[email protected] reviewed Iceworld by Hal Clement
A Product of it's Age
3 stars
Written in the 50's, I guess it's proof the past is more alien than we realize.
It's a shame when the aliens are more understandable than the humans.
I might be overselling it, but it is dated. The only non male characters are bit parts, who are "just as smart" as the rest, but never actually participate in the plot, really... The rest of the family is very typical Heinlein-ish capable man, jack of all trades, master of the household stuff. I suspect I would have really enjoyed this as a teen several decades ago.
I wish I knew more chemistry, I suspect that's the best part of the novel. Clement was always serious about the science in sci-fi, and it shows here, in many good ways.
The opening chapter has a sting in the tail I won't ruin, but I'm not sure it gets a whole lot better than …
Written in the 50's, I guess it's proof the past is more alien than we realize.
It's a shame when the aliens are more understandable than the humans.
I might be overselling it, but it is dated. The only non male characters are bit parts, who are "just as smart" as the rest, but never actually participate in the plot, really... The rest of the family is very typical Heinlein-ish capable man, jack of all trades, master of the household stuff. I suspect I would have really enjoyed this as a teen several decades ago.
I wish I knew more chemistry, I suspect that's the best part of the novel. Clement was always serious about the science in sci-fi, and it shows here, in many good ways.
The opening chapter has a sting in the tail I won't ruin, but I'm not sure it gets a whole lot better than that.
Interesting concept, and science, but just not enough there to make we want to pick it up again now that I finished it once.