A. E. van Vogt - Children of Tomorrow - 4

Here you can post book reviews for the IBDoF. Share your thoughts with the world and tell us what you think of the latest book you've read.

[NOTE: to create a properly linked book review thread here in TCC, please click on the "Review this Book" link from the applicable detailed book view in the IBDoF database - it will automatically generate a linked review here.

Moderators: clong, Mr. Titanic

Post Reply
User avatar
clong
Blade Runner
Posts: 9253
Joined: Tue Nov 16, 2004 9:48 am
Location: Rochester, NY
Contact:

A. E. van Vogt - Children of Tomorrow - 4

Post by clong »

Children of Tomorrow

This is a strange little novel, one which overlays golden age tropes onto an intriguing but unconvincing future scenario clearly responding to Vietnam War and 1960s counterculture issues.

This is a future in which the manly men have all become military starfarers, hot shot pilots and commanders. And it’s a good thing they have, because some ill-intentioned invisible aliens have followed our protagonist back to the solar system, and secretly gather intelligence in advance of an invasion. Sadly the career choice of these virile men has not been particularly easy for their loved ones, the logistics of space flight necessitate abandoning one's family for years at a time, leaving wives depressed and tempted and children lacking a steadying fatherly authority.

This is one of those books where nothing felt convincing. Unbelievable characters (both human and alien) interact in unbelievable ways and do unbelievable things. The plotting bounces back and forth between the contrived and the trite as it moves towards the rather silly ending.

The only thing I liked about the book was that while Van Vogt gives us a string of stereotype, he frequently then proceeds to play against them. The annoying slangy teen “outfits” which have evolved to provide group parenting by peers in the end prove surprisingly effective.
Have you read this book? Click here to rate it!
Post Reply

Return to “The Critic's Corner”