Beaumont Yun

It was a very easy read, almost reminiscent to The Martian but of course being a book from the 70s, it could be said that the Martian is reminiscent to Rama. Most chapters are short, which gives an apparently fast pace feeling to the reader, and ample opportunity to take a break. The story and its mechanisms are very much classic sci-fi. Nothing overly complicated to an average reader with any of those modern made-up pseudo-scientific terminologies that you see in books from the last 2 decades. Some technological terms may be forgiven due to the age of the book, like “memory banks”, “TV cameras”, “laser beam”, or even wire cutting a thermonuclear warhead are terms that are no longer applicable to modern audience but nonetheless offers a nostalgic feel of 70s, which is quite welcomed. There are of course some areas of the book that have left questions unanswered, and likely intentional (e.g. the flower, New York, space drive etc.). Depending on your appetite you might like or dislike these unanswered questions but I think some hunger for answers is a necessary part of enjoyment of this book. And they likely will or will not be answered in the later books by Gentry Lee which I have yet to read (personally I have no expectation for an answer to these questions). So overall, what’s my take on this book? It is definitely worth a read, and an easy one to read for young audience as well if you are thinking of getting a book for your young child. It is entertaining. And it is most likely will be made into a movie.