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7jane's Reviews > Tau Zero
Tau Zero
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Varying between 3 and 3.5, but mostly staying on the latter end.
It's the 23rd century, and "Leonora Christine", a long-planned spaceship destined towards a distant planet 30 light years away, is launched from Stockholm. 50 people, men and women from different countries are on board, and the trip is supposed to take about 10 years). But (around the middle of the book) the ships deceleration system is damaged, and with the ship speeding increasingly towards tau zero speed and faster, it's not yet possible to fix it - only to hope a way, and a place, can be found to fix it, while galaxies and time pass by...
This was an interesting to read. You could feel the time it was written (1970) in it, though no doubt some of it could be passed as values of the century it was placed on: attitude towards nakedness (both sexes), loose relationships (vs. desire for monogamy from some passengers), and even in the slightly lax attitude towards use of (view spoiler).
It's funny to read Sweden being the current world-power, which shows the author's background, which draws some drunken protest from one American traveler. Another person is clearly Finnish, Dr. Urho Latvala, who even plays an accordion ::)
Other characters are also of interest, especially in relationships-level, where the main thread follows the on-and-off-then-finally-on relationship between Ingrid Lingren and Charles Raymont. Their backgrounds are quite different, and their general character is likewise. Raymont is clearly important in helping people get through crises together, both after main accident and all the mental/moral trouble of getting on with life and finding solutions - he's not stupid, just a bit rough and forceful at times; just the way he has been raised.
I don't know how accurate the science is to what people believe in today, I don't know much of it. But the end is kind of clever solution to the problem: after (view spoiler) And not only that: they are (view spoiler) I kind of wish I could be able to see this space-sight on film, would be trippy.
It's a short read, on some levels of its writing-time even though not too badly, and nicely surprising too. It took me a long time to finish it, having kept it on pause for some years, but finally finishing it was certainly worth it.
It's the 23rd century, and "Leonora Christine", a long-planned spaceship destined towards a distant planet 30 light years away, is launched from Stockholm. 50 people, men and women from different countries are on board, and the trip is supposed to take about 10 years). But (around the middle of the book) the ships deceleration system is damaged, and with the ship speeding increasingly towards tau zero speed and faster, it's not yet possible to fix it - only to hope a way, and a place, can be found to fix it, while galaxies and time pass by...
This was an interesting to read. You could feel the time it was written (1970) in it, though no doubt some of it could be passed as values of the century it was placed on: attitude towards nakedness (both sexes), loose relationships (vs. desire for monogamy from some passengers), and even in the slightly lax attitude towards use of (view spoiler).
It's funny to read Sweden being the current world-power, which shows the author's background, which draws some drunken protest from one American traveler. Another person is clearly Finnish, Dr. Urho Latvala, who even plays an accordion ::)
Other characters are also of interest, especially in relationships-level, where the main thread follows the on-and-off-then-finally-on relationship between Ingrid Lingren and Charles Raymont. Their backgrounds are quite different, and their general character is likewise. Raymont is clearly important in helping people get through crises together, both after main accident and all the mental/moral trouble of getting on with life and finding solutions - he's not stupid, just a bit rough and forceful at times; just the way he has been raised.
I don't know how accurate the science is to what people believe in today, I don't know much of it. But the end is kind of clever solution to the problem: after (view spoiler) And not only that: they are (view spoiler) I kind of wish I could be able to see this space-sight on film, would be trippy.
It's a short read, on some levels of its writing-time even though not too badly, and nicely surprising too. It took me a long time to finish it, having kept it on pause for some years, but finally finishing it was certainly worth it.
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Reading Progress
Started Reading
October 6, 2018
– Shelved
October 6, 2018
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Finished Reading
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by
Henry
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rated it 4 stars
Mar 06, 2024 04:47PM
Excellent review you make me want to read this again, thank you.
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Henry wrote: "Excellent review you make me want to read this again, thank you."You're welcome, and thanks :)
The American born author's family was from Denmark, so I like how his name Poul is written instead of the usual Paul...
Henry wrote: "The American born author's family was from Denmark, so I like how his name Poul is written instead of the usual Paul..."More easily remembered, and less bland, I guess *lol*
Of course...I understood the book better in my second read,7jane.....
Henry wrote: "Of course...I understood the book better in my second read,7jane....."Good. :)
