- Paperback: 432 pages
- Publisher: Methuen Publishing Ltd; New edition edition (10 April 1986)
- Language English
- ISBN-10: 0413579107
- ISBN-13: 978-0413579102
- Product Dimensions: 17.6 x 11.4 x 3.4 cm
- Average Customer Review: 5.0 out of 5 stars See all reviews (1 customer review)
- Amazon Bestsellers Rank: 529,050 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)
- See Complete Table of Contents
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Product Description
Review
"Never-stop action and mind-bending concepts combine to make "Orion" absolutely unforgettable....Ben Bova brings it to intense life on a canvas spread over time and space." --Isaac Asimov
"Slambang SF adventure mingles with speculative theology in this gripping story of an immortal's hatred, a mortal's love, and a death-struggle that spans a million years. Be warned: do not start this book if you anticipate any pressing obligations--a need to sleep, say--during the next twenty-four hours or so." --Spider Robinson
--This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.
"Slambang SF adventure mingles with speculative theology in this gripping story of an immortal's hatred, a mortal's love, and a death-struggle that spans a million years. Be warned: do not start this book if you anticipate any pressing obligations--a need to sleep, say--during the next twenty-four hours or so." --Spider Robinson
--This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.
Synopsis
IN
--This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.
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Customer Reviews
Most Helpful Customer Reviews
0 of 1 people found the following review helpful
Format:Paperback
Ben Bova's demi-god Orion takes us on a trip through time, saving mankind from extinction at key junctures in our development. Orion give saves homo-sapiens from marauding Neanderthals, inspires nomads to establish agriculture, saves us from nuclear self-extermination and then shows mankind how to escape their physical bodies, travel time & space back to the dawn of mankind and plant the seeds of life that grow to become our civilization. It's all a big circle... There is no need for a higher power, because as our skills and technology advance, the day will come when everyone will have god powers of omniscience and omnipotence.
This is a science fiction, but Bova's fiction is so well conceived that it has more than a ring of truth to it. His links to human development and history give the Orion series a sense of realism and possibility, permiting these stories to hold up under scrutiny.
Sure, the language may a little too flowery, the drama a bit excessive, but the story is still great.
Read this series, think about the path that Orion takes and you might not need your church-learnings ever again.
This is a science fiction, but Bova's fiction is so well conceived that it has more than a ring of truth to it. His links to human development and history give the Orion series a sense of realism and possibility, permiting these stories to hold up under scrutiny.
Sure, the language may a little too flowery, the drama a bit excessive, but the story is still great.
Read this series, think about the path that Orion takes and you might not need your church-learnings ever again.
Most Helpful Customer Reviews on Amazon.com (beta)
Amazon.com:
19 reviews
7 of 7 people found the following review helpful
A very interesting, fun novel
8 Feb 2004
Format:Mass Market Paperback
Orion is a very interesting fun novel. After a present day incident where Orion (the Hunter) preserves the invention of fusion power, he travels back through time to critical junctures in the development of mankind to foil the plans of Ahriman, who is bent on destroying the human race. Orion seems to have no unearthly powers (he is sent back in time by God or his equivalent), and Ahriman seems to be able to control time and space, but Orion manages to perserver. Between the sequences where Orion travels backwards through time Bova also sheds some light on the god who is managing this process. I actually found that substoryline to be the most compelling part of the story after a while. It appears that this god is convinced the universe will be destroyed should Ahriman succeed and thus he needs Orion to stop him. Sounds kind of trite I know, but the historical and mystery aspects of the novel were very well done. Orion is a real page turner (turns out it is a series also).
7 of 7 people found the following review helpful
Great potential, so-so execution
24 Sep 2003
Format:Mass Market Paperback
Ben Bova has been a big name in the world of science fiction for a long time. Although he has no truly classic stories, his body of work as both an author and editor has at least carved out a niche for him. In Orion, he takes a bit of a break from his usual hard science fiction to pen a tale of the title character, divinely appointed to fight against an evil entity.
The premise to the book is intriguing enough, even if not completely original. Taking pages from various mythologies, but focusing primarily on Zoroastrianism, Bova puts Orion at war with Ahriman, a Satanic figure intent on destroying humanity. Ahriman has pinpointed certain key points in human history and tries to alter them to his benefit. Orion is out to stop him.
The story is told episodically, with Orion being reborn in different eras but with memories of his past (actually his future, since he is moving back in time) and with the same exceptional physical abilities. In every era, he also encounters a woman who he is in love with but whose true origins are a mystery to him (though not the reader).
While interesting enough in theory, this novel is only okay in execution. Bova's writing is not particularly good; while not bad either, it is rather flat and none of his characters are all that compelling. Although he has a decent enough plot twist towards the end, it is not that difficult to figure it out, and his epilogue is really bad, as it cheapens the sacrifices that the hero has made. This is not an awful book, but I know Bova is capable of better. He may never be in the top tier of science fiction writers, but this is not even second-tier material. It is mid-level quality, a basic three-star book.
6 of 9 people found the following review helpful
Pure excellence
14 Sep 1999
Format:Mass Market Paperback
Simply put, this is a powerful book. While the story may be somewhat limited, it still manages to grab you and draw you in.
Orion is a man of pure heart and simple motive-- he only wants to be with his true love. But the Creator Ormazd refuses his wishes. Orion's final decision reflects his true being; to do the right thing, and be damned with the consequences. This easily ranks as one of my five favorite books.
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