Steel Beach
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4.0 • 30 Ratings
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- $5.99
Publisher Description
A science fiction epic from "the best writer in America" (Tom Clancy)—Hugo and Nebula award-winning author John Varley.
Fleeing Earth after an alien invasion, the human race stands on the threshold of evolution. Their new home is Luna, a moon colony blessed with creature comforts, prolonged lifespans, digital memories, and instant sex changes.
But the people of Luna are bored, restless, suicidal—and so is the computer that monitors their existence...
PUBLISHERS WEEKLY
After nearly a decade's silence, Nebula and Hugo Award winner Varley ( The Ophiuchi Hotline ; Titan ; Millennium ; etc.) makes a triumphant return with this absorbing novel, set in a future where humanity, expelled from the Earth by the alien Invaders, now lives in artificial habitats on the moon, Mars and other planets. Advanced technologies ensure a fairly effortless and secure life--almost any injury or disease is curable; people can change their features or even their gender with an afternoon of painless surgery. But all is not well on Luna. Hildy Johnson, top reporter for a tabloid, has been unaccountably depressed, even suicidal, and he soon learns that he's not alone. Even the Central Computer that maintains Luna's environment has been feeling down. As Hildy and the CC search for a reason to live, Hildy changes gender, quits his/her job and examines religions; the CC takes steps for itself that may lead to moonwide catastrophe. Varley's tight, clean writing, full of wit and good humor, evokes despair, joy, anger and delight. His Luna is packed with wild inventions, intriguing characters and stunning scenery. This long-awaited return is one of the best science fiction novels of the year.
Customer Reviews
Varley at his very best.
Better than Titan, Wizard or Demon, steel beach is Varley’s masterpiece. Don’t miss it.
A Great Read
This epic story of a future lunar based humanity that's been expelled from Earth by aliens is one of Varley's best works. Very tightly written with amazing characters and descriptions.
Varley at his absolute best!
This book blew my mind. The story is richly imagined and hard to put down. It's a triumph of story telling and imagination. I wish there were more books likes this but unfortunately, there is only one John Varley.