover, both times.

It's notable that Spinrad wasn't fond of this book. I am, from the cover alone. ( )

Spinrad describes this book as a failure that needlessly pulls its final punch. I've never read it, but I thought you should know that.

http://yet.org/2008/05/les_solariens.html ( )