Space Viking

Space Viking

(5 stars)

Liam Grimm

I really enjoyed this book. It has interesting views on democracy and feudalism. Piper wrote a great book with memorable characters and a fun storyline. I was hooked all the way through. My only complaint is that this wasn't a huge series like Star Trek. I'd love to see how things turn out. Also, Mark did a great job reading this book. His tone was not as monotonous as the other reviews would leave you to believe. He makes this story even better.

Feudalism in space

(4 stars)

Jb

So many names of people, ships, and worlds. A bit hard to keep track of all the plot points and action. Not much development of character. The story just plodded along until the merciful end. I generally like the writer but this story had an interesting concept but lacked anything that would endear it to the reader. Great to listen to when trying to fall asleep.

Good listening

(4 stars)

Catto

Overall the reading was excellent, and I have no complaints as to pronunciation or tone. The story is interesting, and a joy to listen to, despite a few instances of slow progress and seemingly lack of direction. Well done and thanks for contributing.

Decent and not a waste of time

(3.5 stars)

K. Reed

Decent book. Slightly aimless and uneventful towards the middle of the book, but has a satisfying ending. I see a lot of Isaac Asimov in H. Beam Piper's stories, and I can't get enough of Asimov.

lost focus

(3 stars)

Grantlet47

started with promise of an interesting story then totally want in circles over basically nothing and instead of having even that give it meaning and theme simply did a 1 chapter tie up of the original plot and ended

excellent reading, interesting ideas about society

(5 stars)

darthlaurel

Enjoyed yet another sci fi book previously unknown to me, read by this most superb narrator. Lots of very pointed conversations in this book about ideas that are still relevant, and will be for centuries.

difficult to rate

(4 stars)

A LibriVox Listener

I find this difficult to rate because the reader is excellent and the story is well rounded with, as it turns out, some very well plausible expectations... but for all of his foresight the author just can't seem to shake his antisemitism. It is not really veiled well in metaphor. I've noticed in his other works that he will give a nod to Islam. Which is fine. He seems to dig women in hijabs or scarves. ok. No problem. And in this story he takes maaaaaany swipes at several types of governance. So he definitely spreads the "love". He just, in this story, despite being clearly against the the type of system that would allow Hitler to come to power - this is specifically referenced - a character studies Hitler/WW2 and how to nip that crap in the bud - he still feels it necessary to repeatedly lay overused tropes on his Jewish metaphor community. So anyway, well read. interesting overall concept. well dramatized. more antisemitic than a book written in 1963 should be.

(2 stars)

Zriika

I did not like this story as much as others by the same author. It starts out with a heartbroken husband seeking vengeance on the man who killed his wife. That is the high point of the story which takes place in the very beginning of the story. The husband creates a military gang and proceeds to plunder from less advanced civilizations for years. The author tries to make the husband’s gang of thieves less objectionable by having the rules that the gang can’t rape the plundered and they can only kill them if they put up a fight when they are being robbed. While I guess this makes them “less bad” than the other Viking gangs, they are still pretty bad. Throughout the story, the author introduces political views against government. Admittedly I was less attentive to this aspect of the story so maybe I missed a bigger message about politics and government, but my understanding of the story’s viewpoint was that might makes right.