SCIENCE FICTION
Close to Critical. By Hali Clement Gollancz. 190 ■ pp. Hal Clement’s most recent novel is a stimulating and competent work of scientific science fiction in which the story does not succumb to a mass of technical detail. The setting is the planet Tenebra, which has a gravity three times that of Earth, a day temperature of 380 degrees centigrade, an air pressure of about 800 atmospheres, an atmosphere saturated with water vapour and other chemicals, and a constantly shifting crust. The creation of Tenebra seems to have been prompted by Mr Clement's desire to confront his characters with the problem of studying a violently! hostile environment. His; imaginative description of the planet is probably one of the; most detailed and consistent’ that has been given of a high gravity world. The nature of life on the planet and the affect on it of contact with mankind, is convincingly related. One criticism can be made—Mr Clement makes his i aliens more human than his i humans, and although this ; endears them to the reader, lit is most unrealistic. But, ! “Close to Critical" is good ; science fiction which no i addict will want to miss. I
Permanent link to this item
https://paperspast.natlib.govt.nz/newspapers/CHP19661022.2.42.5
Bibliographic details
Press, Volume CVI, Issue 31197, 22 October 1966, Page 4
Word Count
196SCIENCE FICTION Press, Volume CVI, Issue 31197, 22 October 1966, Page 4
Using This Item
Stuff Ltd is the copyright owner for the Press. You can reproduce in-copyright material from this newspaper for non-commercial use under a Creative Commons BY-NC-SA 3.0 New Zealand licence. This newspaper is not available for commercial use without the consent of Stuff Ltd. For advice on reproduction of out-of-copyright material from this newspaper, please refer to the Copyright guide.
Acknowledgements
This newspaper was digitised in partnership with Christchurch City Libraries.
Log in