Bob Shaw SF Gateway Omnibus: Orbitsville, The Ragged Astronauts, A Wreath of Stars

by Bob Shaw

From the vaults of The SF Gateway, the most comprehensive digital library of classic SFF titles ever assembled, comes an ideal introduction to the work of the award-winning Bob Shaw. Best known for his extraordinary novel of 'slow glass', Other Days, Other Eyes, Bob Shaw was a fan favourite at conventions for his hysterical 'serious scientific talks'. This omnibus contains three of his finest Orbitsville, A Wreath of Stars and The Ragged Astronauts.Orbitsville: Racing from the certain vengeance of Earth's tyrant ruler, space captain Vance Garamond flees the Solar System. And discovers the almost unimaginably vast spherical structure soon to become famous as 'Orbitsville' - a new home for Earth's huddled masses.A Wreath of Stars:Thornton's Planet is an anti-neutrino planet detected on its approach to Earth. It can be seen only through the newly developed magniluct lenses and its arrival causes a wave of panic. When its course carries it past the earth, interest in Thornton's Planet wanes. But the visit of Thornton's Planet has had effects on Earth further-ranging than anyone could have imagined.The Ragged Astronauts:Land and Overland - twin worlds a few thousand miles apart. On Land, humanity faces a threat to its very survival - an airborne species, the ptertha, has declared war on humankind, and is actively hunting for victims. The only hope lies in migration. Through space to Overland. By balloon.

Genres: Science Fiction

536 pages, Kindle Edition

First published August 15, 2013

About the author

Bob Shaw was born in Northern Ireland. After working in structural engineering, industrial public relations, and journalism he became a full time science fiction writer in 1975.

Shaw was noted for his originality and wit. He was two-time recipient (in 1979 and 1980) of the Hugo Award for Best Fan Writer. His short story Light of Other Days was a Hugo Award nominee in 1967, as was his novel The Ragged Astronauts in 1987.

Reviews

[Baron Greystone · Rating 3 out of 5]

This is the only Shaw I've read. I checked it out since it came up in a search for stories about huge "generation ships." That's not really what it is. I won't spoil anything for you though.

Anyway, I have to say that I didn't really like the characters in these three novels. Further, I'll add that I liked the ones in the first book best, then the second, and the ones in the third book I liked least.

It's almost as though the author was challenging himself. "I wonder what sort of misfit I can come up with for this next character?"

So I plowed through, but it wasn't really my thing.

[Sam · Rating 3 out of 5]

Keeps feeling like it's going to slide into full-on steampunk, but it doesn't; the setting definitely helps there. The story itself is alright, and the excursions into effectively planetary romance in the latter two books are pretty interesting.