The Reefs of Space

The Reefs of Space was serialized in If in 1963

The Reefs of Space is a dystopian science fiction novel by American writers Frederik Pohl and Jack Williamson, published in 1964. It is part of the Starchild Trilogy, a series of three books in which mankind is ruled by a brutal totalitarian government known as the Plan of Man, enforced by a computerized surveillance state. The other books in the series are Starchild (1965) and Rogue Star (1969).

Plot[]

The novel is set in dystopian future in an Earth where a computer named the Plan of Man operates a harsh surveillance state. The main character is a genius scientist, Steve Ryeland, who is trying to build a new type of rocket drive. While Ryeland is struggling with amnesia, he has a computer companion named Oporto. Due to Ryeland's anti-government actions in the past, the Plan of Man Computer deems him to be a security risk, so he is forced to wear a bomb-equipped collar, which he is hoping to be able to remove.

Reception[]

Joachim Boaz' review in Science Fiction and Other Suspect Ruminations calls it "an enjoyable read" and he praises the "quick prose", action, and dialogue that keeps the reader interested.^[1]

References[]