The Other End of Time

I really enjoyed this book, espically the protagonist Dan Dannerman the empathetic spy who can feel guilty about putting the criminals away after an undercover job with them. But, I didn't give 5 stars because of some of the racist language. Calling a Chinese astronaut a " Chink" was really offputting. The book was copyrighted 1996 which was surprising, thought even then that kind of verbage would be not wanted.

I give THE OTHER END OF TIME (1996) 4.5 stars. The book offers a variety of different kinds of plot and technology angles. For example, the method of star travel, in which beings are transported using Tachyons (faster than light particles). The various kinds of aliens (a dozen or so), and the descriptions of them are interesting enough - not top notch, but interesting. The first part of the book is a kind of slow-moving "spy thriller", but the last part of the book turns into an "ordeal", once the main characters are snatched by the aliens. One kind of alien technology lets the humans be "copied", and this leads to a number of interesting scenarios, with copies meeting themselves, and so forth. While I wouldn't say this is a book you can't put down, it certainly is a book that I always enjoyed picking up. I'm looking forward to starting the 2nd book in this series.

________________________________________There's something strange going on at the derelict "Starlab"space station - aka the "Starcophagus" - and Dr. Patrice Adcock is going up to find out what's happening. Her party is kidnapped by reps of the "Beloved Leaders" and fired off as tachyon images to a distant starbase. It seems the Beloved are fighting a war with the Horch and want to enlist humanity on their side.The plot thickens when the Horch smuggle in disturbing images of whole worlds destroyed by Beloved forces - dismissed by the Beloved with "we merely transported them to their immortality at the eschaton."The Beloved run off a couple more copies of Dr. Pat for "breeding purposes". She finds she rather likes being a triplet... but the extra copy situation turns darker, with unsettling echoes of earlier uses of this old and disturbing SF idea.This is vintage Pohl - wry, dark, beautifully-written. I've seen some unflattering reviews of this book, but this is first-rate work, not to be missed if you're a Fred Pohl fan - and who isn't?Happy reading!Pete Tillman

Part of a true three novel trilogy Eschaton, including (The Other End of Time, The Siege of Eternity, The Far Shore of Time). This trio deals with first contact but Pohl couldn't let it be a simple aliens encounter, there are two different and of course warring alien alliances but that is as far as the "of course" goes. The leaders of earth first have to come to terms among themselves so they can choose correctly from slim, hidden and misleading evidences, which group of aliens is truthful and altruistic and which will conquer and enslave. Besides the wonderful Sci-Fi and multitude of sentient beings there is a good study of the human psyche in captivity. Also a twist in dealing with unwanted clones; not knowing which is the original, if there is an original, which clone gets the spouse and like conundrums. You have to stay alert to the fast pace and changing / multiplying cast. A very good read with interesting alien customs and biology's.

As good as any SF I've read and I've read a lot. The fact that Pohl was 78 (I think) when he wrote this and 80 when the sequel was written is amazing when you consider these are as good as any he ever wrote (in my humble opinion).

I found a very good book in this one. It picks up several topics others wrote about, but still create something new as a whole. If you liked Clarke/Lee's Rama series you'll definitely enjoy it.