Lucifer's Hammer by Larry Niven, Jerry Pournelle
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Book Reviews of Lucifer's Hammer
Book Review: The world ends with a bang, and not a whisper, after all
Summary: 5 Stars
For some reason, I (as well as other sci-fi fans) have an affinity for end-of-the-world type sci-fi stories, after all, what could be more dramatic than the whole world coming to an end? The subject also seems to draw some of the field's best writers, perhaps because what could give you more power as a writer than creating universal conflagration, and blowing up the earth itself? This theme has been the subject of movies from the 50's through the 70's as well as things like Twilight Zone and Outer Limits episodes, not to mention the two recent Hollywood blockbusters with the asteroid strikes.
When I was a kid, I read Phillip Wylie's When World's Collide, which was made into a classic 50's movie, and After World's Collide, both great examples of the genre. Then there were the nuclear holocaust-type novels, exemplied by Neville Shute's On the Beach and Stephen Minot's Chill of Dusk. Finally, there are the ones where deadly viruses or other microbes get out of control, such as in Stanislaw Lem's Memoirs Found in a Bathtub and George R. Stewart's Earth Abides, Michael Crichton's The Andromeda Strain, and so on. So if you enjoyed Lucifer's Hammer, you might also enjoy these books too.
Lucifer's Hammer is probably the greatest example of this important category of sci-fi tale. So if you have an interest in this sort of story, this is no better place to start than with this book.
Book Review: Wonderful storytelling!
Summary: 5 Stars
Every summer I put on my reading list a book that I read back in my college days. I first encountered Lucifer's Hammer in 1981 and the second time around I found it just a engaging as I remember from all those years ago.
First off, if you are the overly sensitive political correct type, you'll probably find something on these pages to express mock outrage. Too bad, for you'll miss a great story. There are a number of stereotypical characters here, pretty much every main character exhibits outrageous behavior somewhere during this tale.
And why not? It's The End OF The World and people are grappling with new realities. In Lucifer's Hammer, it is human storytelling of how they adapt that sets this book apart and makes it one of the great disaster novels of all time.
Others have commented that the first 100 pages or so are slow. I believe this is a function of comparison....that the later part of the book is so griping that it makes the first part appear slow. However, on it's own I found the introduction of the characters and the build up to Hammerfall to be interesting as people wake up to the crisis they could face.
For all their later prodigious output, Niven and Pournelle were never able craft such an engaging tale as Lucifers Hammer.
Book Review: Just simply the best!
Summary: 5 Stars
I have had the book since it was published. My copy is well-thumbed and growing quite mangy with age and reading. I don't know how many times I have read it ,but it must be at least 6.
My personal opinion is that this book is one of the superlatives of the genre. It can be slow reading, but I never had trouble reading it from cover to cover.
Those who think the book is racist would call "Robinson Crusoe" by Defoe racist and for the same reason. If a person of color is presented in an unflattering light or a position of servitude, the book is racist. This "racist" book took the characters from the times. We did not have the influx of Mexicans then that we have now. (If that is racist, I don't care) There were no barrios. Had the book been written now, I am sure the villanous gang would have included Hispanics as well as the white and black characters. These were vile people regardless of race, which was mixed.
If you spend your life looking for insult, you are going to find it. I am very, very tired of hearing the term "racist". It never once occurred to me about this book. If you think the book is "racist", I suggest you find something sanitized, like the new version of "Huckleberry Finn" to read so you do not have to wallow in your victimhood.
Book Review: Old, but better than certain recent movies!
Summary: 5 Stars
When you read this awesome end-of-the-world thriller, you will wonder about how accurate(or farfetched) the movies DEEP IMPACT and ARMAGEDDON(and a few lesser chronic efforts like METEORITES) were. One scientific fact(or rather, speculation) that both movies missed was that if a comet impacted in the ocean as happens in the book, it will rain for months. And the disasters that follow the impact are impressively portrayed here! When a comet is spotted nearing Earth's orbit, the scientists have only a short time to warn the world. Mankind naturally misunderstands. Timothy Hammer is the astronomer who spots the Hammer comet first and its - trajectory, Consequently, NASA launches a spacelab into orbit called the Hammerlab. Post-impact - the combined US-Soviet Hammerlab mission is stranded in space(remember this was written in 1978), survivors form into groups and a feudal system takes precedence in California. The world's geography is affected severely - small snippets tell of the devastation wreaked. I won't say anymore, but that why oh why didn't Hollywood film this book instead of making the other two(plus) movies? This is way more accurate(or rather, best speculative) in its portrayal of man under threat of the end of the world. If you enjoy this, also check out Niven and Pournelle's FOOTFALL.Book Review: Apocolyptic Fiction At Its Best
Summary: 5 Stars
Wealthy amateur astronomer Tim Hamner discovers a new comet, which he dubbs Hamner-Brown. Discovery of the comet spawns a television series about comets, which, combined with the exhortations of an evangelist, fuel global fears about a comet strike. However, JPL calculates an orbit that has it passing near, but missing Earth. A Californian senator seizes the opportunity for publicity to loudly support a joint manned American/Russian spaceflight to study the comet, nicknamed "The Hammer" by the media.
JPL's scientists are shocked to learn that outgassing from the comet has misled their instruments, and "The Hammer" is, after all, on a collision course with Earth. The comet breaks into smaller pieces as it enters the atmosphere, and several worldwide strikes trigger massive tidal waves, earthquakes, and volcanoes. Devastation reigns all over the planet. Following the strike, survivors must endure weeks of rain that causes worldwide flooding, overwhelming dams and levees everywhere. Survivors must also endure cannabalistic zealots that have banded together under the aforementioned evangelist and a heavily armed militia that is fighting for world domination.
Great reading from beginning to end - good luck getting a good night's sleep until you've finished it.