Book Review – Larry Niven’s “Lucifer’s Hammer”
Today I finished reading Larry Nivven‘s post-apocalyptic novel, Lucifer’s Hammer.
Co-written by Jerry Pournelle, Lucifer’s Hammer is a haunting tale of survival after the Earth is hit by a comet. Billions of people are killed instantly, and the survivors are forced to fight for their own survival in ways that they never imagined.
Larry Niven — Lucifer’s Hammer
Lucifer’s Hammer begins with the discovery of the Hamner-Brown Comet, named after an amateur astronomer and a kid who was using a telescope and looking at the right place at the right time. The comet is approaching the inner part of our solar system. According to astronomers, the Hamner-Brown Comet is going to pass by the inner planets, swing around the sun, and head back out into space. The odds of the comet striking the Earth are so small that it’s not even worth mentioning.
Life continues as the comet continues on its path. But when scientists continue to monitor it, and when a TV documentary gives it more attention, people can’t help but wonder just how close the comet will be when it passes the Earth a second time when heading back out into space. It’s not going to hit, right?
As the days pass, more and more people believe that the comet is really going to impact the Earth and wipe out everybody, just as an asteroid ended up killing off the dinosaurs. Some people see this as a sign from above. Others begin to stockpile supplies to help ride out whatever happens. A smaller percentage think that since everybody is going to be killed, then nothing at this point matters, and it’s okay to commit crimes. And still other people believe that nothing will happen and that everybody else is crazy. Those people cannot wait for the comet to pass so that life will get back to normal again. Read more…
Categories: book reviews Tags: book review, sci-fi