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Hook #1
Hook: Whirlpool of stars
- GenresScience Fiction
151 pages, Paperback
First published January 1, 1974
2 people are currently reading
36 people want to read
About the author
Kenneth Bulmer
244Ìýbooks21ÌýfollowersHenry Kenneth Bulmer
aka:
Alan Burt Akers
Ken Blake
Ernest Corley
Arthur Frazier
Adam Hardy
Philip Kent
Bruno Krauss
Neil Langholm
Karl Maras
Manning Norvil
Charles R. Pike
Andrew Quiller
Richard Silver
aka:
Alan Burt Akers
Ken Blake
Ernest Corley
Arthur Frazier
Adam Hardy
Philip Kent
Bruno Krauss
Neil Langholm
Karl Maras
Manning Norvil
Charles R. Pike
Andrew Quiller
Richard Silver
Ratings & Reviews
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Displaying 1 - 5 of 5 reviews
July 26, 2008
I've got two of the "Hook" series of Space Operas by Tully Zetford, but only because they were written by Kenneth Bulmer in reality. I have to confess, though, that I didn't really care much for the characters or the stories in these. The writing is fine but the story isn't quite what I generally read.
August 15, 2015
I found the technology and world-building to be an imaginative view of future worlds as seen from the point of view of Earth, 1974. However, the main character (Ryder Hook) really had very little about him that made him likeable, and in many instances, his attitudes put me (as the reader) off entirely. It also seemed to me as if the author was trying hard not to make him TOO much of a heel, such as when he would smack the female lead on the rear when he was upset with her, instead of smacking her around. The plot, too, was a bit hokey in many places, and seemed to diverge into odd, but quickly unexplored tangents quite often (never really understood the point of Hook being subjected to the discipline-cell, for example). All of this leads Hook from trouble to trouble, but then all comes together at the very end with Hook achieving his goals and making the "bad guys" pay. The trouble was, with Hook being so unlikeable, and the villains being not that much different, I really didn't much care who won or lost by the end.
As mentioned, I enjoyed the imaginative technology and world-building that the author provided, but the characters and plot fell flat. Being as this was 1970s-era pulp sci-fi, maybe that's good enough.
As mentioned, I enjoyed the imaginative technology and world-building that the author provided, but the characters and plot fell flat. Being as this was 1970s-era pulp sci-fi, maybe that's good enough.
May 4, 2023
This book was an unexpected and delightful surprise that came about in an odd sort of way: I happened to be in Brisbane at one of my favourite 2nd hand bookshops ever, Archives in the city, as I had not been there for a while I went straight to the 'Z' in the sci-fi section to see if there was any Zelazny I did not have. To my amazement! There were not one but FOUR Zelazny books I had never even heard of and I whisked them to the counter and whipped out my credit card as fast as I could.
Only when I got them home, did I realise the author was 'Tully Zetford" not , just one of the dozens of pseudonyms used by Kenneth Bulmer in his writing career.. Ah well.
Reading this was fascinating in a strange/familiar sort of way, our protagonist, Ryder Hook is immensely similar IMMENSELY to Earl Dumerest from E. C. Tubb's Dumarest of Terra series. A 'women want him, men want to be him' incredible survivor experienced traveller and inveterate cynic. Hook is not trying to get anywhere, just to travel the galaxy and remain free from capture? Observation? Of The Boosted Men. Hook (like Dumarest), has often travelled 'low' frozen on spaceships and there are some other crossovers of terminology that will be familiar to anyone who likes reading in this era sci-fi. Of course, it was a small world in the 70's and the authors knew each other and probably brainstormed together.
This story was more technological than the Tubb books, but the adventure has the same sort of cadence and similar side characters. Hook is on a star-ship which has an accident, forcing the passengers into escape pods (with a bit of a fight scene and screaming girl, to cement the feel) and then to orbit a planet upon which, if you are not wealthy, you are enslaved. Hook of course vanquishes all opposition to come out on top and it is a very, very fun read as to how it goes about it.
There is also a thing... revolutionary for the era it was written in, bear in mind, where Hook's (absent) friend is gender neutral and their pronoun is 've'. Now, I am not claiming that gender bending was unheard of in this era of writing, far from it I certainly read other books with gender neutral pronouns and, I suspect other ones where ve was used instead of his/her. Still, it is interesting how the male/female first world prototype is excessively stereotyped, you the gender neutral is inserted in such a way as to suggest to commonplace.
If you like that sort of thing!
I love it, it is easy and fun to read, an undemanding few hours of pure, dated, unrealistic entertainment. For people who did not enjoy Dumarest of Terra, you probably won't enjoy this either. For people who can't deal with the social viewpoints of previous eras, probably not for you either.
Only when I got them home, did I realise the author was 'Tully Zetford" not , just one of the dozens of pseudonyms used by Kenneth Bulmer in his writing career.. Ah well.
Reading this was fascinating in a strange/familiar sort of way, our protagonist, Ryder Hook is immensely similar IMMENSELY to Earl Dumerest from E. C. Tubb's Dumarest of Terra series. A 'women want him, men want to be him' incredible survivor experienced traveller and inveterate cynic. Hook is not trying to get anywhere, just to travel the galaxy and remain free from capture? Observation? Of The Boosted Men. Hook (like Dumarest), has often travelled 'low' frozen on spaceships and there are some other crossovers of terminology that will be familiar to anyone who likes reading in this era sci-fi. Of course, it was a small world in the 70's and the authors knew each other and probably brainstormed together.
This story was more technological than the Tubb books, but the adventure has the same sort of cadence and similar side characters. Hook is on a star-ship which has an accident, forcing the passengers into escape pods (with a bit of a fight scene and screaming girl, to cement the feel) and then to orbit a planet upon which, if you are not wealthy, you are enslaved. Hook of course vanquishes all opposition to come out on top and it is a very, very fun read as to how it goes about it.
There is also a thing... revolutionary for the era it was written in, bear in mind, where Hook's (absent) friend is gender neutral and their pronoun is 've'. Now, I am not claiming that gender bending was unheard of in this era of writing, far from it I certainly read other books with gender neutral pronouns and, I suspect other ones where ve was used instead of his/her. Still, it is interesting how the male/female first world prototype is excessively stereotyped, you the gender neutral is inserted in such a way as to suggest to commonplace.
If you like that sort of thing!
I love it, it is easy and fun to read, an undemanding few hours of pure, dated, unrealistic entertainment. For people who did not enjoy Dumarest of Terra, you probably won't enjoy this either. For people who can't deal with the social viewpoints of previous eras, probably not for you either.
August 11, 2015
A 1970s-era pulpy sci-fi space opera that features a stereotypical manly-man of an adventurer as he bungles his way through one scrape after another. Chauvinistic and flimsy but nevertheless fast, fun, and actually a bit intriguing. Enough imaginative "future-tech" and far-space scenarios to keep you reading. A guilty pleasure, perfect for a day at the beach. Not badly written, really. 2 1/2 stars, 3 on a good day.
June 11, 2015
1980 grade C
Series book HK1
Series book HK1
Displaying 1 - 5 of 5 reviews
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