Book Review: After Doomsday by Poul Anderson (four stars)
‘Hatred of the murderers crowded out fear and grief alike. Hatred focused so sharply on the thing which pursued her ship that it seemed the steel must melt.’
Writing in the early 1960s, Anderson develops a more engaging, plausible tale than current SF authors. Two challenges interweave. His failure to anticipate the coming digital and solid-state revolution dates the book but doesn’t make him unusual.
‘They could be anywhere among a couple hundred billion stars. How can we get word to them?’
Simultaneously I was reading Stars and Bones. a contemporary post-Apocalyptic novel with a similar approach. Anderson wins. The story and storytelling are direct and well-paced. In retrospect humorous that so many characters smoke on space craft.
‘In the Seven Classics of Voyen, one may read, “Many desperations do not equal one hope.”
As a Matter of Fancy 