Quiet Pools

by Michael P. Kube-McDowell

Book Overview

1990 Nebular Nominee"There is a glad tale-telling energy about the book-just as there was about James Tiptree Jr.'s best stories-that carries one on, as though to joy."-Los Angeles Times"A fast-paced... This description may be from another edition of this product.

• Format: Hardcover
• Language: English
• ISBN: 0441699111
• ISBN13: 9780441699117
• Release Date: May 1990
• Publisher: Ace Books
• Length: 371 Pages
• Weight: 1.20 lbs.

Customer Reviews

Humanity Goes To Seed

This is a work to be proud of. Just the right combination of action and character development, with a believable setting at the beginning of the 22nd century. Kube-McDowell chronicles the end of the Diaspora project - an ambitious program to send humanity to nearby star systems. The first ship has already left, and a second of five total is about to leave. But wait! There's more here than meets the eye. Diaspora project geneticists have discovered that there's a genetic sequence in life that actually calls us to the stars. We no more have choice in the matter than the salmon moving upstream to spawn. The web of human activity unfolding in this engrossing tale is overprinted by a genetic pre-destiny, which drives some to the skies, and others to oppose any such venture.Ultimately the opposers, lead by the shadowy Jeremiah, succeed in halting the project, but not before the second ship leaves. And behind the backdrop of the personal dramas, earth quietly goes to seed, casting its precious packages to the cosmic winds.An engrossing tale. Compare this to my review of Hogan's "Cradle of Saturn".

powerful theme

the subtle but powerful theme of this book goes to the heart of of the eternal issue of the best of mankind's nature versus the worst...

Explores what drives man (and Man) to go into space.

This book is written on many levels, ranging from one man's efforts to understand the source of his own personality to the conflicts on a global basis surrounding the building of a generation starship.The book is entertaining on the superficial level and rewarding at the deeper, personal level. Within a believable framework, it matches the thrust and parry of Jeremiah - speaking for the Homeworld vs. the head of security of the starship project. In addition, any adult reader will be stimulated to recall memories of their own childhood and the pains of growing up.I recommend it as both fun and time well spent.