Starhaven by Ivar Jorgenson


Starhaven
Title : Starhaven
Author :
Rating :
ISBN : -
Language : English
Format Type : Hardcover
Number of Pages : 220
Publication : First published January 1, 1958

Johnny Mantell, beachcomber and broke bum, is blamed for the accidental death of a tourist. Seeing no better alternative, he steals a Star Patrol ship and flies to Starhaven, an artificial planet made to protect pirates, murderers, and villains of all kinds: an anarchic planet free of social mores and constraints.

Starhaven Reviews

  • Craig Childs

    Johnny Mantell is a beachcomber and a drunk, a man adept at minding his own business and staying out of harm's way, but after being accused of a murder he does not remember, he is forced to flee to the man-made planet of Starhaven, the last refuge in the galaxy for desperate criminals. It is lorded over by a brilliant but ruthless dictator named Ben Thurdan who will stop at nothing to protect his utopian pleasure planet.

    This novel is firmly rooted in the traditions of both pulp science fiction magazines and PBO crime novels. Johnny soon falls passionately in love with Ben's girlfriend--and he knows must have her even if it means toppling a crime empire.

    As always Silverberg concocts a fast-paced adventure brimming with far-fetched futuristic technologies--robot assassins, space battles, masks that render their bearers all but invisible, low gravity casinos and dance halls. One crucial subplot involves a character who has had an entire set of false memories implanted (an idea Phillip K. Dick may have borrowed eight years later for his famous story "We Can Remember It For You Wholesale").

    Unfortunately, the plot falls apart somewhat in the final chapter in which Ben behaves illogically. This keeps the plot going but seems inconsistent with his previous actions.

    Starhaven was the first of seven Robert Silverberg books published in 1958, although it was written after Chalice of Death. The novel was an expansion of the short story "Thunder Over Starhaven". Silverberg sold it to Avalon Books in January 1958 for hardcover; it was reprinted in paperback as half of an Ace Double the following year.

  • Jüri

    Üks Robert Silverbergi varaseid romaane, mille ta mingil põhjusel Ivar Jorgensoni nime all avaldas.
    Tavaline ja üsna puine seiklusulme. Peategelase olemus ja lõpplahendus oli mulle selge juba esimese kolmandiku lõpuks ning lugemine polnud ei elamus, ega ka nauding.
    Kolm eelkõige kirjutamisaastat ja autori algajalikkust arvestades. Kolme kasuks kallutas ka planeedi Starhaven olemus ja välimus.

  • Andrew

    One of my favorite books of all time. Wish I could find a copy to read today.