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Overview
THE BRILLIANT NOVEL THAT LAUNCHED THE VARLEY PHENOMENON
The invaders came in 2050…They did not kill anyone outright. hey said they came on behalf of the intelligent species of Earth—dolphins and whales. The Invaders quietly destroyed every evidence of technology, then peacefully departed, leaving behind plowed ground and sprouting seeds. In the next two years, ten billion humans starved to death.
The remnants of humanity that survived relocated to the moon and other planets. But they are not alone in their struggle—someone or something, somewhere in deep space, is sending them advanced scientific data via the Ophiuchi Hotline. And by the twenty-fifth century, the technological gifts from the Hotline—especially its biological and medical solutions—have created a world unlike any ever known or imagined…
From the award-winning author of Steel Beach. Humans have settled on moon colonies called the Eight Worlds after being exiled from Earth by the Invaders. But a group calling itself the Free Earth Party is experimenting with weapons in an effort to reclaim their home planet--an effort that could end in the destruction of all humanity. Reissue.
Synopsis
"Varley's tight, clean writing, full of wit and good humor, evokes despair, joy, anger, and delight. His Luna is packed with wild inventions, intriguing characters, and stunning scenery."--Publishers Weekly
"It is fast and complex, and it glitters most impressively."--Science Ficiton: The 100 Best Novels
"John Varley is the best writer in America."--Tom Clancy
"This is a novel rich in societies, settings, and technological wizardry. It's a tough-minded, yet a playful book."--Ian Watson
Gollancz's Science Fiction Collector's series, which offers the finest classics of the genre, now presents a thought-provoking and multiple award-nominated novel by acclaimed author John Varley.
After the effortless capture of Earth by vastly superior aliens, humanity is forced to fight for existence on the Moon and other lumps of airless rock. The invention of the
Hotline--a constant stream of data from a star in the constellation Ophiuchus--facilitates survival and enables the development of amazing new technologies.
Then, after 400 years, humanity's unknown helpers send a bill for their services...and suddenly everything is threatened once again.
The Ophiuchi Hotline was John Varley's first novel, and it received nominations for both the Hugo and Nebula awards; he later won both for his book Persistence of Vision.
Editorials
From Barnes & Noble
The Barnes & Noble ReviewJohn Varley's debut novel, 1977's The Ophiuchi Hotline (a science fiction masterpiece that has been called his finest work ever) has been repackaged and reissued in paperback by Ace Books, along with his classic Gaean trilogy (Titan, Wizard, and Demon).
After a race of supremely advanced aliens invade Earth to liberate the planet's intelligent species -- whales and dolphins! -- the majority of humankind is exiled into space, where, through the magic of bioengineering, they begin to adapt to and thrive in their unforgiving environments. Cutting-edge tech means that humans can modify any body part, regularly store their memories for cloning purposes, and even merge with seemingly benevolent alien beings (known as symbs) to create another entity altogether. The discovery of a steady -- and mostly indecipherable -- stream of data originating from a star system 17 light-years away offers humankind some kind of hope of advancing the species and retaking their homeworld. But when the novel's protagonist (a series of successive clones named Lilo-Alexandr-Calypso) travels out to 70 Ophiuchi, what she finds may not be salvation for the human race but its damnation….
Almost 30 years after it was first released, Varley's first novel -- like Joan Rivers's face -- has barely shown any signs of aging at all. Just as thematically cutting-edge and wildly entertaining as it was back in 1977, The Ophiuchi Hotline is a must-read for anyone claiming to be a science fiction fan. (You know you're an undeniably hard-core genre fan, by the way, if you can properly pronounce this title.) Paul Goat Allen