- Title:
- Starswarm
- Author:
- Publisher:
- Tor, 1998
- ISBN
- 0-312-86183-4
This uncharacteristically sentimental story about a boy's growing up, artificial intelligence, and extraterrestrial life is Pournelle's latest entry into Tor's "Jupiter Novels" which are designed to appeal to younger readers.
I hesitated reading this story at first, since few stories written for younger people endure the scrutiny of a more mature audience. Pournelle, however, seems to have that knack that up until now I've only found in Robert Heinlein. Starswarm is no Podkayne of Mars, but it holds its own nicely.
Pournelle writes in the introduction that this story had its origins in conversations he had with his "Mad Friend" who discussed with him what it might be like to have a computer in one's head. Quite frankly, I expected a description of much more complicated issues than Pournelle allowed himself. Of course, the story might have become unsuitable for younger readers in that event. Instead, Pournelle gives us a main character with what amounts to a fairy godmother. A fun notion, but it won't carry a story on its own.
So it's a good thing that Pournelle can spin out plot and characters. The book is short enough, and with Pournelle's unrelenting pace it seems even shorter. When one of my kids asked for a short book to read, I recommended Starswarm and was quite surprised when it was pointed out to me that the book has over 300 pages! Add Pournelle's description of corporate politics and ecology, and the young reader also has food for thought. It's a delicious combination.