Space Viking

Lord Lucas Trask of Traskon lives on the Sword World of Gram, but is opposed to the Space Viking raids, on which numerous of the most talented Sword Worlders leave and never return. However, when his bride is killed a half-hour after their wedding, Lucas fits out a Space Viking ship and sets out for revenge. Sickened by the waste of the Space Viking life, he finds himself returning to his older convictions: that it is better to build than destroy. But, he finds that there are many who find destroying a simple and easy life, and what is the murderer of his wife up to? This is the story of one man's odyssey across the remains of the old Federation, his life, death and rebirth.As I've said before, Mr. H. Beam Piper is probably one of the most underrated science-fiction authors ever. Here again, he produced a book with a fascinating milieu, populated by people who act consistently with their culture. I found the book to be quite gripping, proving impossible to put down as it rocketed towards the finale. I highly recommend this book to everyone!

Though some of the technology is dated in Piper's books, the story, characters, writing and themes are perfectly fresh. "Space Viking" is a gripping space opera on surface but is also a great essay on the rights and responsibilities of citizens as well as a questioning of civilization itself. The only other science fiction books to address these concepts so well are Heinlen's "Moon Is A Harsh Mistress" and "Starship Troopers".

I've been re-reading this book for 15 years and still find get something new from it each time. I judge all other sci-fi by this book and nothing has ever matched it. Jerry Pournelle once mentioned that he *attempted* to write a sequel to Space Viking but couldn't begin to match the details. The best part is that the reader never notices the acute attention to detail Mr. Piper must have paid to this . . you just enjoy the story. PS. no, I'm not related

Written at the hight of the Cold War, this SF novel is filled with atomic weapons being used in the far future after the colapse of a federation, and the return, centuries later, of a branch civilization that fled after a civil war. But the book was pulled because of the shooting of an unarmed civilian. Makes one wonder why killing one person, in person, is more horrific than killing 100,000 with one push of a button. And THAT is one of the hidden themes of the book. Think back to the 60s, if you can, before reading it. Slide rules are used and computers take up entire rooms.

This was one of my favorite books when I was in my late teens; I recently re-read it and found it to be as exciting as the first time around. Piper had the ability to create realistic worlds and the several worlds in this book are no exception. I think its a shame that this, along with most of Piper's other books, is no longer in print.