- Mass Market Paperback: 406 pages
- Publisher: Tor Books; 1st Mass Market Ed edition (1 Feb 1999)
- Language English
- ISBN-10: 0812511654
- ISBN-13: 978-0812511659
- Product Dimensions: 16.5 x 10.7 x 2.8 cm
- Average Customer Review: 3.5 out of 5 stars See all reviews (2 customer reviews)
- Amazon Bestsellers Rank: 128,479 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)
- See Complete Table of Contents
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Product Description
Review
"Solid action/adventure/politking/consciousness-raising from a veteran pro."--"Kirkus Reviews"
"A rollicking good read!"--"Starlog"
"I believe that by far the science fiction author who will have the greatest effect on the science fiction world, and the world as a whole, is Ben Bova."--Ray Bradbury
"A rollicking good read!"--"Starlog"
"I believe that by far the science fiction author who will have the greatest effect on the science fiction world, and the world as a whole, is Ben Bova."--Ray Bradbury
Synopsis
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Customer Reviews
Most Helpful Customer Reviews
8 of 8 people found the following review helpful
Format:Mass Market Paperback
'Empire Builders' is Ben Bova's sequel to his 'Privateers'. The hero of both books is Dan Randolph, a gung-ho American space industrialist.
'Privateers' succeeded because the premise on which it was based felt as if it may be possible. Dan ran around the Earth-Moon system antagonising the Soviet administrators who had almost complete control of space operations, in an attempt to prove that things would be better if they weren't under such tight bureaucratic control.
'Empire Builders' is essentially the same premise. Except that now the old Soviet Union is gone, Bova has had to invent an enemy in the form of the Global Economic Council (GEC). Somehow this makes the whole thing feel less like a story that could happen in the real world.
Scientists at Randolph's company discover that the Greenhouse Effect will reach a 'cliff' around ten years after the events of the book. The gradual warming of the Earth will suddenly accelerate and the sea level will rise catastrophically. Attempts to warn the GEC seem to ignored. Then the Council tries to silence the rumour by taking control of Dan's company. Then we learn that the GEC actually know of the problem, and plan to solve it by forcefully controlling all world industry and compelling everyone to stop using fossil fuels. Dan disagrees, feeling that co-operation rather than control is a better way forward.
As always Bova's science appears well-researched and accurate, yet remaining easy to read. His characters in this book are not as well defined as in some of his earlier work (eg The excellent 'Orion'), but this is not a major problem as he keeps the story moving at a frantic pace. The pages just keep turning.
Although it is a sequel, this book has been skilfully written to allow anyone to read it. If you have read 'Privateers' then you may get a little more out of it, but if not, you are never left wondering about some obscure reference to the previous volume.
Format:Mass Market Paperback
This outing for Dan Rudolph is perfectly readable as a stand-alone novel and has more of the gung-ho chauvinism and courageousness that is typical of early Bova. Set in an alternate timeline, Empire Builders still roughly adheres to the Grand Tour series, however it is less about science fiction than political power struggles and character building. Although that may sound off genre, there are plenty of entwined strands of deception, revenge and good old plans of murder. This is played out both upon the Earth and Moon with a sweeping story about (the then hot topic) of the Greenhouse Effect. Although at times stereotypical enough to make you wince and let down by a weak by-the-numbers finale, it is engaging and most importantly entertaining.
Most Helpful Customer Reviews on Amazon.com (beta)
Amazon.com:
9 reviews
6 of 6 people found the following review helpful
Excellant Novel
20 July 2000
Format:Mass Market Paperback
This is really a unique novel. I don't recall reading anything by Ben Bova before this book. After reading this novel I decided that Mr. Bova wrote a good novel and I bought several more of his titles to see if he is consistent. Well, that is not the point of this review. This is a review of `Empire Builders' not Ben Bova.
What a really good novel this was. The protagonist Dan Randolf is a wonderful creation on Bova's part, as a previous reviewer noted. I don't know how much of the science involved in the book is realistic but it was written in such a way that I found it believable. The motives of the key players were logical and the plot made sense. What more can you ask for.
Amazon did an adequate job of giving the plot overview so I won't waste your time here with the same. I will only add that this novel succeeds in nearly every particular. As you are reading the novel you are constantly confronted with actions and reactions that are surprising to you, as the reader, but seem like the only logical event after reading them. A definite recommend on my part.
4 of 5 people found the following review helpful
Really a 3.5 star rating...
24 Feb 2004
Format:Hardcover
Rating System:
1 star = abysmal; some books deserve to be forgotten
2 star = poor; a total waste of time
3 star = good; worth the effort
4 star = very good; what writing should be
5 star = fantastic; must own it and share it with others
1 star = abysmal; some books deserve to be forgotten
2 star = poor; a total waste of time
3 star = good; worth the effort
4 star = very good; what writing should be
5 star = fantastic; must own it and share it with others
STORY: From back cover - "Dan Randolph, has become Dan Randolph, empire builder. His staff has found evidence that the greenhouse effect has been gathering speed and that soon, Earth will be on the edge of the greenhouse "cliff". Millions will die unless humankind changes its ways immediately."
On the run from the world government and other forces, Randolph battles to regain all that he has lost and save the world at the same time.
MY FEEDBACK:
1) At first I was groaning at the thought of some extremist "tree-hugging" storyline. Yet Bova handles the subject matter VERY well without getting overly preachy.
2) Some nice plot twists and believable opposition established
3) A complaint (not the only one) is that the end seemed to get wrapped up a little too swift and nicely. It ignored some issues that normally would carry on a lot longer considering the "history" Bova built between characters and the world they live in.
4) The character of Dan Randolph was enjoyable to read and the people who help him at various turns are a nice mix to watch
5) The audio book reader does a good job and even had different voices for different characters, which I always prefer.
OVERALL: It was interesting and entertaining. The "hard science" of the book was ok...nothing spectacular. It is worth the effort if you don't have anything else pressing to read.
5 of 7 people found the following review helpful
Typical Bova--Excellent
1 May 2000
Format:Mass Market Paperback
The best thing about this book is how Bova is able to please the entire political spectrum on the enviromental issues that are addressed in the book. Left wingers will be pleased that the plot includes pending enviromental catastrophe caused by humanity's excesses while right wingers will be pleased that the solution is more freedom, not less. Dan Randolf, the main character of the book, is the best protagonist Bova has ever created.
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