Brute Orbits

This is a work of philosophy disguised as a science fiction novel. An impact will be made with readers looking for subversive social commentary, but the book will probably fail with readers looking for a functioning story. The book suffers from a very inconsistent timeline and narration that operates mostly as a front for Zebrowski's thoughts on crime and punishment. Those thoughts are highly incisive, based on the works of solid philosophers like Kant and Pascal (and probably Dostoevsky), and while some readers would justifiably find them preachy, others will find them uncompromising and thought-provoking. Zebrowski has the knowledge to pull off this philosophical treatise on the problems of prisons, and the book holds no punches and launches straight into deep thoughts on the matter. Most of the book works well as social and political commentary, with a series of vignettes about future prisoners and all of their ugliest behavior. This future society has found a way to conveniently get rid of not just hardened criminals but an expanding palette of political and social undesirables, by putting them in hollow asteroids and launching them into deep space. Most of the story is shocking and provocative, and the behavior of the criminals and the authorities is often hideous, allowing Zebrowski to really explore the ramifications of his philosophical treatise. Critics of this book have perfectly valid points, but readers looking for uncompromising allegorical commentary could enjoy it if they're willing to sacrifice logical development of characters and themes. But there is still a problem with inconsistency, as the conclusion falls into a type of quaint and unrealistic future humanism that contrasts sharply with the rest of the book. It's also too short, as Zebrowski could have devoted much more space to both the philosophy and the development of his characters, but here such matters surge ahead at a very awkward pace. [~doomsdayer520~]

okay..i thought this book was great. i found it intersting to learn about what the would do to all those criminals. what really baffleed me was the way it was written. so vivid that u could actaully feel like u were there. the criminal's were more or less..like those that u would find nowadays. the living inside the astroeids seemed so magnificently odd. however, this book had lost o' ideas and pointerz in it that would make one think. (p.s. : i am a teen...i don't know y i read this bk. i found it in the libraryt in adult fic section. i'm addicted 2 adualt fic bks. i like the Dragonriders series and all. adult fic books r soo kewl. and i luv sci-fi/fantasy mix bkz)

This is that rarest of books that can actually change how you think. Not just about prisons or prisoners, or cruelty, though there is plentiful speculation on these topics, but indeed I mean HOW YOU THINK. This book is full of so many challenging ideas on so many different aspects of the human experience that my mind buzzed for two full days. Perception, history, biology and evolution, evil, societal limitations, the limitations of one's own mind. And not a paragraph of preaching, just good storytelling rich with scientific speculation that advances the tale. The action is harrowing and there are moments of awe and wonder that resonate much deeper than most good action SF scenes. Go forth and read and ask yourself: HOW DO I THINK?