Tuf Voyaging
A Novel
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4.4 • 173 Ratings
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- $11.99
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- $11.99
Publisher Description
Long before A Game of Thrones became an international phenomenon, #1 New York Times bestselling author George R. R. Martin had taken his loyal readers across the cosmos. Now back in print after almost ten years, Tuf Voyaging is the story of quirky and endearing Haviland Tuf, an unlikely hero just trying to do right by the galaxy, one planet at a time.
Haviland Tuf is an honest space-trader who likes cats. So how is it that, in competition with the worst villains the universe has to offer, he’s become the proud owner of a seedship, the last remnant of Earth’s legendary Ecological Engineering Corps? Never mind; just be thankful that the most powerful weapon in human space is in good hands—hands which now have the godlike ability to control the genetic material of thousands of outlandish creatures.
Armed with this unique equipment, Tuf is set to tackle the problems that human settlers have created in colonizing far-flung worlds: hosts of hostile monsters, a population hooked on procreation, a dictator who unleashes plagues to get his own way . . . and in every case, the only thing that stands between the colonists and disaster is Tuf’s ingenuity—and his reputation as a man of integrity in a universe of rogues.
“A rich blend of adventure, humor, compassion and all the other things that make being human worthwhile.”—Analog
“A new facet of Martin’s manysided talent.”—Asimov’s
PUBLISHERS WEEKLY
This "novel'' brings together a decade's worth of stories about Haviland Tuf, an honest but thoroughly small-time interstellar trader who happens to acquire a centuries-old and miles-long seed-ship of the once powerful Earth Ecological Corps. Originally a deadly weapon, it alone preserves the secrets of a now-forgotten science and still functions well enough to create, gene-splice and clone any of a myriad species of plant and animal, both benevolent and destructive. The eccentric but ethical Tuf now styles himself an ecological engineer and wields his ship's treasures to solve the problems plaguing farflung settlements, from famine to sea serpents. These colorful tales mostly skirt the more interesting and prickly issue of Tuf's playing god to fundamentally change the cultures he encounters. Still, the seed-ship is a wonderful idea and Tuf, protecting his pet cats from the charge they are useless ``vermin,'' is a droll hero.
Customer Reviews
Tuf digesting
Glad that this collection of George R.R. Martin stories appeared as recommended reading. I found them curiously fun and thought-provoking. Tuf is a tough character, and the voyages he takes you on deal with hyper-realistic societal issues. While the topics might be offensive to some, the digestion of the whole is quite interesting. Don’t let your delicate sensibilities get in the way. This book is a feast!
A good read, and I wish there was more
An earlier novel by Martin (1986), which I first read in 2026. Obviously a compilation of shorter stories - I would love to see future adventures by Tuf and his cats, perhaps in an anthology.
Fun and fast read
Really enjoyed this